To Dream in Zulu

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 I can’t sleep.  I dream about you constantly.

It’s a tired line but men will do anything to woo women. Phupha is dreaming in Zulu. Phu-pha. You say the first part like put, the second part like palm.

Hillary Clinton had dreams of becoming a U.S. president, twice. 
They did not come true. She's with daughter Chelsea in this online pic.

Dreams are called ama-phupho.  Movie producers and musicians dream of making it in the U.S. because of sheer numbers. It’s a bigger market, especially if movies and albums are in English.

Hilary Clinton dreamed of living in the White House again and again.  Her dream to be president did not come true. Donald Trump wanted to be president for the second term in 2020. His dreams did not come to pass. Nobody likes bad dreams, but good ones are in short supply. 

Some Africans dream of going to Canada and the U.S. because overseas education is perceived as superior to local education.  Oppressed people dream of freedom. Some people who have experienced wars have nightmares.

ZULU

ENGLISH

I-phupho.

A dream.

I-phupho e-libi.

A bad dream.

Ama-phupho.

Dreams.

Vuka! Vuka!  Ukhale lani?

Wake up! Wake up! Why are you crying?

Be-ngi phupha.

I was dreaming.

 

By:  Nonqaba waka Msimang.

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