English 101

TOP 10 English words only black people know the proper meaning of
10. Groovy
Real meaning: Very pleasing
Black meaning: 340ml soft drink can
9. Cold drink (pronounced coldrink)
Real meaning: Opposite of hot drink
Black meaning: Any soft drink especially coke
8. Scuff tin
Real meaning: Scuff - Mark resulting from scraping, Tin - can
Black meaning: Lunch box
7. Ball pen (pronounced Bolpen)
Real meaning: Ball point pen
Black meaning: Any pen
6. I'm Sure (pronounced Amsho)
Real meaning: I'm certain
Black meaning: Maybe
5. Gym Dress (Pronounced Jimdress)
Real meaning: Gym - Gymnasium, Dress - Women's clothing
Black meaning: GirlsSchooldress/uniform
4. Double Up (pronounced Dablap)
Real meaning: Twice as much in size
Black meaning: Short cut
3. Straight Back
Real meaning: Extending continuously in a backwards direction without curving
Black meaning: Corn rows
2. Relax
Real meaning: Calm Down
Black meaning: Chemical Hair Straightening
ANDTHE PRIZE GOES TO:
1. PUSHBACK
Real meaning: Cause to move back by force or influence
Black meaning: Very Popular hairstyle where hair is combed away from face.
Life Time Award Winners:
Growth
Real Meaning - Process of Growing
Black Meaning - The natural hair when your hair hasn't been relaxed in a long time
Blind
Real meaning - Lacking sight
Black meaning - Very much (too much)
Background (pronounced Backround)
Real Meaning: Behind the scene
Black Meaning: A long Coat usualy worn by American Police
its great being UDAKI (black)

Hek toe!!

Watching the news this morning reminded me of how much I have changed. Twenty years ago on this day - 11 February I was a very curious young person.

I was a student at the University of the Western Cape. At the time this was the best place for me to be - and I guess for many young South Africans. The University was one of the places you felt safe. A place where we learnt more than just what we needed to make grades. The environment was conducive for political and social debate.

At Bush, as we called the University, many of us discovered why the South African Police went crazy when the Red Flag flies high. We also discovered the meaning of glasnost perestroika. This is where the concept of 'comradeship' had meaning. Political tolerance is one of the things that were not an issue. There was unity even though people came from different political affiliations. When it came to common interests - people worked together.

Politics may have been the main feature of the university from an outsider, but that was not true. We had the Creative Arts Choir, the (often hilarious) gumboot dancers, poets and a few other cultural acts which entertained us during cultural events. From time to time there were cultural evenings where the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the Peninsula Technikon (Pentech) participated. This is the time when COSAW was also strong.

Soccer was also a feature in the University calendar. I remember the UWC World Cup season. This was huge and the competition was tough. There were so many teams and most were skilled. I stayed in Hector Peterson and we had two teams there and others belonged to other teams on campus. We had Korea and Nicaragua - it was a tough choice. The final was a spectacular event. This is one of the activities that brought this community together.

When I look at where we are today and remember how we were then - I realised how much I have changed. I have not been to a theatre in a while. I am lazy to go and sit in a stadium and watch a soccer game. Choral music has dropped to the bottom of my list. Most of all I am so lazy to read even though my shelves are piling up with all sorts of books.

Watching SABC 2 this morning I remembered a friend rushing to my room in a frenzy. This was on 11 February 1990. 'There is transport to the prison' she screamed. This was confusing because I was not sure what was going on. She kept saying 'they will leave us behind'. When we were young, you would go as you are - just grab a sweater. As I was looking for my keys she told me that Mandela is being released today and we are going to Victor Vester.

One thing about being at Bush. People knew what you are interested in - or rather what you should be interested in. Your reaction was also expected to be positive.

As we were running out of V Block - I discovered that this is not public knowledge (the transport). Other people were not aware - so we were to go before the pandemonium. At one point I regretted having to leave so early as we were standing in the hot February sun. We waited in the open for hours with no direction. People were tired and thirsty.

There was a grape farm on the one side of the road and the prison on the other. There were trailers along the side of the road - probably belonging to the farm. These helped for shade as we sometimes sat down next to or underneath them. Some people could not help themselves and started getting some grapes. At first people were screaming - 'No comrades' - later most people were munching the sweet vines.

Every now and again you would hear shouts when someone comes out of the prison. After what seemed to be eternity - the whole crowd went beserk. Cheers, Amandla!!! Ululating, and some broke into a song. We knew what was happening. We climbed on top of the trailer and we could see from a distance a small crowd walking towards the prison gates. People were shouting, singing, pointing, screaming and all. No binoculars or zoom lenses we were waiting for them to come a bit closer. As we saw Winnie, the figure next to her had to be him. The guy had his arm up - waving - I realised - Mandela is coming out of prison.

The excitement and the turmoil inside is difficult to share. So many people I wished were there. I had no camera and back then mobile phones were not heard of. As I looked around me - I realised that I was not alone. Many people were crying. Others hugging friends and others watching with glossy eyes.

By the time we got to the res, everyone was gone. After they heard that Mandela is out and will be addressing the people - they rushed to the Parade. We could only watch the old man make his first public speech in almost 3 decades from a television. Seeing Cape Town out there in the Parade in thousands - on top of trees, buildings, cars and everywhere and Bishop Tutu holding this man's arm and raise it to the air - and the response - I cried.

Zange ndihleke kangaka!

(Part of Grade 12 Xhosa paper 1 - Except from Ingwe emabalabala)
Ngenye injikalanga yangoMgqibelo kwathi ndisacambalele kamyoli phezu koqaqaqa ondindaniswe kakuhle, ndihlaziywa yintlengethwa yasemva kwemini kwafika umfana kaMpisekhaya sadl’amathol’eendaba. Kwathi ndisaphulaphule ezo ntshwaqane zakhe ndamva sel’esithi .

“Umlo wona ndandingawukhathalelanga nganto mna, meli. Ukuba indoda indicaphukisile ndandiqale ndiyiqhwabe ngempama ebusweni ukuze ijwaqeke ngumsindo. Kwakusithi isabibitheka njalo ndisuke ndiyidudle ngamanqindi. Kaloku mna ndandingeyonja edlala nemibundlwana. Kunjalonje ndandingakhathali nokuba indoda itsheva iindevu zayo ngekhuba likagandaganda kathathu ngemini; ukuba isile ndandiyibetha qha, ndiyiqushe noogxa bayo ngaphezulu.”

Ndaman’ukubobotheka yintsini ndizam’ukuzibamba phofu ndisoyisakala ndisakumv’esitsho. Ndacinga umfo kaMayime. Ngentsasa yangoMvulo ndadlana indlebenaye malunga nala magwebelele eli yolisa.

“Akathembekanga tu loo Thembekile undixelela ngaye. Ngaloo maxesha ethu esikolweni, eFreemantle, mihla le sasilala kubuhlungu amathumbu kukuhleka ngenxa yoburharha bakhe,” watsho apha kum umfo kaMayime emva kokuba ndimchazele le ngcombolo.

Wayeligwala elinokuzifihla nasezilokhweni zabafazi. Kambe ke, mfundi omhle, namhla uThembekile sewemka apha eMthatha. Watshintshelwa eTsomo ngezomsebenzi. Kanye kwezo ntsuku zokumka kwakhe, ngentsasazana ethile, ndakha ndambuza urheme ukuba kwakutheni na ukuze abe sesi silima sabumini.

Wandiphendula ngomdla omkhulu umfo omkhulu, waza wandihlebela oku. Ngonyaka ka-1972 kwakha kwehla isihelegu mayana phaya kwisithili saseLady Frere. Kwakusweleke indoda ethile phaya kulaa lali yaseMachibini, ibulewe ngumhlaza.

Kwandululwa amadoda amathathu: uVabemphikisa, uChithibhunga noLawulintaba ndawonye nengqutsela yenkwenkwe ekuthiwa nguMhlangabezi. Aba bafo ke babesiya edolophini kuKomani ngeenjongo zokuthenga ibhokisi yomngcwabo. Babekhwele iveni, amadoda la omathathu ekhwele apha ngaphambili yaza inkwenkwe yona yathi ngcu apha ngasemva kwindawo yokubeka impahla.

Okunene besakufika edolophini bayithenga ibhokisi leyo, babuya nayo beyilayishe apha ngasemva. Yayinjani ke ukuna imvula ngelo xesha! Yayidyabhaza. Iindlelana zeenkomo nezeebhokhwe zazingathi yimilambo enamagama ngenxa yezantyalantyala zamanzi esikhukula, esihla engumdolomba.

Kambe ke ngelishwa iveni le yayingenasigqumathelo apha ngasemva; ngako oko ke uMhlangabezi wayesesichengeni saloo Nogumbe kaNowa. Ukuzikhusela kule meko unkabi wavula ibhokisi leyo, phofu engaqatshelwa mntu, wangena phakathi kuyo, akugqiba wavala ngesiciko sayo, walala.

Ezi nqeberhu zikule veni ke kwathi ziselapho kolo hambo luphindela eMachibini zathana nqwakaqha namadoda amathandathu emi ecaleni kwendlela , emanzi okwamantshontsho enkukhu etshone emphandeni. La madoda omathandathu abetha ngobhontsi, esenza umqondiso wokumisa le veni. Esakuwabona umqhubi wamisa. Acela ukukhwela, kwathi kanti amanye asinga kwaseMachibini, amanye aya eLinge.

Esakuvunyelwa akhwela ke edomboza. Yathabathisa kwaseluhambeni iveni esakuba ezinzile ukuhlala ngasemva apha. Kwakungocolothi ke ngoku. Loo madoda athi esakubona ibhokisi leyo acinga ukuba makube loo veni yayilande isidumbu somfi kumzi okhenkcisayo wabangcwabi edolophini.

Bancokola ke abafo abakhulu, incoko yabo ichaphazela ithamsanqa labo lokukhweliswa kuloo veni. Kwathi kusenjalo kanye yee qabu imvula, lazola izulu. Kusakuba nje ke ngoku ayitshintsha incoko yawo la madoda, ancokola ngemo yezulu ngokubanzi.

“Bafondini, incedile yenze isiqabu le mvula.”
“Uchan’ucwethe, Ndlangisa; kunjalo kanye.”
“Ndiyaqala ukunethwa yimvula kangaka, madoda.”
“Nam, ntangam.”

Kwathi ke xa ilapho le ncoko amadoda akhwankqiswa kukubona isiciko sebhokisi sivuleka , kwalandela ilizwi liphuma ebhokisini phakathi lisithi: “Ngxatsho ke! Eli zulu lide lazola ekugqibeleni?”

Hayi ke ukothuka kwaloo madoda! Kwaba ngudulubhentsu noqulukubhode, abo bafo beshiyana ngotyefezo ukutsibela phantsi, kwaziincwina nezingqala ukugadleleka kwabo. Ngaye wonke ke lo gama iveni yona iginya amanani amakhulu isus’amaphepha. Izibilini zabo bahambi babekhwele gasemva zazinyuke ngephanyazo zada zaphants’ukuphuma ngomlomo! Ayebhonga amadoda Nas’isithunzela ebhokisini! Isithunzela!!!

Umqhubi weveni esakuva loo mikhulungo, imikhwazo nezimbonono wakhangela apha kwisipili esibonisa ngasemva waza wabona umbono omasikizi kunene, amadoda elakatyula, ejakatyeka, wambi eziphosa nje phantsi engaqiqanga nokuqiqa. Kusakuba njalo ke wamisa kwangoko umqhubi, waphuma neso sibini samadoda wayekhwele nawo ngaphambili.

Bazichola-chola ezo ndwayinge zingxwelerheke ngohlobo oluxhomis’amehlo. Loo madoda omathandathu abalekiselwa kwisibhedlele ekuthiwa yiFrontier edolophini kuKomani evikiveke imilenze neengalo, wambi ehluntsuke izihlunu zamathanga nezeziquluba, eqhawuke nemisipha ethile. Ngethamsanqa phofu akuzange kubekho ngxwelerha iphulukana nobomi bayo.

Omnye waloo madoda asinda cebetshu ekufeni kuloo ngozi yaba nguThembekile lo, ngokutsho kwakhe.