Sabela

Last updated
Sabela
PronunciationAfrikaans pronunciation: [sabɛilɑː]
Created by
Setting and usage South Africa
Purpose
Communication between inmates
Language codes
ISO 639-3
This article contains IPA phonetic symbols. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Unicode characters. For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA.

Sabela is a covert communication dialect of several major South African languages formed by the Numbers gang. [1] [2] Sabela was originally developed in the mines during the early 1900's as a means of communication between the members of The Numbers Gang but as the gang's influence in grew in various South African prisons, the language became eminent in prison and since then, released inmates have introduced it to the general populace of South Africa. [3] UkuSabela means to respond in various Nguni languages.

Contents

Structure

Sabela inherits most of its vocabulary, phonology, and syntax from Xhosa and Zulu. [3] [4] Due to the Xhosa and Zulu influence, Sabela contains click consonants. [5]

Words in Sabela

Examples of Words in Sabela [3]
Sabela IPA English Literal TranslationMeaning
Phakamisa[pəkəmisə]Confirmation / AgreementUsed to show general approval or interest
Biteeza[bajtiz∧]FoodFood
Chise[tʃajs]Receive or to get / speak to someoneAny situation in which one needs to get something
Lyn[līn]LineTo go somewhere
Skrif[skrɪf]WritingAn item that is significant or important
Nommer[nomɘr]NumberIn agreement in respect to the laws and ethics of the number. An object or situation of importance. (Direct allusion to The Numbers Gang)
Skombizo[skɘmbizo]Gangster"A member of the 27 number gang"
Hom[hom]GangsterTo make you aware

Die Antwoord

Sabela is often used by groups associated with the Zef movement, such as Die Antwoord. The group's 2019 gqom single "Baita Jou Sabela" (featuring Slagysta) contains lyrics partially written in Sabela that talk about the South African prison system. [6] The song's music video showcases the corruption present in the South African prison system. [7] [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National anthem of South Africa</span>

The national anthem of South Africa was adopted in 1997 and is a hybrid song combining extracts of the 19th century Xhosa hymn "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" and the Afrikaans song that was used as the South African national anthem during the apartheid era, "Die Stem van Suid-Afrika", with new English lyrics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xhosa language</span> Nguni language of southern South Africa

Xhosa, formerly spelled Xosa and also known by its local name isiXhosa, is a Nguni language, indigenous to Southern Africa and one of the official languages of South Africa and Zimbabwe. Xhosa is spoken as a first language by approximately 10 million people and as a second language by another 10 million, mostly in South Africa, particularly in Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Northern Cape and Gauteng, and also in parts of Zimbabwe and Lesotho. It has perhaps the heaviest functional load of click consonants in a Bantu language, with one count finding that 10% of basic vocabulary items contained a click.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Clegg</span> South African musician and anti-apartheid icon (1953–2019)

Jonathan Paul Clegg, was a South African musician, singer-songwriter, dancer, anthropologist and anti-apartheid activist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Music of South Africa</span> Overview of music traditions in South Africa

The music of South Africa exhibits a culturally varied musical heritage in conjunction with the multi-ethnic populace. Genres with the greatest international recognition being mbube, isicathamiya, mbaqanga, afrofusion, kwaito, South African pop music, afro house, South African hip hop, Shangaan electro, bacardi house, bolo house, gqom and amapiano.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tikoloshe</span> Zulu water spirit

In Nguni mythology, Tikoloshe, Tikolosh, Tokoloshe, Tokolotshe, Thokolosi, or Hili is a dwarf-like water spirit. It is a mischievous and evil spirit that can become invisible by drinking water or swallowing a stone. Tokoloshes are called upon by malevolent people to cause trouble for others. At its least harmful, a tokoloshe can be used to scare children, but its power extends to causing illness or even the death of the victim. Protection against them includes traditional methods such as raising beds off the ground and interventions by spiritual figures like pastors with an apostolic calling or traditional healers (sangomas), who are seen to possess the power to banish them. The Tikoloshe is often referenced satirically to critique the influence of superstitions on behaviour and society.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mbongeni Ngema</span> South African playwright and musician (1955–2023)

Mbongeni Ngema was a South African playwright, lyricist, composer, director, choreographer, and theatre producer, best known for co-writing the 1981 play Woza Albert! and co-writing the 1988 musical Sarafina!. He was known for plays that reflected the spirit of black South Africans under apartheid, and won much praise for his work, but was also the subject of several controversies. He died in a car accident on 27 December 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gcina Mhlophe</span> South African playwright, author mime and poet (born 1958)

Nokugcina Elsie Mhlophe, known as Gcina Mhlophe, is a South African storyteller, writer, playwright, and actress. In 2016, she was listed as one of BBC's 100 Women. She tells her stories in four of South Africa's languages: English, Afrikaans, Zulu and Xhosa, and also helps to motivate children to read.

Tsotsitaal is a South African vernacular dialect derived from a variety of mixed languages mainly spoken in the townships of Gauteng province, but also in other agglomerations all over South Africa. Tsotsi is a Sesotho, Pedi or Tswana slang word for a "thug" or "robber" or "criminal", possibly from the verb "ho lotsa" "to sharpen", whose meaning has been modified in modern times to include "to con"; or from the tsetse fly, as the language was first known as Flytaal, although flaai also means "cool" or "street smart". The word taal in Afrikaans means "language".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bantu peoples of South Africa</span> Ethnic descriptor in South Africa

South African Bantu-speaking peoples represent the majority ethno-racial group of South Africans. Occasionally grouped as Bantu, the term itself is derived from the English word "people", common to many of the Bantu languages. The Oxford Dictionary of South African English describes "Bantu", when used in a contemporary usage or racial context as "obsolescent and offensive", because of its strong association with the "white minority rule" with their Apartheid system. However, Bantu is used without pejorative connotations in other parts of Africa and is still used in South Africa as the group term for the language family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xhosa people</span> Ethnic group in South Africa

The Xhosa people, or Xhosa-speaking people are a Bantu ethnic group native to South Africa. They are the second largest ethnic group in South Africa and are native speakers of the isiXhosa language.

The Numbers Gang is a South African crime organization that originated as an African nationalist organisation. It is believed that they are present in most South African prisons. The gang was founded in KwaZulu-Natal The gang is divided into groups — the 26s, 27s and 28s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Die Antwoord</span> South African rap-rave group

Die Antwoord are a South African alternative hip hop group formed in Cape Town in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Watkin Tudor Jones</span> South African singer/rapper

Watkin Tudor Jones, better known by his stage names Ninja and Max Normal, is a South African rapper, songwriter, singer, record producer, performance artist, and director. Tudor Jones found international success as a member of Die Antwoord, with Yolandi Visser. He was formerly a member of Max Normal and The Constructus Corporation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brasse Vannie Kaap</span>

Brasse Vannie Kaap (BVK) was a hip-hop group from the Cape Flats in Cape Town, South Africa. They rapped predominantly in the Cape Flats dialect of Afrikaans. The original line-up included Deon Daniels (Boeta-D), Roger Heunis (Hamma), Ashley Titus and Enver Pietersen. Bboys Cheeze, Baby-L and Levi joined the group soon after they started to perform live.

<i>5</i> (Die Antwoord EP) 2010 EP by Die Antwoord

5 is an EP by South African hip hop group, Die Antwoord. The EP was the first official release by Die Antwoord on a major record label, Cherrytree Records. It followed up on internet circulation of the album $O$ and the viral "Enter the Ninja" music video, which featured on a number of high-traffic blog sites, most notably BoingBoing. The song incorporates elements of Smile.dk's song "Butterfly", famous for appearing in the Dance Dance Revolution series. The EP features some previously released material, as well as one new track and a remix. 'Fish Paste' was released as a promo single. Pitchfork Media made the entire EP available to stream on 12 June 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yolandi Visser</span> South African singer/rapper

Anri du Toit, known professionally as Yolandi Visser, is a South African rapper and singer. She is the female vocalist in the rap-rave group Die Antwoord. Her partner in the group is Ninja.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greater Kokstad Local Municipality</span> Local municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Greater Kokstad Municipality is a local municipality within the Harry Gwala District Municipality, in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. Kokstad is derived from Dutch, meaning "town of Kok". It was named after Adam Kok III.

<i>Ten$ion</i> 2012 studio album by Die Antwoord

Ten$ion is the second studio album by South African hip-hop/rave group Die Antwoord. The album was released on the iTunes Store on 29 January 2012 and on CD on 7 February. The album was released on Die Antwoord's label Zef Recordz after leaving their previous label Interscope due to pressure on Die Antwoord to become "more generic". The album debuted at number 20 on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums chart.

Gqom, gqom tech,sghubu or 3-Step) is an electronic dance music genre and subgenre of house music that emerged in the early 2010s from Durban, South Africa, pioneered and innovated by music producers Naked Boyz, Rudeboyz, Sbucardo, Griffit Vigo, Nasty Boyz, DJ Lag, Menzi Shabane, Distruction Boyz and Citizen Boy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khuzani</span> South African singer

Khuzani Nkosikhona Innocent Mpungose professionally known as Khuzani is a South African maskandi singer. Born and raised in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, he rose to prominence after participating on Mgqumeni's album iSecret 2009.

References

  1. Kgosana, Rorisang (28 April 2023). "How secret communication and codes run prison's Numbers gang". TimesLIVE. Archived from the original on 2024-02-05. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  2. Ravyse, Natasha E. (2021-12-28). Revisiting Ethnolinguistic Vitality: Language and Subcultural Repertoires. Taylor & Francis. ISBN   978-1-000-51647-0.
  3. 1 2 3 Saville, Marco; McKinney, Carolyn (2017). "Power Playground" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. "The Sabela". The Numbers Gang. Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  5. Onselen, Charles Van (1984). The Small Matter of a Horse: The Life of 'Nongoloza' Mathebula, 1867-1948. Ravan Press. ISBN   978-0-86975-239-5.
  6. "Baita Jou Sabela Lyrics". Genius. Archived from the original on 18 July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  7. Francke, Robin-Lee (13 December 2019). "Watch: Die Antwoord's new music video slammed for 'insulting coloureds'". IOL. Archived from the original on 16 November 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  8. ""Baita Jou Sabela", le nouveau clip du groupe Sud Africain Die Antwoord en featuring avec Slagysta". Beware (in French). 2019-12-01. Archived from the original on 2023-12-06. Retrieved 2024-06-16.