Zulu Lesson Disappointed

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Most cultures are disappointed when women give birth to girls. In one movie, 
the wife told the husband: 'I deliver what you put in. Don't blame me for your daughters.'

Disappointed is -du-ma-la in Zulu.

It has a twin brother, expectations. We are disappointed when our expectations are not realized. We hoped to win the election, but we did not get even 20 seats. CU Head Football Coach, Deion Sanders was hoping for 5-2, but he was disappointed, because his team was defeated by the Stanford Cardinals, on October 13.

We are disappointed when sons marry outside the culture or religion. We are disappointed when we don’t get promotion at work, or when girlfriends say: “We need to talk.” Men don’t like that. It’s usually a preamble to something ominous like: ‘When are we getting married?’

Du-ma-la. It happens to parents a lot because more often than not, they have certain expectations of their kids. They want them to study engineering or computer science. They are disappointed when kids decide to study creative writing or fine arts.

Parents of murdered kids are disappointed when judges deliver sentences that do not include prison time, forever.

Families also name baby girls Du-ma-zi-le, which is a problem because they have to explain why they were given that name, later on in life.  

Du-ma-la. You say the first part like do, the second like mask and the last one like laugh.
Du-me-le. You say the first part like do, the second like mess and the last like leg.

ZULU

ENGLISH

Dumazile.

A girl’s name which means something or someone caused disappointment.

Wadumala u-Sam uma engafiki u-Zodwa.

Sam was disappointed when Zodwa did not show up.

Ngiya-dumala uma ngibona amantombazane ephuza.

I’m disappointed when I see girls drink.

Izingane ziya-dumaza.

Kids can be disappointing.

Amadoda aya-dumaza.

Men can be disappointing.

Ngaze nga-dumala.

I’m so disappointed.

Yini ndaba?

Why?

Angiyi-tholanga I-visa yase South Africa.

I didn’t get the visa to go to South Africa.

Ngi-ya-dumala angiphasanga.

I’m disappointed I failed.

By:  Nonqaba waka Msimang.

 

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