Growing up in Durban we were lucky enough to be treated to the vibrant red flowers of the amazing coral tree, and even luckier as children to be able to collect the pods, filled with ‘lucky beans’! Erythrina lysistemon, known commonly as the coral tree or lucky bean tree, is an important plant in Zulu culture, … Read more
Umganu (marula tree) is a tree used by African people especially the Zulus. The tree grows near the river but it can also be re-planted. It is mainly used for traditional healing of mumps (uzagiga). The person who has mumps has to go to this tree and hit the cheek on the tree, while they do … Read more
Ubhongabhonga isihlahla esitholakala ehlathini. Siyazimilela, emakhaya bayasitheza benzela ukubasa mabepheka noma begodola. Sinephunga uma ungena ehlathini, kodwa uma sesomile asinuki. Futhi siyancinza uma sikuthinte emzimbeni usale unamaqhubu alumayo. Lesihlahla siyasiza uma ekhaya kuhlupha imvukuzane, ususa umhlabathi lapho ivukuze bese ugoqa ikhasi labhongabhonga ulifake emgodini – iyabaleka. Noma ihlupha ensimini idla ukudla okutshaliwe njengamazambane, izaqathi, ubhatata, konke … Read more
Mphafa Tree or the Buffalo Thorn Tree This is an African plant that is highly respected within the Zulu community. The Zulu community strongly believe that this is the only tree that can carry the spirit of the deceased. The Zulu community strongly believes that if a person dies out of his or her yard … Read more
Izimila noma izihlahla zokufika kuthiwa ezokufika ngoba ezakwamanye amazwe ngaphandle kweNingizimu Afrika. Ezinye kuthiwa zafika nabasuke bevakashele kwamanye amazwe ngokuthi zinamathele ezimpahleni zabo zokugqoka. Kokunye zifika nezinyoni ngokushintsha kwezikhathi zonyaka (ikwindla, ihlobo, ubusika nentwasahlobo). Akudingi ukuthi zitshalwe lapho siwele khona siyazimilela. Lezihlahla zidla kakhulu amanzi futhi uma kukhona okunye okumilile eceleni kwaso kuyafa kumile sona … Read more
Kudala kunezihlahla ezazuwusizo kubantu. Phela ezikhathini zakudala yayingaziwa indaba yokuthi kuyothengwa izinto zokugeza kanye namakha. Abantu babesebenzisa izinto zemvelo ukuphila njengokulima njalonjalo. Sibe nengxoxo noMama uQhamukephi Sibiya, usichazele ngezihlahla zemvelo ezazisetshenziswa kudala ukunukisa kahle ekhaya kanye nokuzinukisa kahle kubantu. Lezihlahla zisatholakala ezindaweni zasemakhaya kanye nezimbalwa zazo ziyatholakala eThekwini. Nazi ezimbalwa lapha ngezansi: Ubhubhu Isihlahla sobhubhu … Read more