Zulu Lesson Be Happy

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Whatever happened to Bill Cosby, cannot erase the joy the Cosby Show gave Americans. It's not a crime to give Cosby, guests and cast their flowers.

Don't worry. Be happy. I think it's an American song. But don't be happy all the time. They'll send you to a mental institution. “She can’t stop smiling doctor.”

Be happy is -thaba in Zulu. Happiness is the ideal, because it is such a rare commodity. We get by, shuffle along, living one day at a time, even people with bottomless bank accounts like Oprah and Taylor Swift.

Parents are happy when a child is born. That is why you find thousands of kids called happiness in South Africa. 

"What's your name baby girl?" 

"Tha-bile."

"What does it mean?"

"The happy one."

"And who is this, your baby brother?"

"Yes sir. His name is Thaba-ni."

"What does it mean?"

"It means we should all be happy."

Happiness is also tied to ambition. Politicians for example. They are driven by sheer ambition to be the Canadian Prime Minister or U.S. President.

It is worse in Africa, where they cling to power until violence topples them. Anyway, when political parties win elections they say: si-thabile (we are happy).

-thaba is the verb. You pronounce the first part like tally, the second like baba.

Thaba-ni. Same as above but the last part like niece.

Thabi-le. You pronounce the first part like tally, the second like Ibiza, a Spanish island and the last part like leg.

ZULU

ENGLISH

Thabani ubaba ubuyile.

Be happy, dad is back.

Thabani umama ubuyile.

Be happy, mother is back.

Sithabile siwinile.

We are happy. We won.

Wathaba kangaka. Kwenzenani?

Why are you so happy?

Ngithabile. Ngisinde engozini yemoto.

I am happy I survived a car accident.

U-Bolaji no-Ronke bathabile bathole amawele.

Bolaji and Ronke are happy.  They got twins.

Ngithabile umzala uphumile ejele.

I am happy my cousin was released from prison.

By:  Nonqaba waka Msimang.

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