Predicting The Future in Zulu

To predict is bhu-la in Zulu. How do I pronounce it? Bhu-la. You say the first part like booze and the second like lass.

Georgia. Important date coming up. December 6 is the Senate Run Off Election between Democrat Ralph Warnock and Republican Herschel Walker. There are many polls out there about who will carry the day. The election is about something bigger than the two men and money movers promised something, will do anything to have their way.

Bhu-la comes from how amaZulu lived before Christianity, polls, television and the internet. Traditional societies in Africa, Asia and Australia had soothsayers, people who ‘see’ into the future.   

Old movies had women who used round glass objects to ‘see’ the present and future.  Nigerian movie directors love scenes where native doctors throw bones on a grass mat, to predict what will happen.  

Once upon a time, ama-Zulu had a powerful king, u-Shaka ka Senzangakhona.  When his brothers killed him to hijack the throne, he told them that they will never be kings because ocean birds were circling the land.  He predicted the coming of white men from England, France and the Netherlands, (wa-bhu-la).

Here we are in 2022, waiting for Georgia. The will of the people with prevail, despite the removal of ballot boxes.

 By:  Nonqaba waka Msimang.