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Showing posts from June, 2023

The meaning of months of the year — Xitsonga

Vatsonga have a unique way of marking the passage of time, with each month symbolizing a different aspect of nature and life. In January, they celebrate Sunguti , which represents the beginning or genesis of a new cycle. February is known as Nyenyanyana , a month when baby birds hatch and fill the skies. As March arrives, the birds have grown up, reaching the near adult or adult stage, and it is called Nyenyankulu . April brings Dzivamisoko , a time when herdboys set traps to catch mature birds during the hunting season. May is known as Mudyaxihi , a month of abundance and choice, as the fields yield a variety of food crops for people to enjoy. Khotavuxika arrives in June, marking the start of the cold season. July is called Mawuwani , characterized by light breezes and the subtle sounds of wind passing through the Vatsonga lands. As August comes, the winds intensify, and it becomes Mhawuri , a month of gale winds. In September, Ndzhati arrives, accompanying rainstorms with thunder a...

The meaning of the name Angula

Angula is a language learning app designed to empower people to communicate effectively in African languages. The concept behind Angula was born out of language activism, driven by the desire to promote and preserve African languages.  The name Angula  originates from the Xitsonga language, meaning to  reply , respond , or retort . The name encapsulates the mission of our app which is to enable people to have their say in any African language of their choice.  Amongst Vatsonga, the word angula holds significant relevance and it is frequently used to elicit a response during important discussions. For instance, if Musa claims to possess superior singing abilities compared to you, uttering a ngula is a call for you to defend your honor or to weigh in on the claim. Angula is a verb, its noun forms are angulo or n'wangulo . Official statements about various matters from governments, public officials, and similar entities are called n'wangulo . Another wor...