uShaka

Izibongo ZikaShaka

1. UDlangwana KaNdaba!

UDlungwana woMbelebele,

Odlung’ emanxulumeni,

Kwaze kwas’ amanxulum esibikelana.

5. UNodumehlezi kaMenzi,

UShaka akashayeki kanjengamanzi,

Ilemb’ eleq’ aamnye amalembe ngokukhalipha;

UShaka ngiyesaba ukuthi nguShaka,

UShaka kuyinkosi yasemaShobeni.

10. UNomakhwelo ingonyama;

UMahlome’ hlathini onjengohlanya;

Uhlany’ olusemehlwen’ amadonda.

UDabaz’ ithafa ebeliya kuMfene;

15. UGaqa libomvu nasekuphatheni.

UBholokoqa bazalukanisile

Zalikaniswe uNoju noNgqengenye;

EyakwaNtombazi neyakwaNandi;

Yayikhiph’ eshaba libomvu,

20. Ikhishwa elimhlophe lakwaNandi.

Bambiz’ eMthandeni beyisela,

Bathi ‘Singesinelane neNtungwa lasenhla’,

Kanti uzawudl’ uPhakathwayo empindelweni.

25. UDlungwana wavuma na?

Umvumeleni uGodolozi,

Ethi ngowanganeno kwaNandi,

Kant’ ukude kwaNtombazana ?

30. Kalokhu liphahl’ eliseMthandeni.

Amazwi mabili engiwabongayo,

Ngibong’ elikaMpandaba nelikaNdungenkomo,

Bethi ‘Ucu aluhlangan’ entabeni’;

Akenibuze kwabaseZinkondeni,

35. Bath uHilwayo bayakumhlaba kwaHlokohloko,

Kwaf’ amasi kwaf’ uqephe.

UTeku lwabafazi bakwaMgabhi,

Betekula behlez’ emlovini,

Beth’ uShaka kakubusa kakuba nkosi,

40. Kanti unyakan’ uShaka ezakunethezeka.

Inkom’ ekhal’ eMthonjaneni,

Izizwe zonke ziyizwil’ ukulila,

Izwiwe uDunjwa waseluYengweni,

Yezwiwa uMangcengeza wakwaKhali.

45. UMlilo wothathe kaMjokwane;

UMlilo wothathe ubuhanguhangu,

Oshis’ izikhova eziseDlebe,

Kwaya kwasha neziseMabendlana.

Odabule kuNdima noMgovu,

50 Abafaz’ abenendeni baphuluza;

Imikhubulo bayishiy’ zinqindi,

Imbewu bayishiya semahlangeni,

Izalukazi zasala emanxiweni,

Amaxhegu asala semizileni,

55 Iziqube zemithi zabheka phezulu,

Odabule kubhungane phezulu,

Wakhethelwa udwendwe lamaza,

Wadlula kuMcombo zigoduka.

Ondlela bazibuza kuDunjwa,

60 Kanti angabazibuza kuMbozane,

Yen’ aphang’ kuya kuNomagaga,

Lafik’ iqhude lamvimbela.

Ozulu lizayo khwezan’ abantwana,

Ngabadala bodwa abazozibalekela,

65 UDunjwa yedwa limkhandanisile.

Oye wakh’ amaxhib’ oThukela,

Lapho kucushw’ isilo ngomwowane,

Weza noKhungwayo ngoNgobizembe.

Ondande ngankalo wabuya ngonkalo,

70 Eya ngoBhoyiya kaMdakuda;

UNdab’ ubengababele kuya,

Wayeland’ uMacingwane waseNgonyameni.

Ondande ngokhal’ olude,

Wadabul’ emathanjeni abantabakaTayi,

75 Ebebegodola beya kuMacingwan’ eNgonyameni.

OZihlandlo kaGcwabe noMepho kaNgwane,

Ngibasolile abasokoco,

Bamweze ngelisacons’ amathe,

80 Ebelisasuk’ ukuphel, uNtube wakwaMajola;

Bamwenze ngelezimvubu nezingwenya,

Izimvubu nezingwenya zayikhex’ imilomo.

Okhangel’ ezansi naMadungela,

Izinkomo zabuya zikaSihayo,

85 Kwaye kwalandel’ ezikaMofongosi,

Ezazisengwa indiki lakwaMavela.

Obesixhokolo singamatsh’ aseNkandla,

Abephephel’ izindlov’ uba liphendule,

Aphephel’ uPhungashe wakwaButhelezi,

90 Aphephel’ uZihlandlo wakwaMkhize,

Izindlovu zabuye zalibalekela.

ULusiba-gojela ngalaphaya kweNkandla,

Lugojela njalo ludl’ amadoda.

UBhiyoze uNomangci phezulu,

95 Eya kunqumel’ umbango wakwaNyuswa;

Kwakungabangwa lutho ngakwaNyuswa;

Kwakubangw’ izinhlakuva semanxiweni,

Bathi ‘Ntekenteke zilinden’ amajuba’,

Wafika wababulala bobabili.

100 UMxoshi womuntu amxoshele futhi;

Ngimthand’ xosh’ uZwide ozalwa uLanga,

Emthabatha lapha liphuma khona,

Emsinga lapha lishona khona;

UZwide wampheq’ amahlonjan’ omabili,

105 Kuma kwedala ekwethuk’ omusha.

USilwane-helele emizini yabantu;

USililwan’ ubenduna kwaDibandlela.

UBhincakade waze wafunyaniswa,

Ovunelel’ ezimfundeni zamanzi,

110 Into zakhe zomuka namanzi.

Mgengi phez’ izitha kusehlobo,

Utshani bude buzokugibanisa.

Inyath’ ejame ngomkhonto phansi kwoMzimvubu,

AmaMpond’ ayesaba nokuyehlela;

115 Nani boGambushe nani boFaku,

Ningamhlabi,

Nothi ningaMhlaba,

Niyoba kanihlabi yena,

Kwoba senihlab’ uPhunga nahlab’ uMageba,

120 Kwoba senihlab’ uNgqungqush’ esiswini.

UGasane kade lubagasela:

Lwagasel’ uPhungashe wakwaButhelezi,

Lwagasel’ uSondaba woMthanda ehlez’ ebandla,

Lwagasel’ uMacingwan’ eNgonyameni,

125 Lwagasel’ uMangcengez’ emaMbatheni,

Lwagasel’ uDladlama wakwaMajola,

Lwagasel’ uNxaba kaMbhekane,

Lwagasel’ uGambush’ emaMpondweni,

Lwagasel’ uFaku emaMpondweni.

130 UDlondlwane luya luhlezi,

Luya ludlondlobele,

Lubek’ isihlang, emadolweni.

Oth’ esadl’ ezinye wadla’ ezinye,

Wath’ esadl’ ezinye wadl’ ezinye;

135 Othi’ esadl’ ezinye wadl’ ezinye,

Wath’ esadl’ ezinye wadl’ ezinye;

Oth’ esadl’ ezinye wadla’ ezinye,

Wath’ esadl’ ezinye wadl’ ezinye;

Oth’ esadl’ ezinye wadla’ ezinye,

140 Wath’ esadl’ ezinye wadl’ ezinye;

Oth’ esadl’ ezinye wadla’ ezinye,

Wath’ esadl’ ezinye wadl’ ezinye;

UHlabahlungu bazoshumayezana,

Nabasezitheni nabasekhaya.

145 UHlaza oluyinyongo yembusi.

UVemvane lukaPhunga,

Lumabal’ azizinge sengath’ abekiwe;

UMzizim’ ongamathunz’ ezintaba,

Khona kuhlwa kuhamb’ abathakathi.

150 Ingqayingqayi kaPhunga noMageba,

Engibeku ngaze ngayojwayela.

UMasengo mahle inkonyana yenkomo,

Kwangixaba ukukhaba kwalenkomo,

Yakhab’ osengayo yadel’ umbambi.

155 UHele engimbon’ ukwehla kwezikaMangcengeza,

Kwathi kwezikaPhungashe wanyamalala;

Bathi ‘Hele nangunangu’,

Kant’ uthul’ emahlathini njengezingwe nezinyama.

UShaka uye wakh’ amaxhiba,

160 Phakathi kweNsuze noThukela,

KwelikaNyanya wakwaManzawane;

Wadl’ uMantondo umntakaTayi,

Wamuzw’ ukuba duma wamkhafula’

Wadl’ uSihayo.

165 Ogcagc’ emagcekeni koPhuthile,

Weza noMsikazi ngakwoNdimoshe.

Wahlangana nodwendwe lwamankankane,

Mhla eya kudl’ amaMpondo iziphukuphuku;

UShaka ubengadl’ imihlambi yankomo,

170 Ubedl’ imihlambi yezinyamazane.

UMagongobala!

Ophekwe ngembiz’ ende yakwaNtombazi,

Waphekwa wagongobala.

Ohamb’ ebasa eshiy’ amakloba,

175 Ophehlwe weva wanjengomlilo;

Kwakungasakhali nkomo kwaNtombazane,

Inkomo yayisikhala kithi kwaBulawayo.

UMaswezisela wakithi kwaBulawayo,

Oswezisel’ uZwide ngamagqanqula.

180 Izulu elimagwabagwaba likaMageba,

Elidume phezulu kuNomangci,

Ladum’ emva kwomuzi eKuqhobekeni laqanda,

Lazithath’ izihlangu zaMaphela naMankayiya,

Amabheqan’ eZimpaka asal’ ezinhlahleni;

185 Wadl’ uNomahlanjana ezalwa nguZwid’ eMapheleni,

Wadl’ uMphepha ezalwa nguZwid’ eMapheleni,

Wadl’ uNombengula ezalwa nguZwid’ eMapheleni,

Wadl’ uDayingubo ezalwa nguZwid’ eMapheleni,

Wadl’ uSonsukwana ezalwa nguZwid’ eMapheleni,

Wadl’ inkosikazi okaLubongo,

Wadl’ uMthimona ezalwa nguGaqa eMapheleni,

Wadl’ uMpondo-phumela-kwezinde eMapheleni,

Wadl’ uNdengezi-mashumi eMapheleni,

Wadl’ uSikloloba-singamabele kwabakaZwide,

195 Wadl’ uSihla-mthini-munye kwabakwaZwide,

Wadl’ uNqwangube ezalwa uLindiyane,

Kwakungowakithi esephendul’ isihlangu.

Buya Mgegi phela indaba usuyenzile,

UZwide umphendul’ isigcwelegcwele,

200 Namuhla futhi usephendul’ indodana.

AbakaZwide Shaka ubalakanyisile,

USikhunyana uyintombi ukuganile,

Ukufunyanis’ uhlez’ enkundleni esibayen’ eNkandla,

Engaz’ ukuth’ amabuth’ akho anongombolozelo.

205 USishaya-ndlondlo bakushayile!

Ubusika nehlobo bahlukene,

NobakwaNtombazi nobakwa nobaLanga.

Inkonyan’ ekhwele phezu kwendlu kwaNtombazi,

Bathi iyahlola,

210 Kant’ ibona bezaz’ ukuhlola.

Indlov’ inhloko yandl’ amadoda.

Ocel’ ugwayi kuMacingwan’ eNgonyameni,

UMacingwane wawulandula,

215 Wawuzikholisile;

USineke-suduka lapha kuMacingwane,

Kunsukwan’ abantu ubabangel’ uxhuxhu,

Nabasezitheni nabasekhaya.

220 Wadl’ uBhungane kaMthimkulu emaHlubini,

Weza noSihlangu-vuthuk’-udaka emaNgwaneni,

Weza noKhwelemthini njengezinyoni,

Weza noMqabuka njengeqele,

Weza noNgiyekeni njengomntwana.

225 Ohlobonge ngenhlakaza kuNkuna,

Mhla ebuya nemvoko yakoMteli;

Ozungez’ uPhiso ngezinyembezi,

Izinkomo zasoPhisweni zaphuma zayithel’ indumo,

Zaphuma zamlandela.

230 UMmoya womzansi womngenelo,

Ohlez’ ubangenela nangamnyango;

Liwukhiphe qede bayikhoth’ imilomo,

Abezindlu nabezindlwana.

Ugijime ngazo zonk’ izindlela,

235 Ezingagijimanga eziyakuZiwedu,

UZiwedu ngambon’ esangweni.

Amazwi kaNgoboza noMkhuphali,

Bath’ uNgwane uzul’ ezintabeni;

UMashangwe waseZibisini wamxhoxh’ amehlo,

240 Wamhambisa ngokhal’ okhulu likaNkume,

Waze wambeka kuHlokohloko,

Wambuyisa wamzisa kuMaqhwakazi,

Wabuye wamdlulisa wamamus’ eMatheku.

USiphepho-shunguza ngasemkhandlwini,

245 Siyakwenqab’ ubayede ngaseLangeni.

UDlungwan’ ongenamthelekeli;

Izinkomo zabantu Shaka ziyeke siyinkelenkele,

Zikhungel’ izingob’ emashobeni,

ZinjengoNgobe inkosi yakwaSowethu.

250 UMasukwana-kuse onjengengonyama,

Idl’ izinkomo zamandoda;

UMasuk’ ubehamba kwaMadilika;

UHlumayo lumananga uDlungwana,

UHlumayo lumananga lunkone,

255 UMananga ubehamba kwaJiyampondo,

UMananga ubengelutho,

Ubeyinduna yakwaDibandlela.

UMsingi wazansi woz’ using’ enhla,

Woz’ usinge lapha kuyilanga.

260 UVuso ladl’ umntwan’ osesiswini,

UMavus’ ubenduna kwaNomgabhi.

UPhaqa njengelanga;

Ubhobos’ isikhal’ emaChubeni,

Weza noMvakela ezalwa uDlaba,

265 Weza noMaqobo obezalwa uDlaba,

Weza noKhwababa obezalwa uDlaba,

Weza noDuluzana ngasemaChubeni,

Amakhubalo adliwa uZokufa,

Udengezi balunik’ uNtubeni noNongogo,

270 Amadod’ akhon’ emaChubeni.

UDundubale kuMaqonga phezulu,

Wayifunyanis’ insimango nentsele,

UMnini-sibandamatshana esiseNkandla.

UDlungwan’ odl’ imihlambi yabahwebi,

275 Wadl’ ezikuMandeku KwaMlambo,

Udl’ abadlungwana bakwokaMbengi,

Owahlab’ esengwayo zand’ ukwaluka,

Othandayo ahl’ amzel’ ekhaya.

Inyon’ edl’ ezinye,

280 Yath’ isadl’ ezinye yadl’ ezinye;

Ith’ isadl’ ezinye yadl’ ezinye,

Yath’ isadl’ ezinye yadl’ ezinye;

Ith’ isadl’ ezinye yadl’ ezinye,

Yath’ isadl’ ezinye yadl’ ezinye.

285 Ongangezwe lakhe omkhulu kakhulu,

Ongangezintaba,

OngangoSondude,

Ongangesihlahl’ esisokhalweni kuMaqhwakazi,

Esasihlal’ amaNdwandwe namaNxumalo.

290 Ungisize Maphitha noNgqengelele,

Umnike nkomonye afund’ ukukleza,

Umnik’ ukhande lokuzimbela.

Osifuba sinenqaba uBayede kaNdaba,

Ngob’ enentethel’ emaLangeni.

295 UNdaba ngiyameba ngimuka naye,

Ngimbuka kwehla nezinyembezi,

Kuba sengathi ngibuk’ isihlahla somdlebe.

Igwija likaMdlaka ligwegwe,

Lijez’ abasini bengoma,

300 UNdaba uludud’ emanxulumeni.

Ugungubele njengolwandle,

Lona kuze kuse lugubelana;

Isidlangidlangu esinjengendlebe yendlovu,

Ongangencumbe yamabel’ engadliwa,

305 Ongangembiza yamashongololo.

UyiSilo! UyiNgwe! UyiNgonyama!

UyiNdlondlo! UyiNdlovu!

Ungangezintab’ ezinde oMpehlela noMqhwakazi,

Wen’ omnyama,

310 Wena owakhula belibele.

Sidlukula-dlwedlwe!

Siyadla sidlondlobele,

Sibek’ isihlang’ emadolweni.

Isixhololo esingamatsh’ ommbela;

315 UKleb’ engimbon’ ukwehla kwezikaNzwakele,

Kwathi kwezikaKhushwayo waqhamalala.

UShaka ufunyanis’ izilwane zizibili,

Zihlangene phakathi kweNsuze noThukela,

Izilwane uThondolozi noSihayo,

320 Wafika waphons’ ihawu zahlukana.

Owadl’ izinkomo zemphathiso,

Okunamini lokhu usaphathekile.

Inung’ egwaze amacukubada,

Phakathi kukaMagaye noNzawu.

325 Obhobos’ isikhal’ emaMpondweni,

Isikhala nanamuhla lokhu sisakhamisile;

Wadl’ ezomdubu zikaFaku wamaMpondo,

Wadl’ nezikaNgubowencunge emaMpondweni,

Wadl’ ezikaNcokazi emaMpondweni,

330 Wadl’ ezikaNcasana kwaMajola,

Wadl’ ezikaMacingwane eNgonyameni;

Waye wadla nezikaBhungane wamakhulukhulu,

Waye wadla nezabeSuthu abakhwintshayo,

Waye wadla nezamaDlodlongwanyana,

335 Abaphoth’ imiyeko.

Izulu eladum’ esemaMpondweni,

Phezu kukaFaku umntakaNgqungqushe,

Lazithath’ izihlangu zamaMpondo;

Ubani lwaye lwem’ eSikhaleni seNyoka,

340 Waye wabuya kwabaBomvana.

Nkwenkwez’ ende laMjokwane;

Imi ngomila,

Iye yabambela phezul’ ezulwini,

Kwaphum’ amakhwez’ amabili phezul’ ezulwini,

345 Amakhwez’ aphum’ abikelana;

USomakloba akhangelene,

NelakwaNtombazi nelakwaNandi.

Nkosi umubi ngoba kawukhethi,

Ngoba nabakwanyokalume uyababulala,

350 Ngoba wadl’ uBhebhe umntakaNcumela ngokwonyokwolume,

NesikaGwaqaza nesikaNdlaludaka eNtonteleni.

Ntonga yethusi kaMjokane;

Eshay’ amanzi kwavel’ udaka wavela.

355 Inkosi yehla ngogoma Mdayi,

Ebelungehli muntu,

Ebelwehl’ amaphiva namashongololo,

Abanini lugoma ngibasolile.

Owayithethela phezulu kuMandla noZimema,

360 Ubisika nehlobo bahlukana,

Umkhubulo bawushiy’ izinqindi,

Imbewu yadliwa zinyoni,

KwakaTayi futh’ amanxiwa.

Owadl’ izimfe zimbili,

365 Enye kuwuZihlandlo enye kuwuGcwabe,

Kwaphum’ ikhasi selilinye;

Owadl’ uMatshengele waseKhulumbeni,

Weza noGwayi wakwoMazindela,

Weza noMphangela wakwoNongqobo,

370 Weza noPhalaza kwaKhanyile.

Ibele likaMjokwane elikheth’ izihlambo,

Likheth’ uJiyeza ngakubangoma.

Ujoj’ obethwe Zimpohlo,

Ziyohlobonga ngaye kubatshazwayo.

375 UMthent’ ohlab’ usamila kaMjokwane;

UMnguningubande nakwesendlovu,

Uze noMangcengeza kaKhali emaMbhatheni,

Uze noMatiwana kaMasumpa emaNgwaneni,

Uze noMakhedama ngaseLangeni ekhaya konini.

380 USilwane-vukel’-abantu ekweneni;

Wadl’ uSigawuzana emaMbhatheni.

Isiziba esiseMavivane,

Eseminzis’ umuntu eth’ uyageza,

Wazewashona nangesicoco.

385 Ntonga emnyama kaMjokwane;

Ize noZwide kwabakwaNdwandwe,

Ize noNomahlanjana kaZwide,

Ize noSikhunyana kaZwide.

UHlazana lwanyongo yenyamazane;

390 Wadl’ uNdimindwane wabakwaMsweli kwaXulu,

Wadl’ uMdladlama wasemaMbhedwini,

Weza noMphezeni ngakwaNxumalo.

USivutha sangiphe!

UKleb’ owehle phezulu,

395 Waye wanqamula kuMadungela,

Wadl’ ezazisengwa yindiki yakwaMavela,

Kwath’ ezikaSihayo zamlandela;

UQwabe wadla ngokumsibekela,

Isibekelo sawoNyabase.

400 Ithol’ elinsizwa lakokaMbengi,

Ekade liwagingq’ amanye,

Ngob’ edl’ izinkomo ezinemvungamvunga,

Ngob’ edl’ izinkomo ezisoDlodlweni.

USiphuphuma esimadel’ imiyalo;

405 Ivila elidl’ amabel’ ezikhuthali.

Ocaba ngemikhonto amakhos’ ecaba ngamazembe;

Wamemez’ impi kuMenziwa ethi mayikhweb’ amabele.

IMfoloz’ emnyama kaSithayi noBhiyane inkethabaweli,

Ingawelwa ngonethole,

410 Ongenathole angakhokh’ umntwana,

Inxe engenamntwana angakhokh’ igeja.

Isinyama esilele kuNdaba,

Siyavuka sidl’ amadoda,

Ngesakwaphumuz’ abant’ imilomo.

415 Odl’ izinkomo engantuli mazembe,

Amazemb’ uzakuwantula ngonyak’ ozophenduka.

Inyon’ ebizwe ngamakhwel’ aseNgome,

Nanamuhla lokhu ukhalo lukaDladlama lusamangele,

Lusamangele ngoba lungasawabon’ amaqoq’ akwaMajola,

420 Selubon’ amaqoq’ akwaMalandela.

Obhiyaz’ uMbhiyaza wakwaMachanca phezulu,

Wabaleka wabangazeka wazishiy’ izinkomo,

Zaze zeqelwa abaseNtonteleni.

Uyisinise ngokhalo lwabantabakaTayi,

425 Izwe laphenduk’ uMbhedazane,

Izinkomo nabantu zamlandela.

UDlongonyane likaNdaba!

Luhlezi ludlongophele,

Isihlangu lusibek’ emadolweni;

430 Kabakhisile ababangel’ uxhuxhu,

Abasezitheni nabesekhaya.

UMandla kaNgome!

Uwele wayakh’ iNtontela,

Babethi kakuyakh’ iNtontela wayakh’ iNtontela.

435 Owalokoth’ ulwandle engaluweli,

Lwaluwelwa zinkonjane nabeLungu.

Insukamini kaNdaba nanxa ilanga liphenduka;

UMxoshi womuntu amxoshele futhi,

Ngob’ exosh’ uMbemba ezalw’ emaGozeni,

440 Wamxosha waye wambek’ eSilutshana,

Wafunyanis’ umhlanga wabakhwetha,

Kanti zithutha zakhona.

Izembe likaSenzangakhona,

Elith’ ukugawula lakhuthazela.

445 Obon’ izinkomo zisengcongcweni phezulu,

Wazehlisa ngezinjongolo zemikhonto zehlika,

UNgibi naNgwadi!

Ingwan’ ehamb’ ivimbel’ eziny’ izingwan’ emazibukweni.

450 Sikithi! Sikith’ omnyama!

[Izibongo zenkosi uShaka zebolekwe ezibongweni ezilotshwe uTrevor Cope ezisebhukwini elithi IZIBONGO : ZULU PRAISED-POEMS elishicilelwe ngabakwa-Oxford University Press (1968).]

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