The Oral Tradition of the Origin of the Surname Bhamala (Bamala)
I was told an oral account concerning the origins of the surname Bhamala, also rendered Bamala, in Zimbabwe. According to the tradition, the story dates back to the early twentieth century and is associated with the town of Gwanda in present-day Matabeleland South. According to the account, an Indian man owned a workshop in Gwanda and, at one point, recruited a local man to work as a security guard. As was customary at the time, the prospective employee was asked to bring his National Registration Certificate the following morning. Registration documents were reportedly kept by employers during the period of employment, while employees were issued employment cards for everyday use. The following morning, the prospective security guard returned with the requested document and reportedly said in "Chilapalapa" (Fanikalo): “Mina buyile nalo situpa kamina.” — meaning approximately, “I have brought my ID Certificate.” The National Registration Certificate had acquired the co...