Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 September 2022
Mabutho kaZulu vukani nonke,
Nibuth’ izihlangu nilalelise!
Akuvuk’ amabuth’ oSuthu,
Kuvuke nakaMandlakazi.
Buthongo bun’ enibulele?
Kanizwa yini wonk’ uZulu
Uyanyamfuz’ okwezimpethu,
Ubik’ indlal’ ezweni lonke,
Uphundlwa nayimikhuhlane,
Ubik’ ubhememe lwelanga?
Seniyakhohlwa yin’ ukuthi
Nathi nibhixana bukhomo,
Nichithan’ eNdondakusuka,
Nafa ningashiye miphako,
Nibon’ ukuth’ amankonyane
Osapho lukaMlungukazana
Asencel’ izinkomazana
Ezazimiselw’ abantwana
Benzalo kaSenzangakhona
Kwehle kufike kuCetshwayo?
Seniyakhohlwa yin’ ukuthi
Kuyinhlawulo yenu nathi
Ukuba mihla nayizolo
Sikhumbul’ iNdondakusuka
Maqede sijuluk’ uvalo
Nxa sikhumbul’ izinyembezi
Zawonina bamaqhawe
Agingqika omela phansi?
Uban’ owabon’ oMbuyazi
Nongas’ akheth’ ithambo lakhe
Phakathi kwamathambo enu?
Ingani nivuk’ ebusuku,
Sizwe nibhixana futhi
Ngemikhont’ egcwel’ igazi.
Sizw’ amawis’ eshay’ inkumba,
Omunye ethi nakomunye,
“Ashila, washa Kuthikuthi!”
Siyezwa silalelise –
Nabanye abadlula khona
Bayezwa balalelise.
Akubanga minyak’ emingaki
Nidabulene ngemikhonto,
Wazizwel’ amandl’ uCetshwayo.
Edudw’ umnumzan’ uSihayo,
Wazizwel’ amandl’ eSandlwana.
Wezw’ igazi lakhe lixhwatha,
Wathath’ umkhonto wawuphonsa
Wawubhekis’ eBalungwini.
Inhlendla yawo yawa phansi,
Yangena phansi yadabula
Yagxila yathi ngxi kwaMhlaba.
Izanusi zathula zathi:
“Wen’ ovimb’ indlela kaZulu
Uzithembis’ umbuso wakhe!
Uyoqhekezwa yimikhonto:
Ubhubhe, ufe, ungabonwa.”
Kwakhethwa iSandlwana saba
Isigcawu sezinsizwa
ZikaZulu noMlungazana.
Zaphela bhuq’ ezikaZulu.
Kwaf’ inyon’ enkulu kwabola
Ngish’ amaqand’ ezikaQwabe.
Kwehla kwafik’ uDinuzulu
Obehlala eSikhwebezi
Emzin’ omkhulu wasoSuthu,
Waqamba futh’ eMahhashini
Phezu kwegquma kwaNongoma.
Kuze kube namhlanje
Siyezwa noma singazange
Silubek’ unyawo qatha
Ukuth’ ukhon’ uMadlokovu
Obizw’ ePitoli wavuma,
Wakhothuluz’ ukwazi kwabo
Echathazelwa uSobantu;
Waphuz’ umlaza wabelungu
Ngameva eshob’ elimhlophe
Elid’ elifik’ ogabeni;
Wakhombis’ amadloz’ okwazi
Namandl’ okuthand’ ukuthula,
Wathob’ amanxeba kaZulu.
Iminyak’ emashumi ntathu
Nesikhombis’ uSolomona
Ephic’ ekhand’ eboph’ isizwe,
Esingenis’ ezindleleni
Zokulahl’ imikhonto phansi,
Siphath’ izikhali zokwazi.
Uye lon’ omis’ isikole
La kufund’ iziphakanyiswa
Ezizosekel’ i-Afrika.
Uye lon’ odl’ abasokoco
BeNtwalizindaba zeTheku.
Ezihlekela waphindela
EMahhashin’ akwaZulu,
Entabeni ehlal’ ingonyama
Ngob’ isab’ izul’ ukuduma.
Konje kwake kwenzeka yini
Ukuba inkos’ esebenze
Imisebenzi emingaka
Ihlale futhi isikhathi
Sokuficwa nawukuguga?
Yebo, Nkayishana enkulu,
Langa lisahlul’ amadoda –
Ulibekil’ itsh’ elikhulu
Emzin’ omkhulu kwaDukuza,
Wavus’ amathambo kaShaka
Odabul’ uMdima noMgovu.
Namhla silind’ ukub’ uvule
Lezo zimfihl’ eziphezu
Nezicindezelw’ etsheni.
Selimisiwe leli gumbi
Ngawo lo nyaka ngqa uqala,
Ulwandle lusukume phansi
Lwakhothamel’ idwala lelo,
Kwazamazam’ umhlaba wonke.
Sonke sezwa lokho sathula,
Kwayilowo wathath’ unyawo,
Wakhohlwa nawukubiza
Amadlozi ukub’ amsize.
Ngiya ngesaba Mqwalajuba!
Lo nyak’ ufika nani Zulu?
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