Understanding Ndebele ethnolinguistic expressions of a full female bust and the fear of breast amputation among breast cancer patients in Zimbabwe

Words can make or break any individual. At the same time, each language and culture has its own expressions that point to the ideals of that society. The Ndebele people of Zimbabwe use linguistic expressions which bring out what the society values. Women in their natural state are part of the inventory of valued beings. Women’s health has come under risk due to the prevalence of breast cancer, which is the second most common cancer among women. One lasting solution to the condition is to have the breast amputated (mastectomy). Against this backdrop, the paper interrogates Ndebele ethnolinguistic expressions which idealise a female’s full bust thereby becoming a deterrent to breast amputation in cases of breast cancer. Zimbabwe health statistics show that there are few women who take mastectomy as a treatment option. While some of the reasons for this may be economic, there are some social reasons as well which in this case lean on the expressions of the society. Focusing on some Ndebele expressions which are found in daily speech and artistic forms like songs as a springboard, the researcher interviewed some breast cancer patients to ascertain the impact of such expressions when faced with an option of mastectomy. The paper concludes that linguistic and cultural expressions contribute negatively to the treatment behaviours and attitudes towards mastectomy among female patients in Zimbabwe.