Displaying items by tag: isiZulu

Author: Rooweither Mabuya (SADiLaR isiZulu researcher)

Lala ngokuphumula Hlanga lomhlabathi. Bayede! Wena WeNdlovu!

His Majesty King Zwelithini was the longest serving monarch of the Zulu kingdom, with close to half a century on the throne. On December 3, 2021, His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu would have celebrated 50 years since his coronation in 1971, as Isilo of the Zulu people of South Africa. The name Zwelithini literally means, (What does the world have to say?”). His majesty was born on July 14, 1948, the eldest son of Paramount Chief Cyprian Bhekuzulu and his second wife, Thomozile Jezangani kaNdwandwe. He was educated at the Bhekuzulu College of Chiefs and then privately tutored. He lived at his father's official residence at Khethomthandayo and received formal instruction in traditional Zulu customs. He was installed as the eighth monarch of the Zulu kingdom at a traditional ceremony at Nongoma on 3 December 1971.

Image by: JMK - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=96651000

The king was a strong steward and custodian of Zulu traditions and customs. King Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu played a crucial role in cultural programs and initiatives aimed at promoting social cohesion among the diverse groups in the KwaZulu-Natal province. The late monarch can be described as a repository of culture. He not only defended and advanced the interests of the Zulu people but advanced their culture, customs, the traditions and a deep sense of identity.

His majesty king was a leader who encouraged health education, especially as a strong ally of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in the fight against HIV/AIDS and in South Africa’s response to COVID-19.

King Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu’s wise leadership will be remembered forever. He will be sorely missed.

Uwile umuthi omkhulu.

PHUMULA NDLONDLO ENOPHAPHE EKHANDA

Lala ngokuphumula Hlanga Lomhlabathi. Bayede! Wena WeNdlovu!

ISilo Samabandla Inkosi uZwelithini nguye obuse isikhathi eside kunawo wonke amakhosi ombuso wakwaZulu, ucishe wahlanganisa iminyaka engamashumi amahlanu esesihlalweni sobukhosi. Ngomhla ka-3 kuDisemba ka-2021, iSilo Samabandla inkosi uGoodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu ubezohlanganisa iminyaka engamashumi amahlanu esesihlalweni kusukela abekwa ngonyaka ka-1971 njengenkosi yamaZulu eNingizimu Afrika. Igama elithi Zwelithini lisho ukuthi, (izwe lithini?”). ISilo Samabandla sazalwa ngomhla ziyi-14 Julayi 1948, siyizibulo leNkosi Enkulu u-Cyprian Bhekuzulu kunkosikazi wakhe wesibili, uThomozile Jezangani kaNdwandwe. Wafunda Ekholiji iBhekuzulu (Bhekuzulu College of Chiefs) emva kwalokho wafundiswa ngasese ekhaya. Wayehlala esigodlweni sikayise esisemthethweni kwaKhethomthandayo wafundiswa ngamasiko nezinkambo zakwaZulu. Wagcotshwa njengenkosi yesishiyagalombili yombuso wesizwe samaZulu emcimbini wosiko owawubanjelwe kwaNongoma ngomhla ka-3 kuDisemba ka-1971.

Umfanekiso ngu: JMK - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=96651000

ISilo Samabandla bekuyigosa ebibhekelele kakhulu amasiko nezinkambo zesizwe samaZulu nokugcinwa kwawo. Inkosi uZwelithini kaBhekuzulu ubedlala indima enkulu nebalulekile mayelana nezinhlelo zamasiko nokuqalisa izinhlelo okuhloswe ngazo ukuthuthukisa ubumbano emiphakathini ehlukahlukene esifundazweni saKwaZulu-Natali. Le nkosi esikhotheme ingachazwa njengenqolobane yamasiko nemikhuba yakwaZulu. ISilo Samabandla asigcinanga ngokuvikela kanye nokuthuthukisa izintshisekelo zesizwe samaZulu kuphela kodwa sathuthukisa ngisho namasiko aso lesi sizwe, nemikhuba yaso kanye nesintu saso ngenhloso yokuthi sizazi njengesizwe samaZulu.

ISilo Samabandla Inkosi bekungumholi obegqugquzela imfundiso yezempilo, futhi ubebambe iqhaza elikhulu nelibalulekile ohlelweni lukaMongameli olubizwa nge-President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (okuyi-PEPFAR) nasekulweni negciwane i-HIV/AIDS kanye nasendleleni iNingizimu Afrika ebhekana ne-COVID-19 ngayo.

Uwile Umuthi Omkhulu.

Author: Rooweither Mabuya (SADiLaR isiZulu Researcher)

Language is a vehicle through which gender sensitivity is expressed. According to (Wodak, 1997) gender concerns the psychological, social and cultural differences between males and females. Gender refers to the fact of being male or female while gender sensitivity is the state of being aware of what society thinks about of being male and female. IsiZulu words like ubuntu/humanity and abantu/people show respect to gender sensitivity because they address both genders without singling out or giving any preference to any gender in isiZulu. Early writings presumably influenced by traditional forms of words that have sexist connotations are now often replaced by terms that are neutral in gender. For instance, in the English tradition the use of the word Ms has increased instead of the traditional Mrs or Miss and chairperson instead of chairman. These labels that are used reflect social attitudes and shapes how social structures and relationships are perceived. 

Author: Ms Rooweither Mabuya (SADiLaR isiZulu Researcher)

Historical literary works written in isiZulu

This blog is about the historical literary works written in isiZulu and it shows us the prominent authors who contributed in ensuring that the history is preserved. The detailed information on each of the authors is accredited to Mazibuko (2008).

Le bhlogi imayelana nemibhalo yezomlando ebhalwe ngolimi lwesiZulu iqukethe ababhali abavelele abadlala indima enkulu ekugcinweni komlando. Ukugunyazwa kwemininingwane egcwele mayelana nombhali ngamunye kuku-Mazibuko (2008).  

Author: Mieke Hofmeyr

Ms. Rooweither Mabuya is SADiLaR’s IsiZulu language researcher. She finds computational linguistics interesting. More particularly she is interested in the development of resources for African languages.

Whilst the current Covid-19 situation and national lockdown is impacting the whole of South Africa and its workforce, Ms. Mabuya is staying focused by working on various projects.