We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 September 2022
Ngiphe umlomo nephimbo
Elimemeza kugcwale,
Kudume zonk’ izikhotha,
Kuzwe nalow’ obengezwa,
Ngob’ ikhon’ indab’ enkulu,
Bayibikile bayisho.
Sabe siyathe silapha
Silinga ukuyiziba,
Bayibebisa emhlane,
Nomhlaba waze wayizwa.
Woza nosapho lwakho Zulu,
Lusib’ olusenkundlen’ oSuthu -
Ukhombise umhlaba wonke,
Nkayishan’ enkulu kaMenzi -
Udumo lwawoyihlomkhulu
Olusele kubaQulusi.
Sifuna zona lezo nsizwa,
Sifuna zona lezo ntombi,
Sifuna lona lelo khehla,
Sifuna yena lowo mame.
Shayani izinsimbi nina
Zikhumukani zakwaZulu,
Kusukela ngakwaDukuza
Kuye kushaya phans’ oThukela.
Bikelan’ amandl’ amhlophe
Ngentokozo ekini namhla.
Nant’ izwe selibuyelana,
Selizibonel’ imiloyo
Ayikhuluma mhla esefa
Osixhokolo siseNkandla,
Bangamtshela nazibuko,
Bamweza ngelicong’ amathe
Ngoba beth’ uyisishaka.
Bamtekulela abafazi
Bombango wakwaNyuswa bethi:
“Inkom’ esengwa kwaMavela –
Ingawuqeda ngandlelani
Owenhlakuva yamanxiwa,
Lokh’ uSihayo wahluleka,
Ovunulel’ ezimfundeni
Zasala zaba amahlungu,
Ingani ngezamanzi?
Pho thina soshonaphi na?
Sobuya sikhosele kuye,
Singafuni kukhonza kodwa,
Kodwa sifuna ubuZulu
Bona bumi ngeshashalazi
Lezizwe zonke zeNyakatho.”
Wakhotha nabakwaMthethwa,
Wabemuka nehubo labo
Ngoba lingabafanelile
Nxa bethi: “Zinomland’ omkhulu
Lezo zinkomo, zifuzise
UShayandlondlo kaMjokwane.”
Akubona labo kuphela –
Wakhothuluz’ abasokoco
Baphansi nangaphezulu,
Wathungathisa okwenqina
Eyabhul’ eMabedlana,
Kwakhal’ amawa nezintaba,
Kwachwakazela wonk’ umsindo,
Namankankan’ abang’ umsindo
Athontel’ emigodini.
Nathi besingakazalwa,
Sisazizulel’ emoyeni,
Kodwa indaba yakho sezwa,
Kodwa sabaleka njalo,
Salindela lezi zikhathi
Zokubhekana kwezwe lonke.
Omnyama ubheke omhlophe,
NeKula lizishis’ eziko
Lilwela amalungelo.
Pho, thina siyakwazi yini
Ukuzingena ezombango?
Kwanga sazalwa kanye nawe!
Igama lakho liyohlala
Libusa njal’ enhliziyweni
Yesizukulwane sonke
Esesizelwe nesingekho.
Zining’ izinto ezidonsa
Zikhumbuza wena njalo.
Ma sivakasha kwaZulu
Sibon’ okuhl’ okuningi:
Laph’ amathol’ ezikhalela
Nonina beza bekhalima
Nemin’ isingugalanga;
Laph’ abafazi bez’ ekhaya
Bethwel’ izinyanda zenkuni,
Nabadlezana bephuthuma
Ukuzincelisel’ ekhaya;
Nakho phansi kweMfolozi
Izinsizwa naw’ amakhehla
Eyigonil’ intomb’ endala
Empondonde zingangawo
Phel’ amagudu ezinyathi
ZaseMbozamo neNonoti
Emahlathini oThukela.
Bayawabonga bewalumba
Ngensangu etshalelwa wena
Emadotsheni ezimfunda
Zomuz’ omkhulu uDukuza.
Zigawuliwe lezo hlahla
Kwamiswa itshe lakoShaka,
Wena Ntab’ ehlal’ ingonyama
Yesab’ izulu ukuduma.
Incwincw’ ephuza kwezind’ iziziba,
Ingaphuza kwezifushane
Amadidiba nal’ udaka
Fun’ ayinind’ iziphuka,
Anqinde nezimpiko zayo.
Lapha ngibheka lawa matshe
Angomabula abamhlophe,
Ngiwafanisa njengehawu,
Ngiwafanise njengengubo
Emboze amathamb’ amhlophe
Aseyilona lifa lethu
Owalisicilela phezu
Kwaw’ amakhand’ akwaZulu;
Yilona leli hawu lakho
Owawuhubhazela ngalo.
Okhokho nawobabamkhulu
La impi bengayiboni,
Beq’ izihlahla namahlathi
Besubatha ngamajubane,
Baphang’ ukuyogwaz’ ulwandle,
Bajabule ma belufica
Ludlondlobele, lugunyile.
To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.
Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.
Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.
