Editing Zulu language (section)

==Oral literature==

===Proverbs===
In 1912, Franz Mayr, an Austrian missionary in southern Africa from 1890 until his death in 1914,<ref>[https://fhya.uct.ac.za/reverend-father-franz-mayr Reverend Father Franz Mayr] ''Five Hundred Year Archive (FHYA)''. Retrieved July 14, 2024.</ref> published a collection of 150 proverbs in Zulu with an English translation.<ref>Mayr, Fr. (1912). [https://archive.org/details/anthropos_1912_7/page/956/mode/2up "Zulu Proverbs"]. ''Anthropos''. 7: 957-963.</ref> The proverbs include:
*"''Inhlwa aibanjwa ngekanda isavela''." "The winged termite is not caught by its head as soon as it appears (i.e. wait till you have heard the whole story before you judge or even answer)."
*"''Aku 'qaqa lazizwa ukunuka''." "No polecat ever smelt its own stink (i.e. nobody recognises his own faults)."
*"''Aku'nkwali epandela enya''." "There is no partridge that scratches for another (i.e. everyone looks after his own interests)."
*"''Ikot'eyikotayo''." "The cow licks the one that licks her (said of people who help one another)."

[[John Colenso]] also included a selection of Zulu proverbs with English translations in his ''[https://archive.org/details/colenso-zulu-english-dictionary-1884/Colenso%2C%20Zulu-English%20Dictionary%20%281884%29%20-%20copy%20A/page/n13/mode/2up?view=theater Zulu-English Dictionary],'' first published in 1884.<ref>Colenso, John W. (1884). ''[https://archive.org/details/colenso-zulu-english-dictionary-1884/Colenso%2C%20Zulu-English%20Dictionary%20%281884%29%20-%20copy%20A/page/n13/mode/2up?view=theater Zulu-English Dictionary]''. Natal. pp. i-xv. See also the [https://archive.org/details/zuluenglishdict01colegoog/page/725/mode/2up?view=theater 1905 edition], pp. 725-728.</ref> Here are some of those proverbs:
*"''Iqina lipum'embizeni.''" "The buck has jumped out of the pot (i.e. it has escaped the hunter just when he thought he had it)."
*"''Izubela ladhl'indhlovu.''" "The wood-shaving killed the elephant (by striking it in the eye; used of a small matter producing a very serious result)."
*"''Aku'mmango ungena'liba.''" "There is no hill without a grave (i.e. death is everywhere)."

===Tales===

In 1868, [[Henry Callaway]] published a collection of traditional Zulu tales told by storytellers in the [[Colony of Natal]]; the book includes the Zulu text accompanied by an English translation.<ref>Callaway, Henry (1868). ''[https://archive.org/details/cu31924026950968/ Nursery Tales, Traditions, and Histories of the Zulus]''.</ref> The stories include the Tale of Uhlakanyana, a long cycle narrating the adventures of the famous [[Uhlakanyana|Zulu trickster figure]];<ref>[https://archive.org/details/cu31924026950968/page/n25/mode/2up?view=theater Callaway 1868], pp. 3-40.</ref> the story of the Zulu hero Usikulumi and his family;<ref>[https://archive.org/details/cu31924026950968/page/n64/mode/2up?view=theater Callaway 1868], pp. 41-72.</ref> the story of Usitungusohenthle who was carried away by pigeons;<ref>[https://archive.org/details/cu31924026950968/page/n101/mode/1up?view=theater Callaway 1868], pp. 78-85.</ref> and the legend of the mythical bird that gave milk,<ref>[https://archive.org/details/cu31924026950968/page/n122/mode/1up?view=theater Callaway 1868], pp. 99-104.</ref> along with an account of the very real [[honeyguide]] bird, called ''inhlamvu'' in Zulu.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/cu31924026950968/page/n158/mode/1up?view=theater Callaway 1868], pp. 135-140.</ref>
There are many cannibal stories, including ''Itshe Likantunjambili'', "The Cannibal's Cave;" ''Intombi Namazimu'', "The Girl and the Cannibals;" "Umbadhlanyana and the Cannibal;" and ''Amazimu,'' "Cannibals," along with an appendix on cannibalism.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/cu31924026950968/page/n181/mode/1up?view=theater&q=cannibal Callaway 1868], pp. 140-141, 142-152, 154-155, 155-158, and 158-164.</ref> Women are the main characters in many of the stories, such as ''Ugungqu-Kubantwana,'' the popular folktale of the old woman who must seek a pond of clear water;<ref>[https://archive.org/details/cu31924026950968/page/n187/mode/1up?view=theater Callaway 1868], pp. 164-176.</ref> the tale of Princess Umkxakaza-Wakogingqwayo;<ref>[https://archive.org/details/cu31924026950968/page/n204/mode/1up?view=theater Callaway 1868], pp. 181-217.</ref> the tale of Princess Umdhlubu;<ref>[https://archive.org/details/cu31924026950968/page/n260/mode/1up?view=theater Callaway 1868], pp. 237-253.</ref> and the tale of Princess Untombi-Yapansi,<ref>[https://archive.org/details/cu31924026950968/page/n319/mode/1up?view=theater Callaway 1868], pp. 296-317.</ref> along with the story of ''Ununana-Bosele'', the woman who defeated a swallowing monster in the form of an elephant.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/cu31924026950968/page/n354/mode/1up?view=theater Callaway 1868], pp. 331-335.</ref> Some stories, like ''Ubongopa-Kamagadhlela'',<ref>[https://archive.org/details/cu31924026950968/page/n244/mode/1up?view=theater Callaway 1868], pp. 221-237.</ref>
feature numerous songs in Zulu, for which Callaway provides the lyrics but not the music.

In 1870, Callaway published ''[https://archive.org/details/relamazulu00calluoft/ The Religious System of the Amazulu]''<ref>Callaway, Henry (1870). ''[https://archive.org/details/relamazulu00calluoft/ The Religious System of the Amazulu]''.</ref> which also contains Zulu texts and English translations, including ''Unkulunkulu'', "The Tradition of Creation,"<ref>[https://archive.org/details/relamazulu00calluoft/page/n7/mode/2up?view=theater Callaway 1870], pp. 1-104.</ref> along with lengthy Zulu testimony regarding ancestor worship, dream interpretation, divination, and medicine.

===Riddles===

Callaway's 1868 collection of Zulu texts also contains 12 riddles in Zulu with an English translation.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/cu31924026950968/page/n387/mode/2up?view=theater Callaway 1868], pp. 364-374.</ref> The riddles include:
*"''Kqandela ni inkomo e hlatshelwa 'zibayeni zibili (intwala, ngokuba umuntu u ya i tata engutsheni, ka namandhla oku i bulala ngesitupa si sinye; uma e nga hlanganisi izitupa zozibili, a i kcindezele, i fe''." "Guess ye an ox which is slaughtered in two cattle-pens (a louse, for a man takes it out of his blanket, but he cannot kill it with one thumb; but only by bringing the two thumbs together, and squeezing it between them that it may die)."
*"''Kqandela ni indoba e nga lali; ku ze ku se i mi, i nga lele (insika a i lali, ngokuba i y' ema njalo, i linde indhlu)''." "Guess ye a man who does not lie down; even when it is morning he is standing, he not having lain down (a pillar does not lie down, for it stands constantly and watches the house)."
There are six Zulu riddles reported in the ''Folklore Journal'' of the South African Folklore Society in 1880.<ref>Carbutt, Mrs Hugh Lancaster. (1880). "Six Zulu Riddles". ''Folklore Journal of the South African Folklore Society''. 2: 60-61.</ref> Here are two of them:  
*"''Ngi tshele ibizo le'nyoka ende e dhlula izinyoka ezinye? (indhlela).''" "Tell me the name of the longest snake? (a road)."
*"''Ngu bani oma njalo a ngez'a hlala pansi? (ishilahla).''" "Who is it that stands always and never sits? (a tree)."

===Songs===
[[File:Photograph of Madikane Čele.jpg|thumb|Photograph of Madikane Čele in Zulu clothing, holding a spear (assegai)]]In 1920, Madikane Čele contributed Zulu song lyrics and music to [[Natalie Curtis|Natalie Curtis Burlin's]] book ''[https://archive.org/details/songstalesfromda00burl/view=theater Songs and Tales from the Dark Continent]''.<ref>Burlin, Natalie Curtis; Simango, C. Kamba; Čele, Madikane (1920). ''[https://archive.org/details/songstalesfromda00burl/page/n99/mode/2up?view=theater Songs and Tales from the Dark Continent]''. pp. 57-76.</ref> Zulu texts and English translations, plus commentary, are provided for "''Iga'ma Le 'Mpi,''" "A Song of War;"<ref>[https://archive.org/details/songstalesfromda00burl/page/62/mode/2up?view=theater Burlin 1920], pp. 63-66.</ref> "''Iga'ma La Bantwa'na,''" "A Song of Children" (lullaby);<ref>[https://archive.org/details/songstalesfromda00burl/page/66/mode/2up?view=theater Burlin 1920], pp. 66-68.</ref> "''Iga'ma Lo Kusi'na,''" "A Dance-Song;"<ref>[https://archive.org/details/songstalesfromda00burl/page/68/mode/2up?view=theater Burlin 1920], pp. 68-71.</ref> "''Iga'ma Lo Ta'ndo,''"<ref>[https://archive.org/details/songstalesfromda00burl/page/70/mode/2up?view=theater Burlin 1920], pp. 71-76.</ref> "A Love-Song," along with the  music for the songs.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/songstalesfromda00burl/page/132/mode/2up?view=theater Burlin 1920], pp. 133-149.</ref>