Who I Am
I grew up in uMlazi township, south of eThekwini (Durban), in South Africa. Some of my favourite memories as a child are working in the garden with my grandmother. Where I learnt a lot about my culture as my grandmother and I chatted while we worked.
We used to walk the length and breadth of uMlazi as we visited people who were shut-in, and bedridden by various illnesses and old age. During these weekly trips, my grandmother and I spoke a lot, and I got to ask a lot of questions. Questions about why people live the way they did, why people did the things they did and why people spoke the way they did. Which all boils down to culture and language.
These conversations with my grandmother helped me to understand my people better, learn my culture and take great pride in being umZulu, a Zulu person.
As time passed, my mother and I moved to uMgababa. What a beautiful place that was and still is!! This was heaven on earth for me. Though we moved there during a tumultuous political period, the experiences I had and the life lessons I learnt through this period are gold to me! My mother bought chickens for me to raise and sell. This jb had me talking to people from all walks of life. It was amazing. Learning the different reasons people bought the live chickens added to the lessons my grandmother had taught me years prior to this move. Apart from school, apartheid abolishment activity and selling chickens, I loved the ocean. We had the most perfect view of the ocean! When I was allowed to, I would walk to the beach. At other times, I would simply sit outside, with my chickens scratching about the yard, and observe the sea whilst singing amaHubo, Zulu dirg music.
My chosen life's work is greatly influenced by my childhood experiences. Till today, I enjoy singing, storytelling, gardening, playing indigenous games and helping my community. I spend each day teaching my beautiful language to people from all walks of life. And finding ways to spread my language to more people around the globe.
Come on, join, and learn isiZulu from umZulu.