Namhlanje abantu bangabako.
Uzungafani neminye Iminyaka
Vela nentwentsha Emzantsi we Afrika
Uzikonyele nezisihla zodaka 55
Uzikonyele nenkunzi ezikude.
Siyabulisa!—1924
Nkungu eselundini ngqele ese Zulwini
Awu! Nzulu zomanyano yihla ngemilambo
Uyoba zingqimba pezu kwe Afrika. 60
Dubula usendlini! Sicolinto epandle
Ngwe entsha ezayo ngawayo amabala
Imkile nemfene ebindizimasa
Ukuba ndinomntu ngeyeyiputuma Awu!
1924, take particular care of us 65
with our homes and chiefdoms plundered.
Let’s cast off the old and welcome the new.
Awu! Help, plead our case, St Michael!
Rend mists with your roar so the sun breaks through,
lion of the city of Africa, 70
lion of the city of Africans,
you’re lost if you sleep in the road.
You’re welcome, 1924,
praises by poets are hardly enough.
Let the lead oxen strain till they sink to their knees 75
and tickle African fancies.
Awu! hear the Drummond Castle
of the house of Chizama,
beast with an antelope’s guile.
Peace! 80
Kauvelele!—1924 65
Ukuhlutwa ko Bukosi namakaya
Mazibhang’ ezomdala kuvele ezomtsha
Awu! Tsheli! Mikayeli vela usilamlele.
Uze ugqume enkungwini kuvele ilanga
Ngonyama yesixeko sase Afrika 70
Ngonyama yesixeko sama Afrika
Ungalala endleleni ulahlekile.
Tyapile! Ufike 1924,
Imbongi azingebongi lungakanani;
Mazitsale ifolosi! Zide ziguqe, 75
Kona kuyoba mnandi kuma Afrika.
Awu! Yatsho i Drummond Castle,
Yakwa “Chizama;”
Inkomo enobugqi benyamakazi.
Camagu! 80
Mgqwetho herself is the subject of this poem, which celebrates her outspoken poetry, poetry that benefits the African people and brings her fame, but which is also unpopular among envious poets and among those who fault her for invading a traditional male preserve (see 1:20-23).
13 Listen, compatriots!
I sent Christmas, the old year and the new year packing with praise poems. Now I’m going to sing my own praises, and then I’ll pass on to start something fresh.
Peace to you all!
Mercy, Nontsizi, renowned for your chanting,
your poems are the nation’s bounty.
No elephant finds its own trunk clumsy.
Awu! Mercy, old hen’s wing in Africa!
Hen screening her chicks 5
from birds of prey,
the nation knows you, sky-python,
poets sneer but discuss you.
Turn Phalo’s land on its head, Mgqwetho,
whack nations and sap their standing. 10
Wild beast too fierce to take from behind,
those who know tremble in tackling you.
Mercy, dusky pool-tinted woman,
your stench reeks like the river snake.
Peace! Elephant browsing the tops, 15
you’ve made a household name of Mgqwetho.
Mercy, Nontsizi, African moss
sipping moisture from under the ripples,
you stubbed your toe and felt the pain,
a slip of the tongue and they stomped on you. 20
Mercy, Nontsizi, African moss,
you strip poetry bare to the bone
and the nation’s mountains swivel
as you sway from side to side.
13 Pulapulani! Makowetu
Ndiyigxotile i Kresmesi, no Nyaka Omdala kwano Nibidyala ngezibongo. Ndizaku zibonga mna ke ngoku ndandule ke kwakona ukuqala into entsha.
Camaguni!
Taru! Nontsizi dumezweni ngentsholo
Nto ezibongo ziyintlaninge yezwe
Indlovu ke ayisindwa ngumboko wayo
Awu! Taru! Sikukukazi piko e Afrika.
Esikusela amatole aze engemki 5
Emke nezinye intaka eziwadlayo
Uyaziwa lilizwe nambakazi yezulu