African martial arts...

We've been bombarded by international cultures in Africa so much that we often forget we have our own arts & creations. We know of kung fu, muay thai, karate, fencing etc. but our arts are often left in the shadows. So here are a three African combat sports / arts that we can learn & study, maybe create our own competitions & dojos...

1) Capoeira: From my knowledge & research, capoeira was an Angolan combat-dance that was popularized by Brazilian slaves. It's more a dance than a martial art but I believe capoeiristas do learn a few combat skills from being in capoeira.

2) Laamb: Laamb is Wolof / Bambara (Senegalese) wrestling... I'm not sure how it's done but here's a Wikipedia article.

3) Zulu / Nguni stick-fighting: Also known as ukucwiya is a typical Zulu past time among umlabalaba & others. I believe it was used to train youths for combat.

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Comprehensive classification of Ngoni / Nguni groups.

List of Ngoni / Nguni nations : • Bhaca • Hlubi • Mpondo • Ndebele (northern Ndebele in Mthwakazi & southern Ndebele in Gauteng, South Africa) • Ngoni / Jere / Jele (mainly in Malawi, northern Mozambique, southern Tanzania, Zambia) • Nhlangwini • Shangaan • Swazi • Tembu • Xhosa • Zizi • Zulu Altogether, twelve (12) "Nguni" groups are known to exist. From my knowledge in any case. Bhaca, Hlubi, Nhlangwini, Swazi & Zizi are the Mbo Entity . The Mbo Entity often declassifies itself from the Nguni group. Nhlangwini & Swazi are under a Dlamini dynasty while the Hlubi & Zizi are also Dlamini tribes. Ngoni & Shangaan are of Ndwandwe origin (a tribe assimilated by the Zulu Empire). Bhaca, Hlubi, Ndebele, Nhlangwini, Shangaan, Zizi & some Mpondo are often classified as Zulu. While it's unknown whether Mpondo & Xhosa qualify as Nguni, they are often grouped as Nguni. Using family groups to classify : • Mbo • Mpo...

Blog CV/Resumé

Just so readers of this blog can get to know a little about the writer. Name: Mthoko Mpofana Born: 1989 Place of Birth: Port Shepstone Race: Black / Sub-Saharan African Ethnicity: Zulu Height: 1,73 m Education : • Well versed in business studies & economics having done business studies & economics in high school & one year of a business management degree. • Well versed in computer studies, advanced data capturing & interested in software development. Trades : • Salesman • Restaurants / Take-away experience • Online trading Sports : • Football • Basketball • Biathlon • Cricket Pastimes : • Guitar • Keyboard • Chess (& Mlabalaba) • Sudoku Driving licence : • Licensed to drive all motorcycles. • Truck driving learner's license. Languages : • English (fluent) • Zulu (fluent) • French (semi-fluent) • ...

The problem with a single African currency.

Preword: It's funny because one of the main reasons I found the courage to blog on African matters was due to a West African(?) gentleman who proposed the concept of a said "swal" & "zul" as a continental African currency in a blog. His boldness & conviction in his idea just captivated me & today I have to debunk this idea of his. But, hopefully, Africa sees why. African technologies & financial solutions Oh, Africa. We are so romantic; "United States of Africa", "Single African currency", "African unity", "Ubuntu"... all these fluffy, lovey-dovey concepts that will be ripped to shreds in the globalised world. I debunked why a United States of Africa would likely collapse as soon as it sees the light of day. Today, I will debunk the concept of a "Single African currency" & explain why it would leave our enemies salivating. I can't blame people who like stuff like United States of Africa...

Ponderings of the Man from Mpofana...

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