We lead by example

When was the last time you played a board game in IsiZulu or any African language for that matter.

Introducing the game that’ll make everyone yearn to learn all about Africa! Afro’s Gold Board Game by Mbuyazi Publishing is the latest fun and educational tool for families, schools and students of IsiZulu. Bilingual in Zulu and English, it has education (and fun!) at its heart and is a new way to learn while you play. For 3-8 players of all ages.

When an engineer recently set out to write a novel in his native Zulu he found himself hamstrung by a lack of words with which to describe modern life. Determined not to use English as a crutch, Phiwayinkosi Mbuyazi instead created 450 new Zulu words.

His book, Amayiphendleya, is an adventure tale about four teenage boys and the wonders of technology. For the first time in Zulu history they come across an isilolongamoya – a machine that controls the temperature of the air: an air conditioner. They also come to terms with umnukubalo (pollution), and with ubungqonela (colonialism), both words derived from their function or sound. Mbuyazi said Zulu has not kept up with developments in almost all major sectors of knowledge.

“It now lacks the terminology that would allow one to hold a technologocially modern conversation, let alone write a book.” The 41-year-old is dismissive of traditionalists who would keep Zulu “pure”.

“Many people speak proudly about preserving Zulu but the truth is, by keeping it unchanged, we are contributing to its death,” he said. “Languages evolve and Zulu need not be left behind, otherwise it will become irrelevant,” he said.

He hopes that the new words will eventually become part of everyday vocabulary. But the author’s own path shows how many hurdles exist. He had to set up his own publishing company after several mainstream houses turned him down, saying there was “no market for Zulu literature”.