The Sunday News
What is the Ndebele word for stress? A church interpreter tells me that the nearest translation is ukuhlukumezeka. Why then is this word rarely used when referring to modern day worry? Most speakers opt for an English word and just say “ngile stress.” Perhaps the translation is too long and in this busy world, people prefer shorter words. If so, why do many people often use long words like amahlolanyama (a bird species) and insikabayitshiye (a whale)? Obviously, the length of a word does not discourage its usage.
I suspect that the translations do not capture the essence of modern stress. Stress is an illness born in the fast-paced and changing world we now live in. It leaves the patient confused, irritable and not knowing what to do.
A typical stressed person could be employed as an accounts clerk in a bluechip company. Let Themba be his name. Themba is the envy of scores of unemployed relatives, friends and neighbours. He at least has a job and at the end of the month looks forward to a salary.
Come monthend, friends and relatives expect Themba to remember them by “showing us a bit of support.”
After all, it is a time-honoured African tradition to share with the less-privileged.
In the past Themba himself had been helped by a friend or relative. True, some of the help was not directly to Themba but even if the recipient was a three-times removed cousin of a home-boy that counts. We Africans do not split hairs. Except when we now want to marry, we are all related.
Coming back to Themba, his landlord expects rent by the last day of the month — otherwise all his household items will be out on the street. The landlord’s waiting list for Themba’s room is long and a change of tenant will give the businessman an opportunity to raise rent.
Themba’s girlfriend expects him to organise his uncles to open lobola negotiations with her family. Due to financial challenges, Themba has in the past twice postponed doing this.
“Postpone again,” the girlfriend has hissed, “then I know my friends are right. Trusting you is like leaning on a wooden pole infested by white termites! You are only playing with me with no intention of marrying. I will have to look elsewhere for a serious relationship.”
Meanwhile, Themba has had a miserable month at work. Company sales are low and it owes large sums. The accounts supervisor instructed him to tell those persistent creditors that the company could not pay them because one of the two authorised signatories was outside the country and would be coming back the following week.
When the creditors followed up the following week, Themba advised that the other signatory was off sick and the doctor had ordered him not to do any work. The creditors ranted and hurled insults but Themba stuck to his lies.
This is the same Themba who at the beginning of the month listened to the pastor deliver a moving sermon entitled “Thou shall not lie.” When the pastor concluded, an excited Themba had shouted “hallelujah, from today, I will never lie.” Every night, Themba prays to be forgiven for the daily lies he tells at work.
Themba need not lie about his widowed mother’s condition. The old lady is genuinely ill. His sister phoned from their rural home and advised that their mother’s cough was getting worse. Taking her to the local hospital was a waste of time because the place had no drugs. The sister asked Themba for money so that she brought their mother to a city hospital. “I will see what I can do,” Themba sighed.
A day before pay day, the manager summoned all the employees for a briefing. He advised that the company would only be paying half their salaries. Along with other employees, Themba complained but the manager reminded them that they were not slaves. “Those who do not like it, resign. The gate is open.”
Had Themba been experiencing only one of the above problems, the word ukuhlukumezeka would suffice to describe his state of mind. Stress is brought about by these problems appearing at the same time. It is an illness 19th century Mzilikazi and his subjects never suffered from. I therefore suggest the word stress be accepted as a 21st century Ndebele word.
This is not a revolutionary suggestion. Words like itafula, imota, iayini and many others were happily accepted into Ndebele. Why not this one?
Perhaps the word is unwelcome because it has the uncharacteristic sound brought by the letter “r?” This is an opportunity for growth. Long back, Nguni languages did not have the click sounds. Mingling with the Khoisan groups led to the introduction of these delightful sounds. Is it not time the “r” sound was added to the languages?
Well dear reader, let us not further stress the hapless Themba by accusing him of using a foreign word to describe his illness. Allow him to feel free to tell his sister “Mntaka mama, ngile stresi.”
Mzana Mthimkhulu. [email protected]; WhatsApp: 0772238465
