Protect in Zulu

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To ward off blows or avoid danger in Zulu is vika.  From vika comes another verb, vi-ke-la which is to protect.  African Americans might also say ‘watching your back.’  It’s good to know that someone is watching your back, because it’s a rough world.

Professional boxers like Anthony Joshua dance around in the ring warding off blows from opponents.  Nobody wants a knock-out.  Animals are fierce when it comes to protecting their young. Immunisation protects kids from certain diseases, even two people enjoying each other need protection.
An umbrella protects you from the rain.  Stick fighting in Africa and other parts of the world is about anticipating blows and avoiding them.

Vi-ka, the first part is pronounced like vivid, the second part as is kamala, an Indian word.  To protect is vi-ke-la, the first part as in vivid, the second part as is kenzo, a Japanese word and the last part as in laugh.

ZULU
ENGLISH
Vika.
A popular boy’s name.  The family hopes he will help them ward of blows or protect them.  Maybe, something protected the family when he was born.  It could explain what happened before or hope for the future.
Vikani.
A boy’s name which means many people should be protected.
Ba-vike-la i-zwe. 
They are protecting the land.
Ba-vike-la a-ma-si-ko.
They are protecting customs and culture.
I-mi-the-tho e-vi-ke-la i-zi-ngane.
Laws that protect children.
U-ni-na u-vi-ka nge-nga-ne.
The mother uses the child as an excuse or shield (when there’s disagreement between parents).
Mu-sa u-ku-vi-ka nge-ngane.
Don’t use the child as an excuse/shield.
U-vi-ka nge-hawu.
You use a shield.
U-Harry, u-vi-ke-la u-Meghan.
Harry watches Meghan’s back.
U-ma-lume u-ya-ngi-vi-ke-la.
My uncle protects me.
U-ma-ma u-ya-ngi-vi-kela.
My mother protects me.
Hamba.  Ngi-zo-ku vi-ke-la.
Go.  I will shield/protect you.  I’ll watch your back.
Nga-bo-na imoto i-za.  Nga-vi-ka.
I saw the car coming.  I stepped out of the way (maybe it was a drunken driver of texting driver).
U-zo-ngi-vike-la Franco?
Franco, will you watch my back?
Yebo.  Ngi-zo-ku-vi-ke-la Francina.
Yes.  I will watch your back Francina.

By:  Nonqaba waka Msimang.

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