Africans Way

When a needle falls into a deep well, many people will look into the well,
but few will be ready to go down after it.
African Proverb

If you don't stand for something, you will fall for something.
African Proverb

A cutting word is worse than a bowstring, a cut may heal, but the cut of the tongue does not.
African Proverb

A proud heart can survive a general failure because such a failure does not prick its pride.

African Proverb

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Street/River/Building/Place names
What to the Zulu Names of the Months of the Year Mean? PDF Print E-mail

January- uMasingana

Abalimile babehamba beqalaza emasimini ukuthi kukhonani, kumilile ukudla yini “ukusinga” ukuhamba uqalaza.

 February- uNhlolanja

 Inyanga yokuphingana kwezinja.

 March- uMbasa
 Inyanga yokotha umlilo. Kusuke kuqala ukungena amakhaza

 April - uNgulazibuya/uNdasa

 Omame baqala ukuhlanza izindawo zokubhula amabele okuthiwa ‘izibuya’.  Ukwe’ngula’ kusho ukuhlanza.

 May- uNhlaba
 Sekuvuthwe inhlaba (aloe) abafana sebefula uvovo

June- uNhlangulana

Izihlahla seziqala ukuvuthuka amaqabunga, kusebusika.

July - uNtulikazi

Izulu lomisile kubhenguza umoya oshunqisa izintuli.

August - uNcwaba

Sekuqala izimvula kumile notshani, kumile nezihlahla izulu liqala ukuba ncwaba (fresh) sekuza ihlobo.

September - uMandulo

Abantu sebeqala ukwendulelisa (ukulima)

October - uMfumfu

Okulinyiwe sekuyikhaba (two feet high) sekufufusile

November – uLwezi

Izinambuzane ezakhele emithini zizalela khona kujuze amanzi axhophayo okuthiwa ulwezi.

December – uZibandlela

Sekumile utshani, izindlela (foot-path) azisabonakali
Last Updated on Wednesday, 08 July 2009 12:26
 
Sayidi (Port Shepstone) how this name came about? PDF Print E-mail

Port Shepstone is situated at the lower South Coast of KwaZulu Natal, this is one of the beautiful part of our province with a lot of tourist attraction.

The place consists of beautiful beaches, hotels and it’s definitely a holiday destination for people outside the province. This place is called eSayidi by people from the area or those who knows it better.

Ever wondered how the placed was named? This might be helpful to know especially to people who spend most of their time visiting Port Shepstone and for the community who might not be aware of the name's origins. 

There is a railway line (its no longer in use) that used to pass through Port Shepstone. The cargo trains used to offload cargo at the deport at Port Shepstone by the railway siding. So the offloading place for cargo trains was at the railway SIDING. Then that became the name of the town in isiZulu for Port Shepstone, eSayidi coming from the saying railway Siding

Last Updated on Wednesday, 08 July 2009 11:55
 
Umlazi and Amanzimtoti PDF Print E-mail

Dr Thokozane Nene, denied the talk that the Zulu monarchy King Shaka ka Senzangakhona attacked Xhosa or had an intentions of attacking Xhosa’s. However the King after hearing that Xhosa's were being victimised by whites settlers, decided to go there to help the Xhosas.

On his way to the South Coast with his warriors, he passed Umlazi River. He then drank from the river and the water did not taste as good to him as the rivers up North where he came from; he thought the water tasted like whey (umlaza in isiZulu). Then the King said this water is just like umlaza.  The township close to the River now is called Umlazi coming from the original word umlaza.

While the King was making a move to the South Coast, he passed another river; they drank again from this river and the water there was very nice. Then he said: “lamanzi amtoti” as a sign of resemblance to his mother Nandi, they used the word TOTI. Now the town is called Amanzimtoti.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 08 July 2009 11:45