Culture & Etiquette

1. Vatsonga

   The Tsonga people

   Usage

   The name of the people living in north-eastern South Africa, southern Mozambique and nearby

   Grammar Note

   The title of a Tsonga Wikipedia article. "Va-" is the plural people prefix and the language is "Xitsonga"

2. Ndhavuko

   Culture, tradition

   Usage

   The way of life, language and food that a people hands down

   Grammar Note

   The Tsonga Wikipedia defines "ndhavuko" as the way of life shared by a people, including language, belief, customs, food and music. In FLORES it corresponds to culture

3. Ndzi rhandza ndhavuko wa Vatsonga

   I like Tsonga culture

   Usage

   A good way to show interest in the culture when talking to locals

   Grammar Note

   Composed from verified words (composed). "rhandza" means like or love and is frequent in the Bible. The Wikipedia has a title "ndhavuko wa Vatsonga" (Tsonga culture)

4. Xibelani

   Xibelani (Tsonga women's skirt and dance)

   Usage

   The layered skirt Tsonga women wear at celebrations; the name is also used for the dance

   Grammar Note

   The Tsonga Wikipedia describes a garment of Tsonga women worn at festivals and dances and tied at the waist; a photo caption says "va cina Xibelani" (they dance Xibelani)

5. Swiambalo swa ndhavuko

   Traditional clothes

   Usage

   Traditional clothes worn at weddings, family events and other celebrations

   Grammar Note

   The Tsonga Wikipedia has "swiambalo swa ndhavuko" and says they are worn at weddings and family celebrations. "swiambalo" is class 8, so the linker is "swa"

6. Swakudya swa xintu

   Traditional food

   Usage

   The food the Tsonga have long eaten, such as porridge and relishes

   Grammar Note

   The phrase "Swakudya swa xintu" appears in the first sentence of the Tsonga Wikipedia article "Swakudya swa Vatsonga"

7. Tindlu ta Vatsonga

   Tsonga houses

   Usage

   The traditional Tsonga houses, built in a circle around a yard

   Grammar Note

   A Tsonga Wikipedia title. The article says they are built of wood, grass, stone and earth in a round form around the yard. "tindlu" is the plural of "ndlu"

8. Xitendze

   Xitendze (seed store hut)

   Usage

   A building for storing grain and seed that shows old Tsonga life

   Grammar Note

   The Tsonga Wikipedia says "Xitendze i yindlu ya Vatsonga laha a va hlayisela kona timbewu" (a Tsonga house where seed is stored)

9. Hosi

   Chief, king

   Usage

   The ruler of a village or region, addressed with respect

   Grammar Note

   226 times in the Bible and 23 in FLORES. In the Bible it also means Lord, so check the context when it refers to a person

10. Vakokwa

    Forefathers, ancestors

    Usage

    The forefathers, spoken of with respect

    Grammar Note

    In the Bible it appears often as "vakokwa wa hina" (our forefathers). The Muchongolo article in the Wikipedia also has "mimoya ya vakokwa" (spirits of the ancestors)

11. Tin'anga ta xintu

    Traditional healers

    Usage

    Practitioners of traditional medicine, widely known in South Africa and spoken of with respect

    Grammar Note

    The first half of the Tsonga Wikipedia title "Tin'anga ta xintu ta le Dzongeni wa Afrika" (traditional healers of southern Africa). The singular "n'anga" is in the Cuénod dictionary

12. Vuyimbeleri

    Music, singing

    Usage

    Music; Tsonga music is closely tied to dance and celebrations

    Grammar Note

    FLORES has "Vuyimbeleri" (music). A singer is "muyimbeleri", plural "vayimbeleri"

13. Thomas Chauke

    Usage

    A South African singer and composer famous for Tsonga music (born 1952)

    Grammar Note

    The Tsonga Wikipedia article presents him as a musician who helped build up Tsonga through his music, born 1952 and awarded an honorary doctorate in African languages

14. Sho Madjozi

    Usage

    A South African artist who brings Tsonga culture into rap and poetry

    Grammar Note

    The Tsonga Wikipedia article presents a person who puts Tsonga culture at the centre of poetry and music, born 1992

15. Penny Penny

    Usage

    A South African singer known as the Shangaan Disco King

    Grammar Note

    The Tsonga Wikipedia article gives the real name Eric Kulani Giyani Nkovani, born 1962, and the title "Shangaan Disco King"

16. Nghunghunyana

    Nghunghunyana (a king of the Gaza kingdom)

    Usage

    A Tsonga king who ruled the Gaza kingdom in the 19th century

    Grammar Note

    The Tsonga Wikipedia article describes a hosi (king) who ruled Gaza in Mozambique from 1884 to 1895

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