Tsonga love poem

Translation of the poem in Xitsonga, spoken by the Tsongas (Shangaans), in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Tsonga (Shitsonga, Songa, Thonga, Tonga, Vila, Xichangana, Xiluleke, Xonga, Jonga, Kande, Langanu, Luleke, N'walungu, Bila, Changa, Changana, Djonga, Dzonga, Gwamba, Gwapa, Hanganu, Hlanganu, Hlave, Ngwalungu, Nhlanganu, Nkuma, Shangaan, Shangana, Shihlanganu, Shilanganu, Shingwalungu, Autonym : Xitsonga), is one of the 11 official languages of South Africa (4 million speakers).

The Tsongas or Thongas who speak this language are Bantu, who are farmers and breeders. They were divided into patrilineal and patrilocal lineages, and lived in dispersed hamlets - kraal - which correspond to localized patriclan segments. These kraals were home of large extended families, where authority was vested in a hereditary chief assisted by family heads. My little poem had to be translated into Tsonga, a southern Bantu language, which has many dialects. The word tsonga for me is evocative of African freedom, do not ask me why ... It's like that!