Phendula - answer, turn

-phendula (v)
answer, reply, respond
and more, see below...


impendulo (n.)
answer

Two very schoolish examples from the isiZulu Oxford Living Dictionary

Phendula yonke imibuzo esigabeni B.
Answer all the questions in section B.

Nikeza impendulo eyodwa embuzweni olandelayo.
Give one answer to the following question.
(love that word, olandelayo, like a song in itself)

as a verb,
-phendula also means
turn, turn over, turn around
alter, change, modify
convert
and also, dye
(isizulu.net)

All this reminded me of a song that was once familiar, with a refrain of 'iphendule' or 'ngiphendule'.

iphendule
he/she/it/they answer or have answered

however, by the translation in the lyrics of this song
soundtrack here
iphendule also means, as an imperative verb/order:
turn it around!


Here is the chorus, it was composed at the COP17 climate meeting in Durban, in 2012.

CHORUS


Turn it around


Drilling for energy, like you cannot see the Sun


Iphendule [‘turn it around’ in isiZulu ]


This earth belongs to everyone


Turn it around


Mining for energy, like you’ve never felt the wind


Iphendule [‘turn it around’ in isiZulu ]


Time to change so we can live

HOOK CHORUS in isiZulu
 [in English]

Jika Turn


Umhlabawethu This world is our world


Jika Turn


Masihlangane Let’s get together


Jika Turn


Umoya wethu This is our spirit


Jika Turn


Simuntumunye We are one or none

Hook chorus is great, right? The tune of this part on the soundtrack is weak, maybe someone can improve on it one day...

Finally, Iphendule is also a name, surely for a child who is an answer to prayers.

(another word for 'answer', is
-buyisa
it is only used intransitively, like 'reply'
since it has its own variety of meanings and will need a separate post)