When Africans in general, and Zulus in particular, name their offspring, it must be after an important event in their lives, or after somebody influential. For example, when Jacob Zuma's parents had to give him a Zulu name, they called him Gedleyihlekisa (the one who smiles at you while causing harm to you) because his father felt as if members of his family were doing exactly that: smiling at him while plunging the knife in. When my grandfather's parents were blessed with a son, my grandfather, they named him Bhambatha after their idol, the famous Zulu chief Bhambatha kaMancinza Zondi, who led the famous Bhambatha Rebellion of 1906. My given name is Vusisizwe (revive the nation). I don't know what my father had smoked to be so ambitious! Many children who were born during the dawning of our democracy have either been called Nkululeko (Freedom) or Madiba. The more adventurous parents who, while cognisant of their Zulu tradition also embrace English, have called their off-spring Democracy, Elections or Basic Grant. As cellphone technology has become the talking point, many parents are drawing inspiration from this revolution and are naming their children accordingly. All of a sudden the Home Affairs register is littered with names such as Network Madondo, Subscriber Zulu, Please Call Me Mkhize, Nokia Khumalo, Scratchcard Mlaba, Unavailable Masondo, SimRejected Hlongwane, Air-time Makhanya. Even the Zulus are moving with the times: no more Cijimpis : (prepare for war), or Mdubulenis (shoot him), or Sgebengus (criminal), or Xhawulengwenis (shake hands with a tiger).