Respond When Being Called

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Sa-be-la, a Zulu word, means respond when someone is calling you.

Sabelani is a popular boy’s name which might be directed at ancestors, that they should respond when the family is calling them with a particular request or a general one.  Families also have other reasons for giving sons that name.

Elections are about political parties calling voters, with the hope that they will respond and vote accordingly.

The system of call and answer is also one of the pillars of traditional African music, where in a gathering, some people ask questions using a song and others respond.  Soldiers sung these songs at the king’s palace before going to face enemies. 

Question:  Are we afraid of them?

Answer:  No.  We are not.

As for kids, they have no choice but to respond quickly when parents or anybody older than them calls them.  It is the height of insolence to ignore elders when they call you.

Friendship.  You realise who your friend is during a crisis.  Real friends step up when you call for help, which could be financial or emotional.  Unfortunately, we have short memories and abuse friends that helped us in the past. 

Sa-be-la. You say the first part like summer, the second like the Italian word bella, but with a soft ‘b’ and the third part like lark.

Sa-be-la-ni. You say the first part like summer, the second like the Italian word bella but with a soft ‘b’ and the third part like lark and the last one like need.

ZULU
ENGLISH
Sabelani.
A boy’s name which means many people should respond.
Asabelile.
A girl’s name meaning ancestors have responded positively to their needs, maybe the child was born after a long drought, or parents were unemployed.
Ayasabela amadlozi.
Ancestors do respond or answer.
Nellie, sabela uyabizwa.
Nellie, respond, you are being called.
Lazarus, sabela ubaba uyakubiza.
Lazarus, respond, father is calling you.
Sabela Thoko, uthole isamanisi.
Respond to the court summons Thoko.
Ngifuna ukusabela kodwa anginamali.
I want to respond (to a call for help) but I don’t have money.
Ba-sabela nge-nkomo emshadweni wami.
They responded with a cow (a gift) at my wedding.
Thandaza, uzosabela u-Jesu.
Pray, Jesus will answer (those of the Christian persuasion believe that).

By:  Nonqaba waka Msimang.

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