Xhosa African Tribe
Xhosa African Tribe
African Tribes in Africa today
Xhosa (Koh-Suh) African Tribe tradition is very important to the people of the Eastern Cape South Africa. It is most evident in Xhosa African Tribe beliefs based on ancestor worship and oral history through the use of proverbs. Proverbs from the Xhosa African Tribe are timeless pearls of wisdom.
Nelson Mandela former President of South Africa was a Xhosa-speaking Thembu person and is perhaps the most well-known Xhosa. The Xhosa number approximately 8 million people, the majority of whom live in the Eastern Cape South Africa. They comprise a number of clans such as Gcaleka, Ngika, Ndlambe, Dushane, Qayi and the Gqunkhwebe of Khoisan origin. Xhosa language is one of the official eleven languages of South Africa.
Xhosa Tribe culture is rich in
tradition, food and sport. Xhosa African people have a rich oral history, as walking
history books; they preserve ancient stories and traditions. Their inherited
custom was passed down through generations. This passing down of oral history
through proverbs is one of the
most distinctive traits of the Xhosa.
 |
| Xhosa African Tribe Culture |
Xhosa Tribe African Proverbs
Xhosa, English and the
meaning of the Xhosa tribe African proverb
Lukozo lomya.
Healing umya plant.
This saying is applied to
anything or person considered very beautiful. The roots and bark of the umya plant is smoked or made into powerful medicine to cure snake bites.
Ngumpa wezala.
It is a cob stripped of
maize in an ash pit.
Said of a worthless
character.
Ukaulela inkawu
ziyakasela.
You disturb monkeys on
their way to drink.
This saying is used to express
uncalled-for interference.
Umafa evuka njengenyanga.
It dies and rises like
the moon.
Said of any question that
springs up again after it is supposed to be settled.
Ilizwe lifile.
The land is dead.
A saying which implies
that war has commenced.
Lunyawo lwemfene.
It is the foot of a
baboon.
A saying denoting a
treacherous person.
Inja yomoya.
A dog of the wind.
A saying applied to anyone
who has no settled plan of living.
Udhle incholo.
He has drunk the juice of
the flower of the wild aloe.
Said of a dull, sleepy
person. This juice when drunk has a stupefying effect, and benumbs the limbs so
as to make them powerless for a time.
Ulahla imbo yako
ngopoyiyana.
You have cast away your
own for that which you are not sure of.
This proverb is
equivalent to the English one, A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Yimbabala yolwantunge.
He is a buck of an
endless forest.
A saying applied to a
lazy person, one who never continues long in any occupation.
Akuko mpukane inqakulela
enye.
One fly does not provide
for another.
A saying of the
industrious to the idle, meaning that each should work for himself as the flies
do.
 |
| Xhosa African Tribe |
