Zulu Lesson Call

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Ayo Edebiri, who stars in The Bear, has a name and surname that immediately 
places her in a certain space. Mum is from Barbados, dad from Nigeria.

Kids whose parents worked outside the United States and Canada as diplomats or in the army, have a broader perspective of the world. They are also exposed to other languages besides French and English. An extra language is an umbrella for a rainy day or the compulsory spare tire in your car. This blog offers Zulu lessons when I find words, I can explain in English e.g. Linda. It’s a girl’s name pronounced the same way as -linda, which means wait in Zulu.

TODAY’S LESSON

Call is -biza in Zulu. You say it like Ibiza, Spain. “You have a call.” It is broader than your phone ringing. Bi-za is about using your voice to call somebody. Kids respond promptly when parents call them, normal kids, that is. Not kids that respond: what?

Now, the call is a two-way street. The person who is calling my name has a reason, and I understand it. Donald Trump calls his supporters ‘patriots.’ They headed his call to desecrate the Capitol and put both Republican and Democrat lawmakers in danger on 6 January 2021. 

Every call has an understanding. When boys play soccer or cricket, one of them will say: Thula, u-ya-bizwa. Thula drops the ball or cricket bat and runs home. Once again, it is the understanding between the boy who told Thula and Thula’s immediate response. Another example. It is also understood that a father-in-law does not call his son’s wife by her name. Most cultures have a term for her. Bollywood has films about her.

Christians take it to the extreme. They say Jesus ‘called’ them. Pastors love it. It lines their pockets.

ZULU

ENGLISH

Biza u-Langa.

Call Langa.

Biza u-Pedro.

Call Pedro.

Biza u-Kenya.

Call Kenya.

Biza u-Femi.

Call Femi.

Biza u-Shelomi.

Call Shelomi.

EXERCISE: Tell somebody to call your kids or classmates.

Nonqaba waka Msimang

Executive Blogger

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