Zulu Lesson Bones
1. What are bones in Zulu? A-ma-tha-mbo. You say the first part like Anna, the second like Majorie, the third like Tamara and the last like Mambo Kings.
2. What is one bone? I-tha-mbo. You say the first part like email, the second like tabernacle and the last like Mambo Kings.
British education in the colonies included Religious Studies, to cancel ‘barbaric’ religion like ancestor worship. I remember a bible story about bones. Jesus said bones should re-join, and they did. Incredible! We did find it funny though.
I still don’t understand recipes that call for bone-in meat or chicken. Aa! Aaaah! Meat always come with bones so that after the meal, we chew them, close our eyes in appreciation and say life is good. Not around here, in Africa somewhere with their ‘uncivilized’ eating habits.
Some kids are called bony, because they are thin, all stick and bones. It’s a requirement for models on Milan and New York fashion runways. Teachers used to tap a cane on our shoulders and tell us to stand up straight. No slouching. That is when bones were in their premium stage. Time rolls on. We become old because they have called it a day. We resort to walking sticks, walkers or motorized wheelchairs.
Kids are still valued in rural areas. There’s a Zulu proverb about bones and kids. Ukuzala ukuzelula a-ma-thambo. Translated into: giving birth is a way of prolonging bones. Meaning? Kids are sent on errands very early in life. This comes in handy with old age. Grandparents give them love, affection and chores.
ENGLISH | ZULU |
His bones are gone. | Amathambo awasa vumi. |
I broke some bones skiing. | Ngiphuke amathambo skiing. |
I can feel it in my bones. | Ngiyizwa emathanjeni. |
Red snapper fish has many bones. | Inhlanzi ebomvu inamathambo amaningi. |
Models must be bone thin. | Ama-model kufanele babe amathambo. |
By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.
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