bula, verb intransitive

Forms:
Also bhola, bhula.
Origin:
IsiZuluShow more From isiZulu verb bhula beat, hence (transferred) consult a diviner, prophesy (the transferred senses arising because of a method of divining in which the inquirer raps the ground with a stick in response to the diviner’s statements).
to throw (the) bones, see throw sense 2. Also combination bula dance.
1893 J.F. Ingram Story of Gold Concession 38The King’s chamberlain presently came out and announced that Nazaza would bula, or prophesy, that night at moonrise.
1949 J. Mockford Golden Land 106The bula dance..is still performed, deep in the heart of Zululand...Here the most terrible of all tribal ordeals is carried out..in which a frenzied witch-doctor..smells out the victim.
1971 The 1820 Vol.43 No.12, 26Khanya also ‘Bula-ed’ as the Zulus call it — that is she ‘threw the bones’ and from them told one’s fortune.
1986 Learn & Teach No.7, 41The herbalist asked me what my problem was...I just said I do not know but I have problems. ‘We must “bhola” (throw bones)’ she said.
1988 J. Jivhuho in Pace June 88You would go to a sangoma to bhula (bone-throwing) and he or she was not skilled in healing but would refer you to an inyanga who specialised in the disease afflicting you.
to throw (the) bones, see throw sense 2. Also combination bula dance.
Entry Navigation

Visualise Quotations

Quotation summary

Senses

18931988