New dictionary is a quantum leap for Zulus
I HEREBY concede defeat. Despite all the attendant ills of being of that stock, in my next life I am going to be a Zulu. I'm beginning to like the way they think.
They have a dictionary.
Like the Afrikaner, whose laager mentality we never miss the opportunity to pour scorn on, the Zulus have woken up to smell the linguistic coffee.
A language is central to a people's identity. Interfere with a language and you mess up with a large part of how people look at themselves and their collective sense of pride.
Orania, according to those sceptics whose only role in society is to snigger and sneer, is a political joke. But look at what the enclave has done for the Afrikaner, his language and culture.
Ask President Jacob Zuma. He went there to experience it first-hand.
Do not be fooled by the highfalutin language explaining the raison d'etre for bodies like the FW de Klerk Foundation and AfriForum. They exist to see to the every need of the Volk. Finish and klaar.
Each time they hear a bunch of their maids and gardeners conversing in English among themselves they run to the Equality Court to complain about the imaginary threat this poses to Afrikaans. They see extinction where there's none.
The bilingual Oxford English-isiZulu dictionary, the first updated version in 40 years, is a step in the right direction. It will foist isiZulu on the international lexicon, a hallowed territory that most African languages, with the possible exception of Swahili, can only dream of.
The Zulu had long started. In the Durban city centre he has laid claim to the lamp posts with the colourful posters from Isolezwe, their newspaper.
With the Joburgers it is a different story as the street poles remain the haunt of English and Afrikaans text.
Sol T Plaatje, he of Koranta Ea Bacoana fame, must be turning in his grave to see that none of his tribesmen has seen fit to pick up the baton.
The Zulu has not shied away from doing things in a way that Shaka would have approved of - they read, write and speak in their language.
The only embarrassment to these humble folk must be Siyabonga Nomvete, who wants to get with it and allow himself to be interviewed in English.
As you read this, know that the Zulus are people after my own heart. Unlike them, I fear for my children's safety each time they try to speak my language - their incisors hang menacingly over their tongues.
The late Moshoeshoe would not recognise a word of the gibberish spewing from my offspring's little mouths in their attempt to make conversation in Sesotho.
With words for every modern-day phenomenon, including the cell phone, I was beginning to wonder what the Zulus were going to do with that vast array of words.
I am envious. Outside the Bible and the Atlas, there's a new addition to the collection of books in the Zulu household.
Next time you get into his taxi, the space on the dashboard normally held sacrosanct for the knobkerrie will be adorned by a dictionary.
Way to go, Mageba.
sugarboy
I am very proud to know that Zulus are a nation to be reckoned with. They played a historical role in the history of the whole of Africa. Very few nations in the world can be proud as the Zulus.They are the most proud and gallant people.I am not a Zulu but am very proud to have lived and bred in a rural KwaZulu village on the South Coast of KZN. I hope all Zulu leaders would unite and bring prosperity to our beloved province.
Report Abuse
LWAZZI
I am a proud Zulu&glad that the Great King Shaka would be proud to find the nationhe built still recognising &preserving their language.I would ask other fellow African tribes to
follow on the footsteps of what Zulu's have done.Lets all be proud of who we are.
Report Abuse
bulwazi
I AM A PROUD SOUTHERN SOTHO LADY. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO PUT IN RECORD THAT I HAVE ALWAYS ADMIRED KING SHAKA FOR HIS BRAVERY AND THE NEED FOR UNITING THE ZULU NATION. I CAN PROUDLY SAY THAT I AM A SOUTH ARICAN CITIZEN, BECAUSE OF THE THINGS THAT HE DID TO PUT US SA'SON THE MAP.BAYEDE WENA WE NDLOVU!!!!
BAYEDE!!!!!!
Report Abuse
Mahikeng
Have you guys made a research around the point of Shaka Zulu being gay? Please historians who are not biased kindly assist on this matter!!!!!!Report Abuse
Mahikeng
@papis - that is why I asked for historians to come on board. I am not mad!Report Abuse
BOMDIA
Brilliant idea that of a zulu dictionary, any ideas for uniting the nation, that will not boarder on tribal tendencies which will divide the country like in most African countries?Report Abuse