Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 September 2022
“Uteku lwabafazi bakwaNomgabi,
Betekula behlezi emlovini,
Bath’ uShaka kakubusa, kakubaNkosi,
Kant’ ilaph’ ezakunethezeka.”
Mina we mlisa wansondo!
Ngaze ngonda ngamicondo
Ungilibazise ngeze.
Ngiboshw’ ukuba ngifeze
Inkondlo yethole lika –
Phunga noXab’ elafika
Ngokubelethwa yilanga,
Lanceliswa inyanga,
Khona liyofun’ umkhondo
KaZulu liye kwaMpondo.
Mina wena mlisa ndini!
Ngaze ngancipha yinsini
Ngiphethwe yimicabango
Engibangela iphango.
Nginikez’ ibheshu lami
Namasakabula ami.
Unginike nank’ umkhonto
Ngiqal’ ukubong’ imikhonto
Egwaz’ ezinhlangothini
Zamaz’ olwandl’ ogwini.
Ngangingalibonga njani
Ichib’ elikhany’ umbani,
Uma ngangingazalwanga
Ngihuqwe ngalezi zinhlanga
Zohlanga lwemxel’ emnyama,
Ezaboph’ inkos’ uJama,
Zaphonseka nakuShaka
Odl’ isikhulu nesichaka,
Washis’ ihlathi nekhwani
Nenkomo? Kaz’ uyodlani?
Wena Shaka obufana
Nezazi zanamhlanjena,
Ulwa noqhekeko lwezwe;
Ovimb’ endlelen’ ekhwezwe
Phezu kweklwa namawisa.
Waw’ uZwide eziwisa
Ngokuziqhayisa phezu
Kwakho. Wawa izingcezu,
Namalandel’ axabana
Kuhle kukaMatiwana.
Wakh’ umuz’ iDlayangubo.
Wakh’ amabutho ngehubo,
Nezomndlunkulu wakhetha,
Ukheth’ intomb’ uyiletha.
Kakhulu kangakanani
Lokh’ unyoko eyinkani
Ngobuhle nokuzazisa,
Ngonwele insizw’ eyidlisa.
Kwakukhon’ ezinonwele
Lulude njengolwamawele.
Uban’ owakh’ umndlunkulu
Wawuphendul’ isisulu
Sokuhlobis’ inxuluma
Nokubongel’ imp’ iphuma?
Ingani wawubuthela,
Waqoqa ngokunqwabela
Izigaba ngezigaba
Zokwakh’ umuzi nenqaba
KaDukuz’ umuz’ omkhulu
Laph’ ulele khona, Zulu.
Kwakuthi ma uqhamuka
Laph’ uMfolozi wahluka
Uphothan’ emahlathini,
Ubon’ if’ ezigcakini
Ezimhlophe zenhlabathi
Lapho amabuth’ abethi
Dlangalal’ ezigiyela,
Enz’ indlamu yokweshela,
Ewa kungath’ ayephuka
Nendingi yokuguquka.
Laph’ uzibon’ izintombi
Zihamba zingasakhombi,
Zibhincele ngasokhalo,
Zibukela isiqalo
Sendlela yazo yothando
Lolu olungenamlando,
Ngoba wena Thol’ eleqa
Phezu kwamany’ uwaheqa,
Kukhul’ okwazi ngentombi
Ungayilumbi ngekhambi!
Zazibuka ngonyembezi
Olupheth’ izinkanyezi
Lapho sekusa sezidweba
Ngemishoshonon’ eqhweba
Iso kodwa lingebambe
Nendlela yay’ ingehambe.
Zazigcob’ amakh’ amnandi
Noseng’ olungenamkhandi,
Zimbuke kwehl’ unyembezi
UShaka phakath’ ehlezi.
Um’ intombi zahluleka,
Izinsizwa zithandeka,
Wawuyiphaka-ke Shaka,
Ishay’ uphond’ iyokaka
Amadlambi asolwandle,
Eqaphaz’ iklay’ amanzi
Izehlukanisa banzi.
Babegiya bephonseka
Bagwaze kuye kofeka.
Obabamkhulu baphela
Ngobuqhawe bokufela
Wena Manqindi kaZulu.
Nathi namhla sizithulu,
Sikhombisan’ amaxoxo
Ezinsizwa zezicoco
Ezagwinywa imikhomo.
Zaf’ imizi nezinkomo
Zidl’ insinde kaMavela,
Zalandel’ oMalandela.
Sezivile lezi nsizwa.
Zith’ izindab’ uma sizwa:
Zachith’ umuzi kaKhumalo
Wadwengula izinkalo
Eqondis’ entshonalanga
Lapho amaBhun’ amkhanga;
Wawaqhwag’ izinkabi,
Zalandw’ engakazihlabi.
KwaBulawayo wabizwa;
Way’ ungenakuchithizwa.
Kwachithek’ oSoshangana
KwaGasa, bayohlangana
Nezwe lamaPutukezi,
Laph’ izizwe zazihlezi
Zingahlushwa ubusuku;
Laph’ izigi zezixuku
Nokukhala kwamahawu
Kuxubene nobuhawu,
Kuhawuz’ abagwazana
Nabalwa bebulalana.
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