Page 83 - Heritage Streets of KwaMashu 2025

SECTION H
EZILWANENI
Africa is best known for the enormous diversity and richness of its wildlife. Africa is home to a tremendous diversity of wildlife species, including iconic animals like elephants, lions, rhinoceroses, and giraffes. These
species play critical roles in maintaining the ecological balance of their habitats. Animals feature prominently in cosmogonic myths by conveying the sacred power and messages with which the primordial chaos was transformed into the habitable cosmos. As shown in totemic ideas and practices, animals play key roles in the identity construction of individuals, clans, and ethnic groups. Most street names in the “H” Section are of wild animals (ikakhulu izilwane ezizingelwayo) such as impunzi, inyala, umthini, chakide, impofu, ingwe, intibane, isinkwe, iqhina and unkonka.
Domestic animals such as cattle are also important in African life. Cattle are seen as an extension of the human family and they represent several ideals that the human community espouses. From the ancient Ashanti kingdom in Ghana to the Dande villages in Zimbabwe, animal metaphors convey the power of the king and royal ancestors.
Some of the better-known of Africa’s large mammals such as lions, elephants, and leopards are found in habitats ranging from very arid to marshes and swamps. Immortalised over time African wildlife is one of the top travel attractions in the world. South Africa is home to iconic wildlife including the largest land mammals – the African elephant and rhinos. Wildlife is crucial to nature’s delicate web of life. Yet their biggest threats are due to human impacts on the environment. These include habitat
loss and overexploitation through illegal trade, both local and international.( https://www.wwf.org.za) Wildlife is also essential for tourism in South Africa. It creates opportunities and benefits for local communities living around protected areas and the broader economy.
Below are some of the idiomatic expressions of animals that have contributed to enriching isiZulu, a highly subtextual language.
“Isinyama sempunzi”, “uchakide uhlolile imamba yelukile”, “ingwe idla ngamabala”, “laphuma iqhina embizeni”.
Some roads of Section H are named after the following animals:
iNtibane - the African Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus). In Zulu, it is called iNtibane or iNdlovudawana (icishe ibe nobundlovana endaweni ethile - some elephant features somewhere). Unfortunately for this animal, people see it as the ugliest in the animal kingdom, and others think of it as a fool, an idiot, because a moment after it has been chased by predators it easily forgets and continues foraging even though the danger has not fully disappeared. This is a survivor that can live and raise her piglets among the most efficient predators.....a stocky animal that can run, fight, and hide to survive. The short thick neck makes it difficult to turn the head sideways. To look behind, the warthog must turn the whole body. Even when entering its burrow, it reverses! This animal tends to put smiles on the faces of those who love nature. They see it as the comedian of the animal world. The African Warthog is an important animal in the
ecosystem (can find water and create a lot of water holes in the wild – which benefits other animals) and adds some spice to the outdoors.
iMvubu – also known as imboma (respected by Sikhakhane people, oMboma as their totem animal). A hippo (‘river horse’) is indeed a unique animal: it is a terrestrial mammal whose closest relatives are whales and dolphins. Male hippopotami are highly territorial and will fight aggressively for dominance, using their formidable teeth. Mostly found in St Lucia and throughout the Isimangaliso World Heritage Site, north of KZN. It has a very hardened skin even the teeth of Mtimande (Ngwenya) (crocodile find it hard to penetrate it. Pre-colonial times its high was also used to make a very strong whip (imvubu) yokuqondisa izigangi (punishment of delinquencies). UMtimande noMboma abezwani nhlobo yize behlala ndawonye – yingakho kunanesisho esithi: “akukho zinyane lemvubu ladliwa zingwenya kwacweba iziziba”. (Crocodiles and Hippos are no friends even though they both reside in water and hence “there is no peace when a hippo’s calf has been eaten by the crocodiles”). Traditional healers also use the fats of both male and female hippos for different reasons. Female fats are good for encouraging the mating of cattle and male fats are mostly used for stick-fighting and lucky charms. Indlulamithi – the name “Indlulamithi” means Giraffe in Nguni languages. The giraffe can look above the trees to eat the best leaves, which is also a direct translation of the word. Because of its long neck indlulamithi can eat the highest branches where other animals cannot reach. Closest to it is uGatsheni (iNdlovu) – the elephant, that could use its trunk to reach some higher
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