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South Africa Literature and Language
South African history stretches back to the Khoisan tribes. Europeans, Indians, and Chinese later arrived in the country. White South Africans are of European descent, while modern-day South Africans are a mixture of nationalities.
553 Questions
Alex LaGuma characters in Time of the butcherbird?
"Time of the Butcherbird" is a novel by Alex La Guma that features characters like Silas Milner, who is a political activist, as well as other residents of District Six in Cape Town, South Africa. The story follows their struggles against apartheid and the oppressive regime that they live under.
What is English equivalent of wife in afrikaans?
The English equivalent of "wife" in Afrikaans is 'vrou'.
How did the past government try to promote afrikaans language?
The past government in South Africa promoted Afrikaans by making it an official language alongside English, introducing it as the medium of instruction in schools, and encouraging its use in government and public institutions. This move was part of a broader policy to elevate Afrikaans as a symbol of Afrikaner cultural identity.
What are other ethnic groups related to the Zulu?
The Zulu ethnic group is related to other Nguni-speaking peoples such as the Xhosa, Swazi, and Ndebele, who also reside in southern Africa. Additionally, the Zulu have cultural and linguistic similarities with the Sotho and Tswana peoples in the region.
What do the Zulu people use for transportation?
The Zulu people primarily use cars, buses, and minivans for transportation. In rural areas, some may also use bicycles or walk for shorter distances. Traditional modes of transportation like horseback riding or ox-drawn carts are less common but may still be used in some areas for specific purposes.
What color is force protection bravo?
Force Protection Bravo is typically indicated by the color black.
His mothers name was Nandi of the Langani Royal Family and his fathers name was Senzangakhona, King of the Zulu
How do you translate 'Happy birthday' into Xhosa?
In Xhosa, "Happy birthday" translates to "Imini emnandi yokuzalwa".
umSombluko
uLwesibili
uLwesithlathu
uLwesini
uLwesithlanu
uMgqibelo
iSonto
How do Zulu kids entertain themselves?
Zulu kids entertain themselves by playing traditional games like skipping rope, marbles, and soccer. They also enjoy singing and dancing traditional songs, as well as storytelling and creating art using natural materials like clay and beads.
What is tshayisa in Xhosa translated into English?
"Tshayisa" in Xhosa translates to "burn" in English.
Why do Zulu women have large holes in their ears?
In Zulu culture, large ear piercings signify beauty and femininity. The size of the earlobe holes can indicate different stages in a woman's life, such as marriage or social status. It is an important cultural tradition that has been passed down through generations in Zulu society.
What was the South Africa language before the English settlement?
South African languages website http://cyberserv.co.za/users/~jako/lang/timeline.htm
DATE
EVENTOFFICIALLANGUAGE186 000 BCFootprints of first humans in South Africa. 20 000 BCKhoisan peoples arriving in Southern Africa.8000 BCManmade shelters of humans living north of current day Johannesburg (language unknown).1000 BCBantulanguage speaking peoples started moving from west Africa towards Southern Africa.500 ADA group Bantu language speaking people reached present-day KwaZulu-Natal province.696Arab traders trade with peoples living in the Southern African region.1050-1270Kingdom of Mapungubwe (Limpopo Province) (language unknown).696Arab traders trade with peoples living in the Southern African region.1488Portuguese explorer Bartholomeu Dias sails passed the Cape of Good Hope.1497Portugueseexplorer Vasco Da Gama passes Cape of Good Hope and names the the region currently known as the KwaZulu-Natal Province Natal as they passed it during Christmas (Natal is the Portuguese word for Christmas).1580English explorer Sir Francis Drake rounds the Cape.1652Arrival of Dutch officials under Jan van Riebeeck to start a way-station for the Dutch East India Company in the Cape. First Dutch speakers settle in the country.Dutch1657
The Dutch East India Company imported slaves from East Africa, Madagascar, and the East Indies(mainly Indonesia and Malaysia) - they also had to speak Dutch (this contact influenced the language and also contributed to the creation of the Afrikaans language).
1688French Huguenots arrived at the Cape followed by some German speakers.1795-1803First British occupation of the Cape. Afterwards control was handed back to the Dutch.1806Second British occupation of the Cape.1814Dutch officially cede the Cape Colony to Britain.English1820English speaking British settlers arrive on the eastern coast of the Cape.1835So-called Great Trek of Dutch settlers - split between English and Dutch colonists - further development of Afrikaans as separate language from Dutch.1839-1842Boer Republic of NataliaDutch1852-1902Boer republic in later Transvaal - Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek
Dutch1854-1902Boer Republic of the Orange Free StateDutch1860British colonists brings labourers from Indiato work in sugar-plantations in Natal.English1899-1902Anglo South African War (previously known as the Anglo-Boer war) - between Boer and British controlled forces.1910Establishment of the Union of South Africa with English and Dutch as official languagesEnglishDutch1912Establishment of the African National Congress 1914Afrikaner Rebellion and establishment of the National Party 1925Afrikaans replaces Dutch as official languageEnglish
Afrikaans1948-1976Apartheid period - Afrikaans and English were regarded as official languages while nine African languages were promoted within the so-called Bantustans. It is believed that this was aimed at dividing black people in South Africa by emphasizing the differences between language groups. This period saw the separate development of the following languages: Zulu, Xhosa, Swati, Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Northern Sotho, Tsonga, Tswana and Venda. Mother-tongue education was compulsory in the lower primary grades in schools thereafter a transition was made in schools for Afrikaans or English media of instruction.Afrikaans
English
Bantustan languages: Zulu, Xhosa, Swati, Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Northern Sotho, Tsonga, Tswana and Venda1961Independence from Britain with the establishment of the Republic of South Africa1976Soweto riots - rejection of dual medium education system1976-1989Reform (representation of Indians and Coloureds but not Black South Africans in Government). State of emergency.1989-1994Transitional period with unbanning of political parties such as the ANC and others as well as the release of political prisoners such as Nelson Mandela (1990).1994-CurrentlyNew democracy - new constitution in 1996 with equal recognition of 11 official language in a unified country. Official languages: Afrikaans, English, Zulu, Xhosa, Swati, Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Northern Sotho, Tsonga, Tswana and Venda
- Pan South African Language Board established to promote and develop the official languages of South Africa (PanSALB) (1995)
- LANGTAG Report (1996)
- Language-in-Education Policy (1997)
- National Language Policy Framework (2002)Afrikaans, English, Zulu, Xhosa, Swati, Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Northern Sotho, Tsonga, Tswana and Venda
What is good morning in South Africa?
In isiXhosa it is "molo" (maw-law) when greeting one person, and "molweni" (emphasis on the 'e') when greeting more than one person.
In Afrikaans it is "goeie more" ('g' is similar to German 'ch' in 'ich', and the rest of the word can be pronounced 'oya'. "More" is pronounced more-a)
In Setswana it is "dumelang" (do-mare-lung, but don't pronounce the 'r' in 'mare' part).
Most people in SA will recognise any of these greetings.
Traditional male clothing is usually light, consisting of a two-part apron (similar to a loincloth) used to cover the genitals and buttocks.
Married men will usually also wear a headband, called the umqhele. The women on the other hand dress differently depending on whether they are single, engaged and married. An unmarried woman who is still eligible is proud of her body and is not ashamed of showing it. She only wears a short skirt made of grass or beaded cotton strings and spruces herself up with lots of bead-work. An engaged woman will let her traditionally short hair grow. She will cover her bosom with a decorative cloth which is done out of respect for her future relatives and to indicate that she has been spoken for. The married woman covers her body completely signalling to other men that she is taken.
Is the poem zulu girl by Roy Campbell an African poem?
"Zulu Girl" by Roy Campbell is not an African poem in the traditional sense as it was written by a European poet, Roy Campbell. However, the poem captures experiences and perspectives of a young Zulu girl, shedding light on African culture and society from an outsider's point of view.
What is the definition of oral tradition in the Xhosa culture?
Oral tradition in Xhosa culture refers to the passing down of cultural knowledge, history, and customs through spoken word rather than through written texts. It includes storytelling, proverbs, songs, and rituals that are used to preserve and transmit the cultural heritage of the Xhosa people from one generation to the next. Oral tradition plays a crucial role in maintaining the identity and values of the Xhosa community.
How do you say congratulations on your wedding in Zulu?
You can say "Ngiyavuma enhlanhleni yakho" which means "Congratulations on your wedding" in Zulu.
Is the zulu tribe still alive?
Yes, the Zulu tribe is still alive and has a population of over 11 million people in South Africa. They continue to practice their cultural traditions, language, and customs while also being part of modern society.
