Letter 5/24: Izinja

 Heita 2024, 

How are you today? Going through a bit of nostalgia today. Going through some emotions that English can’t express. One thing you should know about me is that music is my go to for expression. I find that it speaks the language of my soul. So, I’ll be taking you through my playlist. 

I was raised by Kwaito. It never leaves me. December is actually a time when it’s at its peak. Trust me, when 1 December comes TKZee’s Dlala Mapantsula is already at the back of my mind. I join the masses who honour this day as our official “Hellooooo December” 🤣

Different, and too many to mention here, songs speak to me each December. Depending on where I am emotionally, where my reflections land me or which dish life and her lessons serve me. There’s always an almost constant one though. Brenda Fassie will always be there. I spent too many festive seasons listening to my neighbour have her in full blast. Too many songs to list. There’s that one year when a member of my family wouldn’t get over Mafikizolo’s udakwa njalo. I still hear them go on “kudakwa onemali, onenyuku” 🤣. My version of Malaika’s Destiny - that you took away from me 2024 🤣. So so many songs. 

One I couldn’t get out of my system today is Mapaputsi’s Izinja. So sad that he left us on your timeline, 2024. You know how the world is always on “All I want for Christmas is you” mode? I get into this mode. Every year without fail it hits me how akusafani nakudala umuntu angene house to house acele iHappy. That line must be one of my favourite lines of all times. I could write an entire paper breaking it down. A loose translation is: things aren’t like back in the day when someone could go into every household and ask for treats. Referring to the South African Christmas tradition that was similar to the whole trick or treat one. I say similar because “iHappy” was next level. Let me not get carried away. 

Things have changed - in the world, in this country…in my own life. I’m looking at how much I’ve changed. Sitting with my reasons why, questioning and laughing at a lot. I miss how naive I used to be, I miss who I used to be before some lessons but…kura uone. Right? 

I mentioned the kodwa moments ne? My kodwa moment is just being at peace with having to grow up. I’m just embracing how things have changed, I’m missing the good old days and I’m just emracjng that ak’safani nakudala…