AFL1504 Mrs A J Khomo 54980100 Unique number: 801813
Contents
Umbuzo 1 Page 1
Umbuzo 2 Page 2
Umbuzo 3 Page 2
Umbuzo 4 Page 2
Umbuzo 5 Page 3
Umbuzo 6 Page 3
References Page 4
Umbuzo 1 / Question 1
(a) Folktales have a very unique way of ensuring you know when it is the beginning, the
response and the end. The Zulu introduction starts with “Kwesukesukela”, (“Long, long ago
.....). With this as well, the people who are listening to the story are expected to respond
or actively engage the narrator to show that they are following the story, in Zulu they
respond by singing with the storyteller.
Whilst the story may not have a definitive ending as the narrator welcomes further debate
and thoughts on the issue, there is a unique way that the story is ended. In Zulu he/she will
say “Cosu, cosu iyaphela”, this helps the narrator bring the listeners back to reality.
(b) Zulu folktales themes serve to make sure that any theme has life-long educational
impact. They do this by raising awareness on very important issues in life or ones that
educate.
“The insumo “Impisi Nethambo” (“The hyena and the bone”) in Msimang (1991:75) is an
example of a folktale in which the moral theme is conveyed explicitly. In this story, a hyena
finds an old bone of a buck after a hard day’s futile hunting, and picks it up with its mouth.
When it crosses a river, it sees the reflection of the moon in the water, and confuses the
moon with a lump of meat. It drops the bone in the river and tries to grab the reflection of
the moon, but all to no avail. When the other animals hear this story, they laugh and say
that only the hyena could be so stupid to throw away a buck which it had in its possession.
The hyena represents gluttony and foolishness. This stories offers “the opportunity for
criticism of society and for social satire; for moral education”
(https://literator.org.za/index.php/literator/article/download/515/676)
In the inganekozilwane “Uheshane Nezinkukhu” (“The hawk and the chickens”), a hawk
and a hen initially get on very well and even get married. Their relationship turns sour
when the hen loses the hawk’s axe which she has promised to look after very well. The
hawk gets very angry and decides to punish the hen despite her pleading. He tells the hen
Page 1
Contents
Umbuzo 1 Page 1
Umbuzo 2 Page 2
Umbuzo 3 Page 2
Umbuzo 4 Page 2
Umbuzo 5 Page 3
Umbuzo 6 Page 3
References Page 4
Umbuzo 1 / Question 1
(a) Folktales have a very unique way of ensuring you know when it is the beginning, the
response and the end. The Zulu introduction starts with “Kwesukesukela”, (“Long, long ago
.....). With this as well, the people who are listening to the story are expected to respond
or actively engage the narrator to show that they are following the story, in Zulu they
respond by singing with the storyteller.
Whilst the story may not have a definitive ending as the narrator welcomes further debate
and thoughts on the issue, there is a unique way that the story is ended. In Zulu he/she will
say “Cosu, cosu iyaphela”, this helps the narrator bring the listeners back to reality.
(b) Zulu folktales themes serve to make sure that any theme has life-long educational
impact. They do this by raising awareness on very important issues in life or ones that
educate.
“The insumo “Impisi Nethambo” (“The hyena and the bone”) in Msimang (1991:75) is an
example of a folktale in which the moral theme is conveyed explicitly. In this story, a hyena
finds an old bone of a buck after a hard day’s futile hunting, and picks it up with its mouth.
When it crosses a river, it sees the reflection of the moon in the water, and confuses the
moon with a lump of meat. It drops the bone in the river and tries to grab the reflection of
the moon, but all to no avail. When the other animals hear this story, they laugh and say
that only the hyena could be so stupid to throw away a buck which it had in its possession.
The hyena represents gluttony and foolishness. This stories offers “the opportunity for
criticism of society and for social satire; for moral education”
(https://literator.org.za/index.php/literator/article/download/515/676)
In the inganekozilwane “Uheshane Nezinkukhu” (“The hawk and the chickens”), a hawk
and a hen initially get on very well and even get married. Their relationship turns sour
when the hen loses the hawk’s axe which she has promised to look after very well. The
hawk gets very angry and decides to punish the hen despite her pleading. He tells the hen
Page 1
