Names and naming: How more lunar months derive their names

WHEN the chant, “Kholiwe, hamba lomkhuhlane!” is made at the emergence of each new moon, you know that marks the start of a new lunar month. The chant is a prayer or request directed to the moon to take away diseases. Indeed, as we pointed out earlier, the disposition of the moon is thought to be a pointer to the health status of the emerging month. Names of the lunar months thus forewarn us concerning what to expect in the unfolding month so that cultural activities are planned accordingly. The name foretells what is impending by way of weather.

There are some people who say the “Kholiwe” chant was made on the midden outside the homestead. The midden is where ash collected from kitchen huts are deposited outside the home. This makes sense in symbolic terms. The midden is a site for peace and reconciliation. Diseases may be viewed as conditions of violence and conflict within one’s body. Standing on ash to make the chant complements the moon. The two join forces as it were to bring about peace, tranquillity and good health. Remember individuals involved in conflict were reconciled on the midden during the performance of a ritual known as ukukhumelana umlotha.

The various lunar months among the Ndebele and indeed other African peoples, are reckoned in terms of the rhythmic movement of the moon. Human cultural activities are timed to coincide with the position of the moon in the sky. For example Imfazo II (1896) broke out in March during the full moon when the chances for success in that war were high. A full moon is a facilitator of success. Its absence translates to failure. Time is reckoned by movements of celestial bodies such as the moon, the sun and many other stellar constellations.

As pointed out earlier, the rhythmic movement or cycle of the moon was linked to women’s menstrual cycles of 28 days. This is true among the Ndebele and other African peoples and was equally true among European peoples. ‘‘Mens’’ is Latin word for moon. There was a time when peoples of the world shared a common view of the world. Science and technology seem to have driven us apart as we began to look at the world through different eyes.

A basic unit of time is a day and is marked off by the movement of the earth in relation to the sun. In practical terms though we see the sun as the one moving and thus marking off days. About 28 days constitute a moon, inyanga, the lunar month. In a year, umnyaka, there would be about 13 lunar months which have individual characteristics which give rise to their names. Each lunar month is characterised by natural traits and is different from the one before and after it. The lunar rhythm is broadly maintained throughout the year.

What on the natural front is taking place is noticed and used to name the month. In last week’s article we picked on a few lunar months and indicated how their names were inspired by natural phenomena associated with each lunar month. It is not our intention to deal with all the lunar months but merely to drive home the fact that the names for the lunar months are inspired by natural phenomena on earth which in turn are under the influence of cosmic movements.

This week we shall consider a few lunar months and seek to lay bare the natural phenomena that underpin the names of those chosen lunar months. Let us start with the lunar month named uMpalakazi. The critical word in unpacking the name for the month of December in the Gregorian calendar is impala, the antelope. What we need to explain is the connection between impala and the month. It all starts with the fact that the rains have come. Normally, rains would have fallen in October. By the month of uMpalakazi the grass will have grown to sizeable length. Water is available and the trees are in leaf.

It is time when impala are calving. You may have seen that impala have their offspring during the month of uMpalakazi. Indeed, this is the time when many animals give birth to their young. The natural timing ensures that the young arrive when there is plenty of food, water and the cows are in good condition. Bulling would have taken place about nine months earlier when the natural habitat supported the nourishment of the animals. Gestation period is about nine months and calving, as pointed out, takes place when the dry winter months are over.

Let us now take a look at another lunar month — that month known as uZibandlela. In the Gregorian calendar it is January. There are two words that combine to give the name of the month. The one, ziba, refers to a natural state. Ziba means to cover, to blind or conceal. The word is used to refer the tall grass that now covers the paths. The rains have been falling for quite some time and the grass is overgrown to a point where it covers the narrow paths, izindlela, that people use. In days gone by when the wives of a man walked in the morning the most junior walked in front so as to remove the dew ahead of the senior ones following behind. The order was reversed when there was no dew, amazolo. The most senior led the way and the most junior was at the tail end.

Indlela is a culturally created phenomenon. People used paths to get to various destinations such as water springs, river pools, other villages and to get to trading stores. In the month of Zibandlela the grass is covering the paths, hence the name Zibandlela. When one feels dizzy she may experience some feeling of blindness and instability when consciousness sort of goes ‘‘ziba’’. ‘‘ Ngathi ngiyasukuma kwathi ziba, sengilesiyabakazana.’’

From month to another month there are noticeable natural changes that inspire the name of that particular lunar month. Both uMpalakazi and uZibandlela are lunar months associated with summer months, intwasahlobo. But as the earth continues in its revolutionary orbit around the sun, earthly conditions regarding weather conditions change. Beyond the winter equinox temperatures begin dropping. Rains tapper off. Winter is knocking on the door. Humans within the southern tropics begin to feel the cold.

In response to the plummeting temperatures humans begin making fires around to warm them. The IsiNdebele word for kindling a fire is ukubasa umlilo. Appropriately, the month is referred to as uMabasa, the month when fires are made to warm the people. UMabasa is a month that heralds the advent of the winter season characterised by low growth as a result of suppressed temperatures and limited water resources.