ndabazabantu, noun

Plurals:
unchanged, or abondabazabantu/abɔnˌdabazaˈbaːntʊ/.
Origin:
IsiZuluShow more IsiZulu undabazabantu literally ‘one concerned with the matters of the people’, a journalist (plural ondabazabantu).
Especially in township parlance:
1. A journalist. Also attributive.
1984 V. Khumalo in Pace Oct. 4The other day soccer fans saw a strange game at Ellis Park — soccer writers vs referees...Referees..are supposed to be fundis of the game, and we would have expected them to have thoroughly trounced the ndabazabantu guys.
1987 E. Makhanya in Sowetan 21 Dec. 12Journalists, abondabazabantu, Joe, like their fun...Abondabazabantu are made to face the wall as the law searches for dangerous weapons.
1988 Pace Apr. 4One ndabazabantu tells me, that we can expect a lot of kids born around the time of the Bophawhatsname to be named Manolo (overthrow).
1988 Pace Nov. 11Two budding journalists attended a seminar in the Jozi one day...A lady confronted these two ‘ndabazabantu’ because she thought they were gatecrashers.
2. rare. A magistrate; the presiding official in a commissioner’s court.
1987 O. Musi in Drum Aug. 79You’ll be explaining to a cold-eyed ndabazabantu why you did not marry her at all.
A journalist. Also attributive.
A magistrate; the presiding official in a commissioner’s court.
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19841988