Mahala is a colloquial Zulu word for anything that is acquired without payment, or effort. All Zulus love going to one place during holidays; home. Why? Because it’s mahala.

The truth is, in these tough economic times, many of us opt for the ‘mahala’ option.

But consider the real costs of dealing with family, both physical and emotional. Then add black tax – paid in cash and free labour.

And for women, there are even more hidden costs, including becoming part of the help, adhering to a strict traditional dress code, and hyperpigmentation of knees from scrubbing toxic masculinity off the floors.

What’s better than mahala? A room, at a City Lodge Group hotel, far away from your traditional Zulu family, for under $60 at Town Lodge. It’s better than free, actually.

This campaign challenges tradition; not all tradition, just the dodgy bits.

Makoti is a city wife married into a Zulu family. She confronts the challenges of adapting to a more traditional way.

It’s tough for Makoti; Zulus have a wedding song about how much she cooks and cleans.

Umsebenzi means a party, but the very same word also means work. It’s a day of serving guests, as well as bitter traditional practices.

The next day, everyone returns to look for their hats, which is just a Zulu way of asking for more free food and alcohol.

The final story is about black tax, the act of repaying a debt to your parents.

For giving birth to you and taking you to school. The currency for repayment is not limited to cash. It may include finding a job for your cousin, in a country where there are no jobs.

Makoti Script

(Mahala is a colloquial Zulu word for anything that is acquired without

payment, or effort).

VO: You made your choice Makoti, to be with the in-laws in KZN every

holiday, attendance is mandatory.

Chorus: Because it’s mahala!

VO: You will be accommodated in the out room.

Chorus: Away from all the noise, mahala!

VO: It has a shower with a curtain.

Chorus: The water is mahala!

VO: While you shower they will flush, and the water will boil you alive.

Chorus: It’s mahala because it’s from the toilet!

VO: You get to wear your pinafore and leopard-print blanket.

Chorus: Blemishes and spots for mahala!

VO: Now you have tick bites, and leopard bites.

Chorus: Entrance to the zoo is mahala!

VO: We own you, Makoti. You will wash and cook for us.

Iron and scrub the floor for us.

Chorus: Like a mahala T-shirt!

VO: A sign of a good makoti is a head-wrap hairline, and hyperpigmentation

of the knees.

Chorus: Hush now, the hyperpigmentation is mahala!

VO: What’s better than mahala? A room with a shower that won’t boil you, from only

R680 a night, at Town Lodge.

Umsebenzi Script

(Mahala is a colloquial Zulu word for anything that is acquired without

payment, or effort).

VO: That is what life is about, Junior. Going home to host a big job.

Chorus: It’s mahala here!

VO: It’s called a job because others will be there to have a good time.

Chorus: Going down, for mahala!

VO: But you will be there to work.

Chorus: Until bedtime, for mahala!

VO: Chasing goats.

Chorus: Climbing mountains, for mahala!

VO: Slaughtering and skinning with your fists.

Chorus: Boxing, for mahala!

VO: Licking a goat’s gall bladder.

Chorus: Bile reflux, for mahala!

VO: Make sure you lock-up well, the guests will be back tomorrow

to look for their hats, which means work will start again.

Slaughtering and skinning…

Chorus: You just want to punch someone, for mahala!

VO: What’s better than mahala? A room with a fridge with no lock,

from only R680 a night, at Town Lodge.

Nsizwa script

(Mahala is a colloquial Zulu word for anything that is acquired without

payment, or effort).

VO: My man, holiday time is a time for chilling in the hood – let’s go to Empangeni.

Chorus: Hood-chilling for mahala!

VO: The bed you grew up in is still there.

Chorus: Still a single bed, for mahala!

VO: You’ve come to breathe in a map of old urine stains.

Chorus: Wee wee wee wee wee wee for mahala!

VO: It’s great to have you around – we can’t stop smiling.

Chorus: Mahala smiles!

VO: Must be your turn to buy groceries for the house.

Chorus: Bring us cooking oil, mahala!

VO: Tomorrow our clothes won’t fit us anymore because of your groceries.

We need new clothes.

Chorus: Christmas is mahala!

VO: Go find a job for your cousin, just speak to your white people.

Chorus: Remember you’re educated, for mahala!

VO: Through our money.

Chorus: You did matric twice, for mahala!

VO: What’s better than mahala? A room and a bed with no map,

from only R680 a night, at Town Lodge.

Zulus don’t go anywhere during the holidays, unless it is to go home.

It’s free and great for Zulu culture; not so good for a hotel group with a strong presence in the heartland of the Zulus – KZN.

We encouraged Zulus everywhere to consider the real costs of dealing with their Zulu families, both physical and emotional; and to add black tax, paid in cash, and free labour. And for women, even more hidden costs; including becoming part of the help, adhering to a strict traditional dress code, and hyperpigmentation of knees from scrubbing toxic masculinity off the floors.

Nothing is ever free, is it? It’s better to know what you’re paying for, and exactly what you are getting at Town Lodge.

We did a campaign that challenges Zulu tradition, not all Zulu tradition, just the dodgy bits.

Zulu is the most spoken language in South Africa.