Because of his wit, humorous writings and uncompromising digs on religion, his friends tweaked Zelalem's name into the name of the imminent French writer Zola, whom Zelalem himself read with great enthusiasm.
Kwa sababu ya akili yake, maandishi yake yenye kuchekesha na bidii isiyoridhiana juu ya dini, rafiki zake walilidhoofisha jina la Zelalem kuwa jina la mwandikaji Mfaransa aliyekaribia sana kuitwa Zola, ambaye Zelalem mwenyewe aliwasomea kwa shauku nyingi.