MY ZULU HERITAGE by Lynette Ntuli

Zulu. My Heritage is a Meatier Matter.
I am a South African citizen of Zulu descent with a
proud lineage.
My culture and my people’s language are amongst
the most beautiful, evocative, sincere and frank in
the world. I know this because people travel great
distances to see my people dance, to hear my
people’s history, to take in the same rolling valleys
and hills that Alan Paton once described as his
beloved country, too.
I know this because when I am in London and I
crave a taste of home after a long week of speaking
the King’s English to the Queen’s taste, I take a quick
turn to Camden and head to “Shaka Zulu”, the
South African flavoured restaurant and savour
potjie, pap, boerewors, rooibos pate and South
African game in the heart one of the world’s leading
cities.
When you call me MaNtuli, you not only
acknowledge and show respect to my people but
you invoke the history of oMphemba, oSompisi,
amaBhele noGodide and all those who come
before me. You also invoke our warrior spirit,
because my history will tell you that uNdlela
kaSompisi was amongst the most distinguished
generals in King Shaka’s court and we owe much of
the survival of the dominant royal bloodlines of the
Zulus to him, through his strategic foresight
following the assassination of King Shaka.
24 September was known as and lives on in many
hearts as Shaka’s Day, a commemoration of the life
and times of Zulu King, Shaka kaSenzangakhona.
King Shaka died on the 22nd of September 1828
and is honoured for his role in creating a powerful,
cohesive nation and a collective identity for the Zulu
nation.
His reign came to an end shortly before the
dominant laws that put into motion our
apartedness as South African’s began; and whilst
we cannot endorse many of his methods in this day
and age - our goal as a nation today is not too far
apart from what he ultimately achieved with one set
of its people. We can learn something from this
vision.
My heritage is woven into the fabric of my being and
its wealth and depth surpass apartheid and
democracy, oppression and freedom, division and
unity. It is who I am and who my people are. It is an
inheritance that some day I will pass on to my
children, as it has been passed to me. Allow me
then to celebrate its roots and its relevance, without
diluting its symbolism. Allow me to demonstrate its
symbolism to others who share South Africa with
me, in order that they too will understand how this
history belongs to us all, and how it has shaped our
destiny. Allow me to look back in pride at a
significant era in the shaping of who my people are
today, in order that I may look forward and practice
respect for the diversity, inclusion and significance
of others.
So no, today I will not be celebrating Braai Day. My
heritage is a matter far meatier than that.
Happy Heritage Day South Africa.
- Lynette Ntuli
These are just some of the praises that traditionally
ring out on this day, honouring King Shaka…
Izibongo zeNkosi uShaka kaSenzangakhona
UDlungwana kaNdaba!
UDlungwana woMbelebele,
Odlung’ emanxulumeni,
Kwaze kwas’ amanxulum’ esibikelana.
UNodumehlezi kaMenzi,
USishaka kasishayeki kanjengamanzi,
Ilemb’eleq’ amany’amalembe ngokukhalipha;
UShaka ngiyesab’ ukuthi nguShaka,
UShaka kuyinkosi yasemaShobeni.
UNomakhwelo ingonyama;
UMahlom’ ehlathini onjengohlanya,
Uhlany’ olusemehlwen’ amadoda.
UDabaz’ ithafa ebeliya kuMfene;
UNomashovushovu kaSenzangakhona,
UGaqa libomvu nasekuphatheni.
UBholokoqa bazalukanisile,
Zalukaniswe uNoju noNgqengenye,
EyakwaNtombazi neyakwaNandi;
Yayikhiph’ eshoba libomvu,
Ikhishwa elimhlophe lakwaNandi.
Bambiz’ eMthandeni beyisela,
Bathi ‘Singesinelane neNtungwa lasenhla’,
Kanti uzawudl’ uPhakathwayo emphindelweni.
UVumavumane lukaphephe,
UDlungwana wavuma na?
Umvumeleni uGodolozi,
Ethi ngowanganeno kwaNandi,
Kant’ ukude kwaNtombazana?
Ilanga eliphahl’ elinye ngemisebe,
Kalokhu liphahl’ eliseMthandeni.
Amazwi mabili engiwabongayo,
Ngibong’ elikaMpandaba nelikaNdungenkomo,
Bethi “Ucu aluhlangan’ entanyeni”;
Akenibuze kwabaseZinkondeni,
Bath’uHilwayo bayakumhlaba kwaHlokohloko,
Kwaf’ amasi kwaf’ uqephe.
Teku lwabafazi bakwaNomgabhi,
Betekula behlez’emlovini,
Beth’ uShaka kakubusa kakuba nkosi,
Kant’ unyakan’ uShaka ezakunethezeka.
Inkom’ ekhal’ eMthonjaneni,
Izizwe zonke ziyizwil’ ukulila,
Izwiwe uDunjwa waseluYengweni,
Yezwiwa uMangcengeza wakwaKhali.
UMlilo wothathe kaMjokwana;
UMlilo wothathe ubuhanguhangu,
Oshis’ izikhova eziseDlebe,
Kwaya kwasha neziseMabedlana.
Odabule kuNdima noMgovu,
Abafaz’ abenendeni baphuluza;
Imikhubulo bayishiy’ izinqindi,
Imbewu bayishiya semahlangeni,
Izalukazi zasala semanxiweni,
Amaxhegu asala semizileni,
Iziqu zemithi zabheka phezulu..