Expressions from Zulu proverbs on the uniqueness of motherhood in mitigating the adverse effects of orphanhood

Abstract

Proverbs are labelled as the expression of messages embedded in a language. This article analyses a selected proverb which reflects on motherhood and orphanhood and which is used to show the value of motherhood in the Zulu culture. The meaning of the selected proverb is profound in that it shows the value of the relationship between the mother and her child. After birth, the first person a child encounters is the mother, and through bonding and breastfeeding, the child forms its initial philosophy of life and coping mechanisms. This article expounds that breastfeeding leads to the total development of the child. A qualitative approach was used in exploring the proverb, intandane enhle ngumakhothwa unina (‘A good orphan is one that is licked by the mother’), specifically to critically analyse motherhood in an African context from Sibusiso Nyembezi’s book titled Zulu Proverbs. Referring to Zulu proverbs in the South African context, there is still a dearth of research in understanding the motherchild relationship during the formative years in the African context, and there is almost non-existent literature that analyses the significant role a mother plays in the early development of a child. The experiences to which a child is exposed, especially at the early stages of development, shape the way a child will view the world. This proverb encourages mothers to value their role in mothering their offspring. The article concludes that orphans and single mothers need security and stability as far as poverty is concerned as they face socio-economic challenges.