Nguni Cattle Zulu Names

Nguni Cattle Zulu Names

Nguni cattle zulu names are descriptive, often related to nature and typical of the Zulu, can be rather humorous. The deep love and respect Zulus have for their cattle is also often reflected in their names. Like a human fingerprint no two Nguni hides are identical.

Nguni Cattle Zulu Names

• Zulu name: madixadixa when translated means “small boy playing in mud”.
• Zulu name: Umlindankomo meaning “the bird that does not rest” or ”what waits for the cattle”. A white hide named after the white cattle egret who are often seen in a herd.
• Zulu name: dabulumhlambi is a tricolored Nguni meaning ”what cuts right through the herd”. In tones of charcoal, caramel and honey, local Zululand artist Joe Marais has stunningly portrayed the dabulumhlambi nguni. Image below. Title: “Inkunzi” original acrylic painting on canvas, block mounted measurements 1200mm x 600mm at Café d’Art Gallery  Meerensee Richards Bay.

Nguni Cattle Zulu Names

• Zulu name: fezi is literally a ”spitting cobra”, a black or red Nguni with a white mark across its throat, similar to the markings of the spitting cobra.
• Zulu name: imaqandakahuye means ”the eggs of the lark.“
• Zulu name: hlakuva means ”beans” with a hide with brown and white spots.
• Zulu name: inkorno means ”the beast which is houses” whose hide looks like the homelands from a distance. This photo of an inkorno nguni below is duplicated with Zulu huts reminiscent of a homeland. Interestingly in the background is Isandlwana in Zululand which means “something like a small hut” or “second stomach of the cow”.

Nguni Cattle Zulu Names

• Zulu name: hlakuva means ”beans”, a hide with brown and white spots.
• Zulu name: matshezulu means ”stones and sky“.
• Zulu name: macimbomganu means “the caterpillars of the Marula tree“.
• Zulu name: idube literally means ”zebra”, a brindled pattern with streaks of black on a dark reddish brown hide which is a rare nguni pattern seen in the image below.