Zula

Along with our nightly Swahili lessons, we’ve also been learning about the tribal languages, especially Kikamba. Tonight, Mrs. Nindi, Jacqueline, Rosemary, and us were talking about the kids over tea, and we got on to the subject of their second names. The second names are in the tribal language and often have very specific meanings having to do with the conditions of their birth or personality. Some of them are very fitting and some are very random. For example, “Muthoki” (that’s the eldest, Elizabeth’s, second name) means that “in-laws on the fathers side were visiting at her birth”. Faustina’s second name means that she’s “small as a black green gram” at birth (a green gram is a lentil). When Mrs. Nindi pointed out that Angela and teacher Jacqueline share the same second name, Zula, all the women started laughing. Apparently in Kikamba, “Zula” means “extra finger” and it’s given to those, like Angela and Jacqueline, who have a wart or birthmark on their hand. Now we feel pretty lucky to have kamba names that mean such simple things as “beloved” (Muende) and “happy” (Mutanu).