Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 September 2022
O Groutville, muz’ omdala kaGilawoti!
Nawe zakusela izinsuku msuku.
Kusabus’ obabamkhulu bebodwa.
Kuthiw’ injobo babeyithungel’ ebandla,
Bengenjengathi esiyithunga sisodwa
Sihlez’ ezigqikini nasezincansini
Bon’ abangazange bazithi shazi.
Ngendaba sesitshelw’ amandla
Kuthiwa kwakubuswa kulezo nsuku.
Kwakusekhona nezitetelegu ndini
Enzalo yazo siyibona ngolugazi.
Wo, zidlule lezo nsuku muzi kaGilawoti!
Lo kwakumuz’ owawuvunganyelw’ indlovu
Phansi koMakhabeni, likhoth’ oNdlovu,
Kusekhon’ amahlath’ anamahlozi,
Kungamangalisi ingwe eyingozi
Ikubhozomela, ikwenekele phansi.
Nanka amasim’ omhlanga elucansi,
Esikaza nomoba ay’ ashay’ eMvoti
Omanzi aw’ anehlimbithw’ angan’ amtoti,
Agudle njengomqhumo wasemthimbeni
Ephahle la nangal’ amanzi nob’ ephandle,
Kuhelisene kuyolwandle njengomthimba.
Azisekh’ iziziba zakho Mvoti,
Amaqhikiza nezintombi zakho
Ezazibhidla nje zishay’ intshiki kuzo.
Alisekh’ itsh’ elikhulu lokugxuma
Laph’ izinsizwa namagawu bezothi
Zingene ngenhloko zidl’ umtshuzo
Kuhle kwezingxangxa namadwi.
Amagagasi abengelutho, noma
Bewasika abesikeka dweshu.
Hhayi kungenjengansuku zanamuhla,
La sithontel’ inhlabathi yonk’ imihla
Namanz’ engenabo lobo bumtoti.
Uma besekhon’ abathi “Guga mzimba!”
Nathi kufanele sithi “Guga Mvoti!”
Kungaze kuthiwe “Guga”, la kungase
Kwenzeke yini khona lokho uma kuse –
Khona namatsh’ esiShaka singashaywa?
Konje ukhon’ umuz’ ongashingiphala
Ngoba uthi won’ unganywe ngangcono
Amathongo angadlula okaMenzi?
Phezulu kwayo indlu yezinhlakanipho,
Emqongweni wamagquma kaMandelu,
Wena Nodumehlezi wawehla njalo;
Nathi sike sihlangane nawe sibone.
Wawudabul’ amanz’ aseMvoti,
Ugudl’ amagqum’ aseZenzeleni,
Nakh’ ukhwel’ ukhal’ oluseMnyundwini
Ngezansi kweziwa zakwaManzasengwa.
Lapha wawuy’ uthi voshosho uphuze
Ngothi lwesijula emingamanzini.
Eyethile ithakac’ izandla phansi.
Umzila nomkhondo wezinyamazane:
Izimbabala, nonkonka, nemigakla,
Udobel’ amehlo phakathi ehlathini.
Wen’ oyinkonyane kaSenzangakhona,
Wawubuk’ uhleke, konke kungokwakho.
Um’ amanz’ ampof’ esekungen’ umthambo,
Izinjuqu zezinsizwa zikaZulu
Zazikuphasa ngalapha nangalapha,
Zikutatamise zikukhuphulele
Phezu kwedwala lamadlozi awoXaba
Alimbela ngaphansi kwaMhlaba, athi
Liyoba umgqiki nembeleko yakho
Laph’ ubuk’ izinkomo namankonyane
Zabantwanyana nezinkedama zakho.
Izinkophe zobukhosi bakho Zulu
Ziyasesabisa, zesabis’ obabamkhulu;
Zibuk’ oNtaba, zibuk’ oMqwebu,
Zibheke phans’ eNkobongo ngaseMhlali,
Kodw’ akuzwakali kusola, kuthe nya.
Zibuye zibhek’ uMkhwethu noGovu,
Zibabone belele noBantukabezwa;
Amagej’ omoba nezinqola zoNoqhomela
Zidlidla phezu kwabo: uthule kaNdaba!
Wawushilo khona bekugwaz’ oMbopha,
Benz’ uzungu noDingane noMhlangana,
Washo wathi ngeke libuswe, koba nje.
Abanye babasikibunda baseMvoti
Baqinisa begomel’ okwesibawu,
Bayasho bath’ ukhon’ ulele kulo
Labo lezinwel’ eziluhlaza cwephe;
Kodwa kakukho natshe abaholi bethu
Abalenze laba umcamelo wentamo
Yakho eyagebis’ oMbuyazi weTheku,
Yaze yavum’ oFebana kaMjoji
Behlangene ngamakhanda eMtateni
Kanye noDumase, noWohlo, noPhobana.
Bath’ ulele phansi kwemisilinga
Namatshan’ uDukuz’ awanqwab’ eduze.
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