He speaks Shona like a native but he is South African

Added: 2026-06-01

[00:00:11]India. Okay.

[00:00:14]What if I told you the best speaking person I know is not from Zimbabwe.

[00:00:19]What if I told you is actually South African. 6 years ago we were just co-workers. Different countries, different backgrounds.

[00:00:28]It speaks shorter like you grew up in Mar.

[00:00:31]This is not just about language. This is about culture, respect, unit, and what it means truly means um to celebrate another uh one another.

[00:00:44]Welcome to Kui Productions where real stories are about identity, friendship, humanity, connection. Today I'm joined by someone special. Please people in it's me. I'm from South Africa but I'm an African >> So guys, yeah, this is my I would say this is my brother.

[00:01:21]>> Yeah, we grew up together but I didn't know that I'll meet a good guy like me.

[00:01:27]So now I'm I'm John guys. I'm a sutu guy. I'm from the sutu. My dad and my mom are sutu.

[00:01:34]>> But I enjoy Shauna.

[00:01:36]>> Shauna is part of my family of my heart. The way I talk sha you'll never believe guys. And uh >> since I uh I I met >> Shaa people >> h they teach me how to talk sha. Shaa is more like >> uh my language. It's mix. It speaks almost five languages in South Africa.

[00:01:57]It's much easier for me to learn to learn sha. But I want to know what did you why did you decided to to speak sha when you started hearing people speaking sha?

[00:02:11]>> Why you you become interesting in learning and investing in sha? Uh >> first thing first >> sha I liked sha because of the songs I used to listen to sha songs people like playing songs >> I used to take note to listen and ask questions and then after that there was a lady who was growing up with me maybe 10 years ago >> she's name >> so this lady was talking sh to me >> and then I was talking soon to So I started learning like that especially the music.

[00:02:49]>> Oh sing. I see >> especially chresa chres is my favorite singer in sing. So the more I listen the songs and this girl teaching the sha was much easier.

[00:03:01]>> So the time I came working at gerald I saw many sha people. So it's where I took note more more and more and more.

[00:03:10]>> But was it difficult to learn?

[00:03:12]>> No it wasn't not difficult.

[00:03:13]>> It wasn't difficult.

[00:03:14]>> Yes.

[00:03:15]because it's mix.

[00:03:18]>> My language is also there. So, some of the words >> almost the same.

[00:03:22]>> Yeah, almost the same.

[00:03:23]>> I see. At what point did you uh stop being um just um like hearing people speaking Sha. Okay.

[00:03:35]I want to know at what point you started to say no, I am really interested in Shaa. I need to learn Sha. Was it at that that point when you were uh with um learning with T or when we g when you start seeing more Zab and then you become more interested?

[00:03:54]>> No the time I went interested in the songs it's because the guys they were living in in where I stay.

[00:04:01]>> Mhm.

[00:04:02]>> They like doing parties for their children.

[00:04:05]>> So the songs are very touching that time. The songs were almost love songs to combine everyone around. So that time I thought no man let me give you the chance I'm enjoying and then I started like that.

[00:04:21]>> So do you do you know maybe okay how can I put this?

[00:04:34]How can I put this? Let me think the easiest way. Do you feel connected with the smug culture?

[00:04:42]>> Yes ma'am. I would say yes. That is a yes to me because >> Sha people they are different than South African people. Sha people the moment they meet you >> and then they see you that you can talk sh or you cry >> they give you that love.

[00:05:02]>> I see. They f you in that level that no one take it a chance take it forward.

[00:05:09]Almost many people I stay with now >> they want to learn >> but the problem is they always joking about sh they're not taking serious like me because even when I'm sitting with my family having a party I play songs.

[00:05:29]So, what is your favorite symb?

[00:05:34]>> Yeah.

[00:05:38]>> I will say it's what I grew up with. But the way you cook it, guys, is different.

[00:05:52]>> I see. I see. So every day I don't mind every day.

[00:06:03]>> Okay. Since you said you like um you like you you you were mostly listening to Zimbabwean music. Um, which song is your favorite amongst like Okay, let's say >> uh new >> that is my first song.

[00:06:26]>> That was my first song.

[00:06:28]>> And then my second song was uh the one he sings with uh Davidido.

[00:06:33]>> Mhm.

[00:06:33]>> Mhm.

[00:06:34]>> What do you call it? And I forgot that song, but it's I think it's it's my Hey, you got it.

[00:06:39]Yeah, those two songs they they boost me in that level that I'm >> let me give it give it up to me now >> to see >> take it forward. So I'm a proud South African talking song even my first country that I want to go to is Zimbabwe.

[00:06:57]>> Zimbabwe.

[00:06:57]>> Yes.

[00:06:58]>> So which song which song do you know word by word? Like if I say you sing this song you can sing it word by word.

[00:07:08]There's many songs.

[00:07:09]>> There's many songs. I don't want to lie to you. You play a song for me, I sing it for you.

[00:07:14]>> Like which one? Just tell just say one.

[00:07:23]>> Uh who's this again?

[00:07:27]>> Mut.

[00:07:28]>> Thank you. And then there's a guy who sings gospel songs. Uh, I forgot the guy's name, >> but he's always wearing a black and a green when he sings his songs.

[00:07:41]>> Do you remember one of the songs?

[00:07:44]>> Not really.

[00:07:45]>> Not really. But one day when I come back here, >> you need to have some music so that I can play it for you. So that I can play it for you. But there's many songs that I can sing out of my head.

[00:07:56]>> I see.

[00:07:56]>> Every morning when I wake up, >> I have to listen to three songs of sh >> of sh.

[00:08:01]>> Yeah. So how do other okay I can say other South Africans your family your friends how do they feel when you speak sha or when you are with sha people and then you speak like fluent sha >> how do they feel >> first thing first go >> I'm not going to lie to you >> oh you ask me another question >> so >> the thing is like this one >> when I'm with sha people and and I'm with my friends at the same time when I speak Sha with Sha people >> my friends they always says no this one is a sellout this one is a sellout you must never trust so I told the guys no man guys these people we were more like family >> so the moment I hear Sha people talking I enjoy it >> so they they accept it just the way I am so many people when they see me talking sha they see this is a sha understand when I when I tell them I'm not a sha person. I'm a guy. No one wants to be >> but when let's say we it's it's just us.

[00:09:18]It's just us. I know you speak and someone who is just hear you speaking sha. the person knows that you're South African and then you start speaking sha.

[00:09:31]Have you ever had like that experience whereby you just speak sha someone not expecting it as >> yeah those stuff happens most of the time because >> the moment you speak sh >> I respond with sha >> but the people they will just be quiet and then they will be shy that they seeing South African speaking what a sha >> sha >> they're supposed to be proud because South African are speaking sh which is a good And then I'm proud of that. Everywhere I go, if I see a person in dist.

[00:10:08]So everywhere I go, I I feel like I feel like sitting with shi >> because I'm feeling comfortable around.

[00:10:17]>> So what has this taught you about um African between um Okay.

[00:10:24]How can I say this? You learn sha. I like sha. What has it taught you about African people?

[00:10:35]>> What lesson have you learned about you speaking sh or you learning a different culture? Because look, it's rare us as foreigners when we come to another country, it's a must for us to learn their language so that we communicate.

[00:10:50]But now it's different when someone when a citizen learns a foreign language.

[00:10:59]>> So what has it taught you? What lesson have you learned? But ah me as a South African I'm just decided to to understand sh and start speaking sh first thing first people respect them respect.

[00:11:21]If you're speaking the language, some of them they are that third thing.

[00:11:28]>> Mhm.

[00:11:30]>> Sha people, they cook nice.

[00:11:33]>> They cook nice.

[00:11:34]>> So that lady was teaching me a lot of stuff.

[00:11:40]>> That's why I'm I'm like this now.

[00:11:45]>> Like this. You see I cannot tell you this the real words that you see I like but you when I'm talking to someone and I can see someone it's like hey let me talk sha with this guy >> and then uh the sha words when you when you like to asking someone to cool down and >> they are very nice they are very very nice and someone that doesn't expect that to be you will take it like Why is this guy talking like this to me?

[00:12:18]>> Like today I was talking to someone this and this. I didn't like So I'm not expecting someone when I'm doing something to him or her to fight with me. No more >> if if we done with what we doing and then we can go sit down.

[00:13:13]talk.

[00:13:14]See what I love about this story is that um it reminds us that culture is not about uh where you were born.

[00:13:24]It's about what you respect and also what you you are willing to learn.

[00:13:31]You speak like like a native um like a native but what makes it powerful is the love behind it. This is K Lou Productions where stories uh reminds us home sometimes bigger than culture uh or countries or passport.

[00:13:52]Please do not forget to like, share, follow and join the conversation.

[00:14:12]Maybe next time.

[00:14:16]But what advice would you give to not only to South Africans but to Africans uh at large about you know you you are willing to understand Shaa and you are al you you you now understand Sha because you wanted to learn Sha and also you are also willing to learn other languages and also to travel to to other countries to learn to learn the language the culture and all that. What advice would you give to fellow Africans?

[00:14:48]>> But I would say it's not too much >> to stop hating one another. Even though we come from far.

[00:14:55]>> Yeah.

[00:14:55]>> But we are still a female. We Africans.

[00:14:58]>> So hate I don't want to see Africans.

[00:15:01]>> Mhm.

[00:15:01]>> And then the other thing you must know most languages now before it's too late because you're not going to die in one place. Maybe you travel around Africa.

[00:15:13]So you need to learn every language.

[00:15:17]>> And other international guys. I'm really happy.

[00:15:23]>> Yeah. Look man, thank you so much for your time and >> thank you for saying so nice. I didn't know.

[00:15:35]>> Let me tell you something. Let me go back. You remember the time we met me and you >> was a different story. Yeah, it was a different story.

[00:15:42]>> Where we are now, >> I'm a perfect. It's more like >> we are sh.

[00:15:47]>> Yes. Yeah. It's more like we if I speak you understand if you >> Yeah, man.

[00:15:52]>> So now what I would do I would teach you more.

[00:15:57]>> Thank you.

[00:15:58]>> Thank you so much John. Very good distance.