Where does “bomvu” come from?

bomvu (Zulu) comes from Proto-Nguni -bomvú, from Zulu ibomvu, from Proto-Nguni ílíbomvú — red ochre.

Ancestry of “bomvu”, step by step

Step	Language	Word	Meaning
1	Proto-Nguni	-bomvú	—
2	Zulu	ibomvu	red ochre
3	Proto-Nguni	ílíbomvú	red ochre

bomvu — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer