In the midst of a controversial rugby match, South Africans are finding humour and unity through the versatile Zulu word “Kanti,” turning a tense situation into a lighthearted moment of shared laughter.
Johannesburg, South Africa (25 October 2023) – In the ever-humorous spirit of South Africa, even amidst a controversial rugby match, it’s clear that South Africans have a knack for finding the funny side of things.
While accusations of a racial slur between Bongi Mbonambi and Tom Curry briefly cast a shadow on the Rugby World Cup semi-final, the resilient South African spirit shone through and Melusi Tshabalala, the language enthusiast behind “Melusi’s Everyday Zulu,” couldn’t resist adding his own unique touch to the situation.
Melusi’s Facebook page has been educating South Africans about isiZulu words and their meanings since 2017. While most of his posts are educational, he occasionally delivers humorous gems that never fail to entertain.
This time, Melusi’s word of the day is “kanti,” and he’s used it in a way that tickles the funny bone.
“Kanti” is a versatile word that can be employed in various contexts. It can mean “after all, then, in fact, whereas, so, actually, but.” In this particular context, Melusi playfully uses it to mean “it turns out” and “but it turns out.”
He humorously suggests that the entire Mbonambi incident might just be an elaborate guerrilla marketing campaign for Hendrik Hancke’s “Ontkant,” a clever twist that has left many in stitches.
South Africans wasted no time in rallying behind their beloved Bokke and Mbonambi, responding with a wave of support on social media. They were quick to point out that the alleged word used in the incident might not be a typical part of their language. South Africans often employ far stronger words, and in the midst of the controversy, they turned to humour to lighten the mood.
Melusi’s post takes the cake when he asks, “Kanti what’s going on daai kant?” and humorously suggests the Brits “kanter off into the distance” and “dekanter their tears into a jug.” The word “kant” becomes a playful motif, repeated for comedic effect.
It seems that South Africans can find laughter even in the most unexpected places. Whether it’s supporting their sports teams or navigating the complexities of language, they manage to infuse humour into every situation.
As the post playfully concludes, “We kant in a house. We kant with a mouse. We kant here or there. We kant anywhere.”
It’s a reminder that, no matter the circumstance, South Africans have an uncanny ability to kant – to find humour, unity, and light-heartedness even in the face of controversy.
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