Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 September 2022
Zithi izindunankulu
Mangihlale phansi ngisho,
Ngibhonse njengenkomazi
Ibuya iqond’ ekhaya
Laph’ ilanga lisezansi,
Linjengezintomb’ ezinhle
Zihlab’ umshungu ntambama,
Zisuk’ eMhlathuze ziya
Zoganel’ eMhlathuzane,
Zishiy’ umbuso kwaZulu.
Bath’ abemfundo mangisho,
Mangiland’ umkhondo wazo
Lapho zendela ngakhona,
Ngingakhohlwa yiminyaka
Zaphum’ emakhay’ oyise.
Yebo, lalela-ke Mame,
Nawe mfokaz’ ongathandi,
Oth’ ufika ngaseBhayi
Wanqathuza ngamaRoma
Ngob’ ufun’ uZibusele.
Kunamuhla ngihlabelela
Ngezibongo zabantwana
Abadukelwa ngumhlaba,
Badinda kant’ emakhaya
Baboph’ imithwalo beqa,
Bahamba bashay’ uthuli.
Namanxiw’ awoyisemkhulu,
Nezihlobo zamagazi,
Nomhlab’ othel’ izithelo,
Nelanga lemin’ ehlobo,
Nenyang’ enhle yobusika –
Bahamba beyishiy’ emuva.
Badabul’ amanz’ olwandle,
Bayobhekana nomkhonto
Owakhalis’ amaBhunu,
Newis’ elaxosh’ iNgisi
Liphethwe oMasiphula
Phakathi kwesidlavela
Semizi ngaseSandlwana.
Ye! Beza bazibonela.
Bheka ngaphansi komuzi
Obuswa ngamathong’ odwa,
Ngababona behlangana
OMakhedama noJama,
Behlangana namathongo
Ezwe laseJalimani,
Benz’ isinqum’ esikhulu
Beth’ uZulu makakholwe,
Nay’ ahambe ngenkambiso
Yezizw’ ezapholofithwa
Ithole lokaLangeni.
Baya bathint’ inhliziyo
Enesihe kaFulansi,
Wahlabeka walalela.
Wabeyazibe bamphehla,
Wabeyathule bamhlaba.
Waboniswa ngamaphupho
Izindonga ezibomvu.
Ngizibona ngikhumbule
UMgungundlovu kaZulu.
Phakathi kwazo wabona
Kuphethuz’ izizwe zonke,
Zimnyama, ngisho nonwele
Luqoqene njengolwemvu.
Wezwa zikhulum’ ulimi
Olunobuqhawaxhiwa,
Zigqok’ izikhumba zodwa,
Zihlom’ umkhonto nenduku.
Kwathi laph’ ebuk’ amehlo
Wabon’ ukulangazela
Kwemiphefumulo yazo,
Ilangazel’ ukukhanya
Okwase kuphum’ ezansi
Kuphethwe ngoGilawoti
NoLindile noLandamu.
Wahlabeka kwas’ ebopha;
Wafika eSibubulungu
Wathelwa ngamanz’ oMtate,
Wafunga ngabaphezulu
Ezinikela kuZulu.
Laph’ amagqum’ anodumo
Elulek’ eMkhambathini
Ebalwa ngenkulungwane
Eqonde ngempumalanga,
Uyobona nesikole
Sephupho likaFulansi,
Ephusheni lakhe wezwa,
Wabon’ izinsizw’ ezine
Ziba zinde ngamakhanda,
Ziphawulwe ngezimpawu
Ezagcoba yen’ eRoma.
Wabuka wamangaliswa.
Wafika eMhlathuzane
Wabon’ uKhofi kaMnganga,
Wamephuc’ umutsha wakhe,
Wawusulel’ ezaleni;
Wahlangana noMabhabha
Abathe uzalwa nguMuthwa,
Wamkhininda amahawu,
Wabagugul’ ononhlevu.
Kwaqhamuk’ uPelepele
Omehl’ anjengomthakathi
Othakath’ umfan’ ekhanda:
Wathakath’ okaWeseli,
Wathakath’ okaGumede,
Baphenduk’ amalangabi
Behlangene noSavela
Abazalwa ngawoMbhele.
Thula mfana fun’ angizwe
Kanti sihleba sodwana!
Uy’ uPelepele lona
Kanye namabutho akhe,
Bathath’ imithi kwaBhaca!
Ngathi ngimbona weza
Nenkinsela yakwaKhathi
Ezimbulunga ngamehlo
Njengesikhohlokhohlwane
Esigagul’ inkulumo
Odengezini lwemfundo.
Halala, Makhehla ndini!
Kwem’ izinsizwa zingemi,
Kwasinwa kwafik’ uHuzi
Ogolwe ngapha kwaXhosa
Esegazingwe zinhlupho
Nomhlaba wamdons’ ingqondo.
Yibo laba thina Zulu
Bekanye noBhulayindi,
Abahudule imbiba
Sasale sathungathisa
Amaqangqa namabhansi,
Ngezincwadi zenkalipho
Esifakan’ imilomo
Ngazo ngisho nanamuhla.
Amaqangqa oCaluza
Abacab’ ithambo lakho,
Bavuka bengom’ ingoma,
Bayidons’ umlando wayo
Kuleli zwe lamawele
Abathi siyalithanda,
Silithandil’ i-Afrika.
Amaqangqa ngamagagu
ONgcobo noMayathula
Abaqhwish’ eWendolina.
Nawe ntokazi kaHwanqa
Uyintwasahlobo njalo
Ngokuchumis’ isikole,
Nom’ ungayaphi namuhla
Uyindaba yamagudu.
Uyinxusa lembukiso
KoNanda noManzimtoti.
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