Was The South African (Zulu) Word "Kuyabongwa" The Source For The English Made Up Word "Cowabunga" ("Cowabonga")?

CookiePearl, August 19, 2023

TURTLE POWER! This week we teamed up with Zach B, ChewieCatt & MackOnTheBeat to bring you a song for one of our favorite franchises! TMNT! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem was an awesome movie and the animation was top notch! We had to create our very own TMNT soundtrack! -snip- TMNT - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

**** Edited by Azizi Powell This pancocojams post presents information and examples of the isiZulu (South African) word "kuyabongwa" and information and examples of the English made up word "cowabunga". This content presents my theory that the Zulu word "kuyabongwa" was either the source of the English made up word "cowabunga" or the similarity between the spelling (but not the pronunciation) of these two words is just an interesting coincidence. Thanks to all those who contributed to the content for the videos that are embedded in this post... **** COWABUNGA SHOWCASE VIDEO #2- HOWDY DOODY

SURFSTYLEY 4, Oct 23, 2011

"The term COWABUNGA was first said in 1953 by Chief Thunderthud on the Howdy Doody show. Spelled Kowabonga or Cowabonga by the show. Here is a skit with Chief Thunderthud using the term on the last Howdy Doody show to air in 1960. Now i wait for comments about hiding bananas and such. Surfers of the '60's having grown up with Howdy Doody as little kids started saying the word and spelled it Cowabunga by changing the O to a U probably because that's just how it sounded to them and they never saw the word in print, US Soldiers Fighting in Vietnam used the word i've been told, In 1965 Snoopy would think it while skateboarding or surfing, Rick Griffin drew Murphy Saying it while toting his surfboard around. In the 1970's Cookie Monster on Sesame Street would yell it out sometimes before eating something, though the one time he spelled it for the letter "K". K is for Kowabunga. Many people think Bart Simpson said it all the time but he didn't, What he usually said was Ay Caramba or Eat my Shorts or Don't have a Cow, Man, Most times you saw Bart on T-shirts or stickers saying "Cowabunga" while surfing. The Teen Age Mutant Ninja Turtles had Michelangelo saying Cowabunga. And sometimes Merv Griffin would say Cowabunga during his tv commercials promoting his tv show in the '70's. Rumor was that Cowabonga was a secret curse word, The show claims it never was and it wasn't in the very beginning of the use of it on the show but watching this clip, you could easily use it to replace a swear word, "Oh no no no COWABONGA no that clown looks sillyer on television than in person". -snip- Here's the complete reprint of " https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:Etymology/cowabunga
"Cowabunga

Etymology

Unknown but generally credited (as "Kowa-Bunga") to Edward Kean, writer of The Howdy Doody Show, a children's TV show that ran in the USA from 1947 until 1956.[1] Chief Thunderthud, a character on the show, started every sentence with the nonsense word "kawabonga" or with the syllable "kawa"[2] followed by ordinary English words. Other Indian characters of a different tribe, such as Chief Featherman or Princess Summerfall Winterspring, used "kawagoopa" similarly, as a greeting or to voice frustration or surprise.[3] The comic character Chief Thunderchicken exclaimed "Kawa Chicken!". Chief Thunderthud was also occasionally heard to exclaim "Kowaraschi" to express extreme frustration, perhaps in reference to major league baseball player Vic Raschi, whose daughter occasionally appeared in the Peanut Gallery (studio audience).

During the 1950s and 1960s surfers adopted "kawabonga!" as a declaration of enthusiasm, changing the pronunciation slightly to "cowabunga!".[3] "Kupaianaha" is the Hawaiian word for surprising or wonderful[4] and it may have influenced surfers who had grown up with Howdy Doody. "Cowabunga" appeared in a 1965 Peanuts cartoon in which Snoopy uses the word whilst surfing,[3] and in surfer movies of the time. Its use continued throughout the 1970s and 1980s, particularly as the catchphrase of Cookie Monster in the US children's television program Sesame Street.[5]

The word was repopularized by the surferesque character Michaelangelo in the 1987 US animated television program Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles[3] and subsequently by Bart Simpson,[3] usually while skateboarding. (Although the The Simpsons' creators subsequently believed "Cowabunga" was only used in the show after it was used as a slogan on the T-shirts,[6] Bart actually used the term in the Tracy Ullman Shorts[7] and in the first season episode "The Telltale Head".) It was later used as a tagline for the 2002 film Lilo & Stitch.[3]"

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"KUYABONGWA" SHOWCASE VIDEO #1 - izandla ziyagezana || kuyabongwa ❤️🙏

 

Amatshitshi, Sep 22, 2023
-snip-
"hands wash each other || it is appreciated"
-snip-
https://gogetfunding.com/blog-single-update/?blogpre=6212028&single=40239
posted by Jabulani Mashiyane, August 12, 2019
"There is a saying in Zulu that says "Izandla ziyagezana" direct translation (hands wash each other), meaning that as a people we help each other out."
-snip-
Here's another quote about that Zulu saying: 
https://www.facebook.com/utilitysystemswater/photos/a.182616309159544/871691956918639/?type=3 Inzalo Utility System, September 21, 2020
"There is an isiZulu proverb which says, "Izandla ziyagezana", meaning: "one hand washes another".

We have adopted this saying, which is present in many other cultures, because we understand what it truly signifies. No one can rise without the help of another. No business can thrive without it's customers finding value in their offering. 

Here, at Inzalo, we understand that our customers, and their needs are our priority. 

We are, because You are."
-snip-
Here is the Google translate results from Zulu to English for the word "kuyabongwa" = "It is appreciated".
-snip-
Here's how I think that word is pronounced: "koo-yah-bon-gwa"
-snip-
Click https://www.facebook.com/everydayzulu/videos/bonga/631218093880090/ for a Facebook page about the isiZulu word "bonga". Here's information from that page:

"Ngiyabonga is 'thank you'. Ngibonga is 'I thank'."
-snip-
https://www.names.org/n/bongiwe/about
"Bongiwe is a Zulu and Xhosa (male/female) name that means "We give thanks".
-snip-
Additions and corrections are welcome. 

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KUYABONGWA SHOWCASE VIDEO #2

chubbycheeks -kuyabongwa

chubbycheeks, Nov 5, 2023 Released on: 2023-02-10

Her song has gone viral on TikTok and earned her a seat in the South African music industry. Rising star ChubbyCheeks, real name is Mbali Buthelezi, has reached an incredible milestone in her blossoming career by achieving gold status for her debut single Kuyabongwa. -snip- Click https://www.paroles-musique.com/eng/ChubbyCheeks-Kuyabongwa-lyrics,p8704575 for the Zulu lyrics of this song as sung by Chubby Cheeks.

Also, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/11/kuyabongwa-zulu-south-african-song-sung.html for the pancocojams post entitled "Kuyabongwa" - A (Zulu) South African Song Sung By Graduating Students In Appreciation Of Their Teachers".
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KUYABONGWA" SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 -Izandla Ziyangezana Gwijo Song

ACAPELLA SOUTH AFRICA, Apr 4, 2023  #acapellaRSA #Gwijowave #GwijoLiyaphilisa
-snip-
A "gwijo" is a short song or chant that is sung to uplift (encourage/support) individuals and/or groups such as soldiers (similarly to military cadences in the United States) or athletic teams (similarly to the purpose of cheerleader cheers)*. 

In the sub-titles for this gwijo video, the word "kuyabongwa" is spelled "khubongwe". I haven't come across other examples of that spelling online.

In those subtitles the word "khubongwe" is given along with the word "omdale". Google translate gives the English translation for the Zulu word "omdale" as = "who created him". 

This particular gwijo probably has its source in a Christian song.

*Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/09/what-do-xhosa-south-africa-words-gwijo.html for the 2021 pancocojams post entitled "What Does The IsiXhosa (South African) Words "Amagwijo" & "Igwijo" Mean?".

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