Rapper and songwriter Big Zulu talks about challenges that made his school days very difficult. File Picture: Facebook
Renowned rapper and songwriter Siyabonga ‘Big Zulu’ Nene, known for his powerful storytelling through music, has opened up about his troubled relationship with school during his childhood.
Growing up in the cold and snowy surroundings of Bergville in the Drakensberg, Big Zulu revealed that he faced numerous challenges that made his school days very difficult.
In an interview with David Mashabela on the King David Studio podcast, Big Zulu shared that he used to despise going to school so much that he would often skip classes and hide out near a river to avoid the teasing and being laughed at by his peers.
“I would fetch my school report which has zeros on it,” he said.
The artist shared that his family's financial struggles meant that he could not afford school shoes, forcing him to walk barefoot to school, even in the harsh winter months.
Adding to his humiliation, the artist shared that his school trousers had a hole at the back, leaving him vulnerable to laughter from other kids. To protect himself from further embarrassment, he resorted to putting paper at the back of his trousers, a temporary solution to cover up the lack of underwear that his parents could not afford.
Back then, the artist said he didn’t know what was the reason behind him hating school so much. However, looking back to those difficult days, Big Zulu stated that he now understands that the root of his hatred for school was caused by the deep emotional wounds inflicted by his schoolmates.
Furthermore, Big Zulu openly shared the additional responsibilities he shouldered at a young age, such as tending to the family’s cows before school each morning.
“In the village, livestock is something that is very important. Before going to school, you need to take care of the livestock,” said Big Zulu.
This obligation, Big Zulu said, often resulted in him arriving at school late, leading to further punishment from teachers.
The trauma of being laughed at and bullied left a lasting impact on him, shaping his attitude towards education. The artist said he often donates school uniforms and other school appliances to various schools in his hometown.
“I do this to prevent other kids from going through what I had to go through when I was a kid,” said the artist.
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