Overcoming “Thinking A Lot” in Khwe of South Africa, a Daily Dose of Peace

A Daily Dose of Peace. Each week, I focus on Love, Joy, and Peace in the world languages. January’s fourth week focuses on Southern African Khwe society in Africa.

Share, laugh with, listen to those who think a lot in South Africa’s Khwe community poetry with Kimberly Burnham Photo by Chance Brown on Unsplash

Thinking A Lot and Finding Inner Peace in Khwe and South African Languages

Think a lot
is it the same as
thinking to much

What keeps you up at night
disturbs your peace
notice your mind thinking
about the words
words of peace
“Tòókuan” is peace in Naro
a Tshu–Khwe language of Southern Africa

Count the letters
notice the alphabet pattern
feel your mind relaxing

The distress of thinking too much
the challenge of thinking a lot
about the problems of life
mess with the minds of people
all over the world

“|x’an n|a te” and “|eu-ca n|a te”
both translate as thinking a lot
among the Khwe of South Africa
both expressions translate
the English word “stress”

| symbolizes a dental click
“|x’an” (much) and “n|a te” (thinking)
“|eu-ca” (big) and “n|a te” (thinking).
“tiya” (many) “xo’a” (things), “n|a” (thinking)

Shona “Kufungisisa” means thinking too much
as a local causal explanation
of emotional or psychological illness

Afrikaans terms in a more familiar
Indo-European language related to Dutch
“dink” (think) “baie” (a lot)
and “dink” (think) “aan” (of) “klomp” (lots) “goeters” (things)

“Thula” is the Zulu word to use
when you want to tell your mind to shut up
“Ukuthula” carries the meaning peace
silence, quiet, calm,
tranquility, placid, or a lull

“Thula” is be quiet, be silent, be still,
be peaceful, be tranquil, shut up
count the letters in “Thula”
count the different meaning those letters carry
let your mind rest
from ruminating on life’s problems
placid like the wind in an ocean lull

On positive outcomes of “thinking a lot”
learn from mistakes
plan for the future
set personal goals

Wonder how the Khwe overcome
thinking a lot
share problems
sing and participate
laugh and listen

Khwe communities in South African languages “Think a lot” poetry with Kimberly Burnham Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Originally Published in Peace Poetry Dictionary, The Meaning of Peace and Calm in 5000 Languages on January 26, 2021.