So says Maxeke,
great greybeard
of Ngxokozelo.
11We stumbled in starting,
weak at the knees, 50
stirred into gruel
by their rifles as spoons.
12We seek a ford,
for what we have
is merely cosmetic, 55
no more than skin deep.
5Hom! Mazijike
Siye ezintilini 25
Apela amadoda kuhlatywa
Ngumkonto ongqukuva
Camagu!
6Sifuna Izibuko
Lokuweza amahobe “akabalinye” 30
Tina sofuna no Tshiwo
Abamemeza ingqina bengayipumi.
7Sifunze! Kakubi
Sifuna Izibuko
Eliyakuba yintambende 35
Yokuseng’ izigudu.
8Ummango umnyama
Sifuna Izibuko
Kuba obawo basishiya.
Singumhlamb’ongena nkuni. 40
9Halahoyi! Kululani izihlangu
Nifune Izibuko
Ukuze Inkosi zenu
Zifuman’isipehlo.
10Sifunze! Kakubi 45
Itsho into ka Maxeke
Ingwevu enkulu
Yakulo Ngxokozelo.
11Sifunze! Kakubi
Kuba Siyapela 50
Nakukudukudwa
Ngamapin’ezibhamu.
12Sifuna! Izibuko
Kuba eli likoyo
Lafanelwa yimbola nje 55
Kodwa lingayiqabi.
13Hom! Wait a minute!
We stumbled in starting!
This year it seems
is a year of wonders. 60
14Our fathers abandoned us
with no ford in sight,
our heads strewn with tatters
like those of diviners.
15“Come! Here’s the ford!” 65
cries the voice of a Nation
established by power
of heaven and earth.
16We stumbled in starting,
white as snow. 70
Maxeke says
our women wither.
17There’s no real split:
we’re rivers adrift
till the morning star 75
dawns on Africa.
Peace!
18Maxeke’s split?
Pastor, the weight of your loads!
Mercy, Mimosa, 80
twisting in falling,
branches yet reaching
out to its own.
Mercy!
19In the Cape 85
we stumbled in starting!
We pick no bones,
but arms are to hand.
13Hom! Mazijike
Sifunze Kakubi .
Ngati nonyaka nje
Ngunyaka wommangaliso. 60
14Obawo basishiya
Lingeko Izibuko,
Intloko zanezibi
Ngati zeza magqira.
15Uyamenywa! Lizibuko 65
Ngalo ilizwi le Sizwe
Elisekwe ngamandla e Zulu
Nawase mhlabeni.
16Sifunze! Kakubi
Singamakewukewu 70
Yitsho into ka Maxeke
Abitye namankazana.
17Akuqekekwa toro,
“Sizakwezi” milambo
Lode lihle ne Kwezi 75
E Afrika sibambelele
Camagu!
18Uqekeko luka Maxeke?
Azi Mfundisi unalishwa lanina?
Taru mnga ote ukuwa 80
Wabhukuqeka
Amasebe anabela
Kwisizwe sakowenu
Taru!
19Tina base Koloni 85
Sifunze! Kakubi
“Asichasanga” zizwe
Singumti otshixiza komnye umti
20So says Find-at-the-Door-
What-you-Shot-from-Inside. 90
When we find the ford
we’ll all kneel together,
pleading our souls
before God Almighty.
Mercy! 95
21Come back, Africa!
We seek a ford,
lest our children
bloat from neglect.
22Hom! Wait a minute! 100
Stop mucking about.
Shut the churches,
return to the battlefield.
23Bullets destroy us
in search of a ford; 105
“Baboons!” they jeer,
even though we’re not furry.
24Our chiefs don’t know us
and we don’t know them:
we quarter the veld 110
like wild dogs at the trot.
25Yet these are the chiefs
who link us to God,
they carry to Him
the cries of the Nation. 115
Peace to all!
20Uti Udubula esendlini
Bacholinto emnyango 90
Xa likoyo Izibuko
Umzi wonqulela ndawonye
Ukusingisa ityala
Lemipefumlo ku Somandla
Taru! 95
21Mayibuye! I Afrika
Sifune Izibuko
Ukuze amatole
Angabi