Zulu Lesson Hang

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Italy. Poor neighborhoods hang washing on balconies. Online pic.

Hang is lenga in Zulu, a language spoken predominantly in South Africa. It is also understood in Lesotho and Swaziland because of the work situation. Men from Lesotho - the Basotho - have been working in South African goldmines since the days of the British.

Le-nga. You say the first part like lend and the second like linger.

Christians believe Jesus was hanged on the cross (wa-le-nga). Some countries around the world still have the death penalty (u-ku-lenga). I understand it’s not hanging like in the old cowboy movies. They use lethal injection now. We know about how black men were lynched in the South, in states like Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Mississippi and others. That was then. They use the court system and voter suppression now.

1. I’m Donald Trump. I have these cases hanging over my head. Aya-lenga.

2. Stunt men hang under a plane. Baya-lenga.

3. Large earrings hanging from her ears. Aya-lenga.

4. Washing is hanging on the clothesline. Ziya-lenga.

5. Washing is hanging on the balcony. Ziya-lenga.

6. The chicken has something hanging under its mouth. Iya-lenga.

7. Actresses hang on the arms of their husbands. Baya-lenga.

8. The decision is still hanging. Uya-lenga.

9. She left me hanging. Ngi-lenga.

Nonqaba waka Msimang

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