Posts Tagged: zulu

Can you play the igogogo? Afri-can!

This week’s word of the week, igogogo, is part of the vibrant musical culture of the Zulu people of South Africa. Maskanda is a form of rhythmic and repetitive guitar picking that originated among Zulu migrant labourers when their rural homes to work in the cities and live in the townships. They have been called […]
Verve and vexation – the vuvuzela

The vuvuzela, the World Cup’s soccer horn, is a metre long, made from plastic, and brightly-coloured. Played with enthusiasm by fans it is annoying TV viewers.

Marque—is Jaguar reverting to type?11/10/2026
Jaguar releases the Type 01 This week the Jaguar car company released its new electric car, the Type 01. Jaguar has delivered on its controversial 2024 advertising campaign and Type 00 concept, which attracted widespread ridicule. One journalist suggested that “the marque, again, [is] putting its future on the line”. Famous for its sports cars… Read more: Marque—is Jaguar reverting to type?
Genericide & Entwisle Model of Brand Overshoot01/10/2026
A mate recently sent me a word he thought might interest me—genericide. There are quite a few everyday words that you might not know started life as trademarks: cellophane, aspirin, trampoline and escalator. I came across the same phenomenon in a previous post with cafetière for a coffee plunger. There is something quite ironic about… Read more: Genericide & Entwisle Model of Brand Overshoot
What’s for pudding?27/09/2026
As an English-born Australian I have the “lived experience” of navigating the differences between Australian English and British English. It is a fun place to play but sometimes the two just don’t reconcile. One of the most grating is how the English can call dessert “pudding”. I was brought up with Christmas puddings, suet puddings… Read more: What’s for pudding?

Can you play the igogogo? Afri-can!