Festivals & Events

1. Nini isidlo esikhethekileyo sekomkhulu?

   Ni-ni i-si-dlo e-si-khethekile-yo se-kom-khulu?

   When is the special royal festival?

   Usage

   Used to ask the date of a local royal celebration

   Grammar Note

   nini is the Xhosa interrogative meaning "when"

2. Umthendeleko wenzeka nini?

   Um-then-deleko u-nzeka ni-ni?

   When does the festival take place?

   Usage

   Asking when a festival is scheduled

   Grammar Note

   wenzeka is the verb "happens" with the um-class subject concord w-

3. Ndingabonisa njani ukuhlonipha esi sithethe?

   Ndi-nga-bonisa nja-ni u-ku-hlonipha e-si si-the-the?

   How can I show respect at this ceremony?

   Usage

   Asking how to behave respectfully at a traditional ceremony

   Grammar Note

   ndingabonisa means "I can show" using the ndi-nga- potential prefix

4. Ingoma yomdanso ihlekisa abantu.

   I-ngoma yo-mdanso i-hlekisa a-bantu.

   The dance music entertains the people.

   Usage

   Describing the entertainment at a festival

   Grammar Note

   ihlekisa is the causative form of hleka meaning "to entertain/amuse"

5. Ukwaluka yisithethe sekoKhosa.

   U-kwa-luka yi-si-thethe se-ko-Khosa.

   Ulwaluko is a Xhosa tradition (male initiation).

   Usage

   Explaining the Xhosa male initiation ritual

   Grammar Note

   yi is the copula "is" used with isi- class nouns

6. Ndingathatha inxaxheba na?

   Ndi-nga-thatha i-nxaxheba na?

   May I participate?

   Usage

   Asking permission to join a festival or ceremony

   Grammar Note

   na is the yes/no question tag placed at the end of a sentence

7. Ukutya kwezidlo zesintu kumnandi.

   U-ku-tya kwe-zi-dlo ze-sintu ku-mnandi.

   The traditional festival food is delicious.

   Usage

   Complimenting traditional food at a festival

   Grammar Note

   kumnandi = ku- (subject concord agreeing with ukutya, class 15) + mnandi (delicious/pleasant); built like imnandi in "intlanzi imnandi"

8. Umgidi wenziwa nini?

   Um-gidi u-nzi-wa ni-ni?

   When is the celebration held?

   Usage

   Asking when a celebration party is being held

   Grammar Note

   wenziwa is the passive form of wenza meaning "is held/done"

9. Izinxibo zesintu zintle.

   I-zi-nxibo ze-sintu zi-ntle.

   The traditional costumes are beautiful.

   Usage

   Complimenting traditional festival attire

   Grammar Note

   zintle = zi- (subject concord agreeing with izinxibo, class 10) + ntle (beautiful). It is an adjectival predicate, so no ya- is inserted

10. Ngubani umenzi walo mbukiso?

    Ngu-bani u-menzi wa-lo m-bukiso?

    Who is the organiser of this performance?

    Usage

    Asking who organised the performance at a festival

    Grammar Note

    ngubani is the interrogative "who" (ngu + bani, copula + person)

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