From my point of view, we bear all the signs
as we stumble along in stupidity.
From the Buffalo’s banks we raise our cry,
from the Tyhume’s banks we raise our cry
for all the black nations under the sun, 35
so Satan’s ashamed until his guts bust.
You display no love, display no togetherness,
you sit on the fence, won’t take a stand.
Nothing but sell-outs, you set fires and run,
betray your own people to bolster the whites. 40
Are you raising a cry, saying “Come back”?
You’ll cry yourselves hoarse: you must come back!
Gone are our customs for setting up homesteads,
monarchy, values, nothing is left!
You live like locusts left by the swarm, 45
you’ve lost all pride, your sense of a nation,
lock, stock and barrel, everything’s lost:
you seek balm in the bottle that blots out all pain.
You say “Come back”? You must come back!
You scratch your head in search of a scapegoat. 50
Ntsikana warned you a long time ago,
“Money’s the lightning-bird: leave it alone.”
Child of the soil of far-flung Africa,
what have you done to so offend God?
Here the Chink sells you malt for your home-brew, 55
there the Coolie buys up your empties.
Are you raising a cry? You must come back!
Spurn advice and you’ll come a cropper.
Always recall where you came from:
seek the seers to tell you straight. 60
Mercy, South African hills, while your people die
strangers cart off your country!
With cause we cry, saying “Come back”
to induce birth pangs in her people.
Mercy, South African valleys, 65
peace, plains of our land,
look how you’re ploughed up by steam locomotives
Kautsho! Afrika kwakumlambo mnina ap’ umnt’ engazinto ati maibuye, 15
Kuba ndibonanje sinempau zonke esihamba ngazo zasebudengeni.
Simi ngama Monti sikony’ izililo simi ngama Dike sikony’ izililo,
Sezizw’ ezintsundu ngapantsi kwelanga u Satan adane kutshone nenkaba.
Aninalutando! Animanyananga ningab’ onxazonke abangenacala,
Nikwango ntamnaniopembabeshiya niyek’ amawenu nincedis’ umlungu. 20
Nikony’ izililo? Niti maibuye nopala nisopa makubuye nina
Akuko nasiko lakumisa umzi akuko bukosi akuko ntwisento.
Seninje ngenkumbi zisele kwezinye nashiywa bubuzwe nashiywa bubuntu
Nashiywa yimfuyo zonke ezo zinto senizixolisa ngo Cimizingqala.
Uti maibuye? Makubuye wena wonwaya intloko ulila ngabani, 25
Nanko no Ntsikana kade akutyela zuyeke imali siqu sempundulu.
Mfondini wotutu lwakud’ e Afrika wazonela ngani? Pambi koYehova,
Nalo ke ne China lize ngemitombo nalo ke ne Kula lize ngama empty.
Ukony’ izililo? Makubuye wena sala ukutyelwa sabona ngolopu.
Ukumbule apo waw’ uvela kona ufun’ osiyazi bahlab’ ezintloko. 30
Taruni zinduli zase South Afrika baf’ abantu benu! Lemk’ izwe nezizwe
Sikala ngakona siti maibuye ivuse inimba yakuma kowayo.
Taruni zintlambo zase South Afrika Taruni matafa! Ezwe lako wetu
Nanko senilinywa zinqwelo zomlilo zipala ngecala njenge nkunzemfene.
rocking along like bull baboons.
Come back, Africans! Or will rolling years
leave you marking time 70
while rain falls elsewhere
and plagues strike your family?
Peace, Sun! Peace, Moon!
Stewards of our Protector,
bear the report to the One on High, 75
plead our case in elegant terms.
Peace! Awu!!
Buya M’afrika yaqengqelekana yonke iminyaka umindaweni nye. 35
Hleze zingatotywa kwanemvula kuwe hleze nezibeto zifise usapo.
Camagu ke Langa! Camagu ke Nyanga nini amagosa asipeteyo,
Yinyusen’ ingxelo iye ko Pezulu nisitetelele nide nicokise.
Camagu! Awu!!
37Nyanya
Mgqwetho commemorates the passing of a year of frustration, persistent oppression and strife.
11 A long lying-in, then the python uncoils and leaves! (1923)
The past year fades.
I’m speaking to you, fine African.
Ha-la-la 1923,
what pen can tell your tale?
The year’s passed and left us, 5
there are the signs of its absence;
there’s joy in welcoming
the new.
The year’s passed with news
of all people on earth, 10
their conduct, their cruelties,
recorded.
News of hardship and happiness,
of good luck and ill,
of sickness and health, 15
borne off.
The old year bears its burden,
tales of hardship on earth,
turmoil that’s shaken
the nation. 20
Deceit, double-dealing,
murder, oppression,
testimony for your judge
presiding.
Now the old year’s over 25
we thank you, Lord Eternal,
for guarding us from danger
throughout its course.
11 Yacombuluka! Inamba u 1923 ebisoloko ifukamele ukunduluka
Uzakutshona Unyaka elundini
Nditsho kuwe nzwana yase Afrika,
Ha—la—la—1923
Azi singabhala ngalupina usiba.
Wadlula unyaka sewusishiyile 5
Nango