Zulu Elevate (Part 2)
Elevate or raise is pha-ka-ma in Zulu. You say the first part like park, the second like Kamala Harris and the last like mass. We rise before judges enter the court room as a sign of respect to higher authority. It also happens in other situations e.g. a queen enters the room.
Today’s lesson will focus on individuals who believe they are high up there, important, when it’s just an illusion. Sometimes, they are objects of ridicule at the market, bus stop and neighborhoods. Others elevate themselves by association e.g. I went to school with @mkbhd, the YouTube tech master. My foot!
They elevate themselves = bayazi phakamisa.
Mamsie elevates herself = Mamsie uyazi phakamisa.
Robert elevates himself = Robert uyazi phakamisa.
Pha-ka-mi-sa. You say the first part like park, the second like Kamala Harris, the third like miss and the last like summer.
Can we identify fake people? Yes, they carry their shoulders up high, the way Kizz Daniel, the Nigerian singer dances in his Buga video, that is still a favourite on Tik Tok and YouTube. Digital tools make it even easier because you can photo shop yourself into a photo of Kizz Daniel. We also laugh at fake people by pointing at them and raising our shoulders. We do it behind their back, of course.
By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.
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