izimbongi
English edit
Etymology edit
Borrowed from Zulu izimbongi, from izim- (“class 10 noun prefix”) + imbongi.
Pronunciation edit
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌɪzɪmˈbɒŋɡi/
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˌɪzɪmˈbɔŋɡi/, /-ˈbɑŋ-/
- (South African) IPA(key): /ˌɪzɪmˈbɔːŋɡi/
- Hyphenation: iz‧im‧bon‧gi
Noun edit
izimbongi
- plural of imbongi.
- 1991, Liz Gunner and Mafika [Pascal] Gwala, translators and editors, “Introduction: Izibongo, Power, and the Popular Voice”, in Musho!: Zulu Popular Praises (African Historical Sources; no. 3), East Lansing, Mich.: Michigan State University Press, →ISBN:
- In the national figures this bawdy laughter seems hardly ever to be present; it is only slyly winked at once in the King's praises in the "pillow" reference, but on the whole it is suppressed or censored out by successive izimbongi.
- 2006, Keyan G[ray] Tomaselli, “Orality in African Cinema: Reasoning, Representation and Relativism”, in Encountering Modernity: Twentieth Century South African Cinemas (SAVUSA Series; 4), Amsterdam: Rozenberg Publishers; South Africa: UNISA Press, →ISBN, page 92:
- Modern South African film directors and performers as bards, izimbongi or storytellers have only residues of existing 'traditional societies' to bring to the surface. Where primarily oral cultures elaborate their stories within the epic form, fables and extraordinary heroes and fantasies, the izimbongi in The People's Poet and Songololo are more concerned with cultural loss, oppression, colonisation and emancipation.
- 2015, Elizabeth A. Eldredge, “Oral Traditions in the Reconstruction of South African History”, in Kingdoms and Chiefdoms of Southeastern Africa: Oral Traditions and History, 1400–1830 (Rochester Studies in African History and the Diaspora; 64), Rochester, N.Y.: University of Rochester Press; Woodbridge, Suffolk: Boydell & Brewer, →ISBN, page 46:
- Mandhlakazi provided a description of the dress and actions of izimbongi (praise singers) as they recited and performed praises and told Stuart, / I, Mandhlakazi, once asked a son of Magolwana how it was that the Zulu izimbongi were able to remember the praises of kings to so extraordinary a degree […]. He said it was because they were given always tripe to eat. Moreover, they used to eat the drug umklele, […]
Zulu edit
Noun edit
izimbongi