ANCESTRAL CONNECTIONS

Abstract (Summary)
This thesis entitled Umoya Wamagama endeavors to establish the nature of the relationship between IsiZulu and Haitian Kreyòl. As a member of the Nguni group, IsiZulu is spoken by Africans. On the other side, Kreyòl is spoken by African descendants of Haiti, the world’s first Black independent Republic.
Viewed from a multidisciplinary perspective, these two languages exhibit a significant relationship, hence this important observation: IsiZulu- Haitian Kreyòl: So Close, Yet So Far! In other words, they are far from a linguistic point of view but close from a psycho-theological perspective. (1) So Far: Comparative linguistics shows that Kreyòl is genetically related to French and Latin. (2) So Close: Born in Haiti during the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade, Kreyòl keeps alive the spirit of the African ancestors and still contains linguistic roots of ancestral languages.
Vital and vibrant is this historical relatedness linking the two languages. While Haitian Kreyòl is genetically related to French and Latin, it shares with IsiZulu an ancestral psychodynamic and theological paradigms deeply rooted in Ubuntu.
Ubuntu ngumuntu ngabantu. These words crystallize the essence of Ubuntu. Its psychological and theological study transcends the literal language. In that regard Umoya Wamagama refers to both literal and figurative linguistic expressions. The emphasis however is more on the words which connote additional layers of meaning rather than those which simply denote their meanings.
The method used in this thesis is comparative, descriptive, investigative, analytic and exegetic when necessary.
Providing evidence of linguistic relationships, the comparative and analytic approach then embraces the semantic field ofIsiZulu-Kreyòl as a significant psycholexicology where explanations puts an emphasis on the meaning and the spirit of the words. Siye ngomoya wamagama. Hence, the core question of addressing the psychological and theological dimensions of this research which is based on a multidisciplinary approach.
After 500 years, in the wake of European colonial expansion, the Spirit of the African slaves is still alive in the psyche and the language of the Haitian people. As we said above: Yize isiKreyòl saseHaiti sifuze nesiFulentshi naseLatini, sabelana nesiZulu ngokwemisuka nanko kwezimiso zezinkolelo okunezimpande ezijulile emfundisweni yobuntu. IsiZuluand Kreyòl are related through an ancestral psychodynamic and theological paradigms rooted in Ubuntu.

UMOYA WAMAGAMA (THE SPIRIT OF THE WORDS) BY JEAN-BERTRAND ARISTIDE

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