Читать книгу Sol Plaatje's Native Life in South Africa - Jacob Dlamini - Страница 15
ОглавлениеPOETIC TRIBUTES
What is in a name? In memory of Sol T Plaatje
Violet N Plaatje
(from The Bantu World, 24 June 1933)
A question asked so frequently,
Yet seldom it receives reply.
Read carefully the lines below!
They're sure to satisfy.
A year has passed since we interred
Remains of one we least could spare.
Defender, Fighter, Champion,
Sleep, you have done your share!
The shock was felt by multitudes!
The blow severe turned hearts to ice!
For the demise of noble Sol,
Was a great sacrifice.
One who for others strived to live;
His people's rights his foremost thought;
Discouraged often in his toils,
Great battles though he fought.
A lot has he achieved. But Ah!
A lot has he left incomplete.
It is for those he left behind,
To further and complete.
His pen he wielded forcibly.
His weapon always was the Press.
Speaking from public platforms too,
The people to address.
And though his earnings were but scant,
Strife won for him fame and reward.
For here was one devoid of wealth,
But buried like a Lord.
Author, Translator, Orator,
In you we've lost a precious prize!
Your death, occurred a year ago,
Today we solemnize.
Your ready smile and kindly word,
Career, endeavour, intellect,
Humour and generosity,
We aye will recollect.
A word of heartfelt gratitude,
To all who joined in sympathy,
And were responsible to cheer
The mourning family.
Came Indian, Coloured, White and Black,
And others, miles, to join in Grace,
Homage to pay around the grave
Of one who served his race.
Came from Inland and Overseas
Letters and telegrams – a stream,
And gen'rous aid for which is thanked
All friends who well did mean.
The papers far and wide are thanked,
For kindly answering the call,
Distributing lengthy reports
Of noble deeds of Sol.
Your struggles have been very hard –
Sleep on and take your well-earned rest!
Your efforts we appreciate,
May you be ever blest.
Segopoco Sa Moshui Sol T Plaatje
James M Molebaloa
(Published in The Bantu World, 22 July 1933)
Ka tloaelo fa ea dichaba tse dlcoetseng pele eare fa moshul a shoetsa ngoago nngoe le ngoe gokoaloe ka ga ditiro tsa gagoe, Jaana ke koala ke gopola Modiboa eoo.
Moshul oa rona o khutlile ka 19 Seetebosigo (June) 1932. A bolokoa ke Barolong boo Ratshidi, le boo Seleka, le Batlhaping le Bacuana le ke dichaba tsa Methale—thale koa Deemaneng Kimberley.
Robala ka kagisho Modiboa!
Uno ule Seganka mo Mafokong!
Uno ule senatla mo tirong!
Uno ule secoerere mo Mekgoeng!
Uno ule 'Mueledi oa South Africa!
Puelelo ea gago e utloetse koa
Engelane!
Dikgosana tsa Amerika dia go itse!
Becoana bago bonye ka dipolase
tsa Thaba 'Ncho!
Matebele a gobonye ka 1914, u
rulaganya Imvo!
Becoana ba go bonye u rulanganya Tsala!
Di koalo tse udi koadileng dibaloa
ke dichaba!
Dibaloa mo makgotleng le mo
diferoaneng!
Robala namane ea Tholo!
Losho loa gago le utloaletse dichaba!
Bagaeno basa golelela!
Selelo sabone se utloetse koa Moshaneng!
Seutloeletse koa Matebeleng!
Se utloetse koa Central, le East
Africa, Belgian Congo!
Robala motho oa batho, u ikhutse!
Re tla go bona ka tsatsi ja cogo!
Utla coga le bagaeno, le dikgosi!
Utla coga le baruti!
Di kgosi bo Kgama, Lekoko,
Seepapico! Thapama, Ramaisho,
Sechele Leglhogile! Senoamadi,
Kearabile!
Luka Jantyi! Masa, Thaganyane,
Gontse a Mokoto!
Utla coga le baruti bo Motshumi!
Motiyane, Seele, Tumagole, Setuli, Goronyane!
Ma Mokhuchoane le bana basa
golelela!
Tiro tsa gago disabua, emashi
gaeitsale!
Lelang tlhe Batlhaping!
Baga 'Matlhapi leorethe!
Baga 'Maboelelele joa metse?
Baga 'Matlhapa ka lebese a kgatsele!
Batsee tlhoa baichogore!
U didimaletseng Ikalafeng a Maretela?
Tsala ea gago erobetse mo serameng!
Baagi ba Majeakgoro lelelang
Modiboa!
Amegogoro le eone e goase ka
selelo!
A maje a mogolo adume, Ncoamosi, le Sekantsana!
Releboga Modimo ka ugo bositse
rra!
Oo gobusa koa Belgian Congo,
rego iphitlhetse!
Ushaetse mo tirong ea morafe!
Robala moo serameng sa lebitla
Morolong!
In memory of the late Sol T Plaatje
James M Molebaloa
(Published in The Bantu World, 22 July 1933)
[English translation of Segopoco Sa Moshui Sol T Plaatje by Nhlanhla Maake]
It is a custom among civilised nation that as I am writing, I am reminiscing on that man of the Modiboa clan.
Our departed passed away on 19 June 1932. He was buried by the Barolong of Ratshidi, and of Seleka, the Batlhaping and the Batswana, and other nations at the Kimberley Diamond Fields.
Rest in peace Modiboa!
You were a bold brave man in Words!
You were a stalwart in deeds!
You were excellent in Manners!
You were an Advocate of South Africa
Your advocacy was heard in
England!
The Princes of America know you!
The Becoana reward smile on you with farms of
Thaba 'Ncho!
The Matebele smile on you while you are setting in order
Blood relations!
The writings that you have written are read
By nations!
Are read at councils and in
Narrow paths!
Sleep, calf of the Kudu!
Your death has shaken
Nations!
Your clansmen are still mourning for you!
Their weeping was heard at Moshaneng!
It was heard at the Matebeles!
It was heard in Central, and East
Africa, in the Belgian Congo!
Sleep man of the people, and rest!
We will see you on the day of resurrection!
You will rise with your clansmen and veterans
You will rise with church ministers!
Kings like Kgama, Lekoko,
Seepapico! Thapama, Ramaisho,
Sechele Letlhogile! Senoamadi,
Kearabile!
Luka Jantyi! Masa, Thaganyane,
Gontse of Mokoto!
You will rise with church ministers like Motshumi and company
Please mourn, Batlhaping clan!
Of 'Matlhapi leorethe!
MaMkhuchoane and the children are still
weeping for you!
Your deeds are still speaking, a cow
Which produces milk in abundance does not
reproduce itself!
Please weep, Batlhaping!
Of Maboelelele joa metse?
Those who wash with milk
They take whey and rinse themselves
Why are you quiet Ikalafeng of Maretela?
Your brother is sleeping in the cold wind.
Inhabitants of Magoro weep for the
Modiboa clan!
Let dried skins be sprayed with
Weeping!
We thank God for taking you back,
sir!
Go and reign in the Belgian Congo,
We will find you there!
You led in the work of the tribe!
Sleep there in the cold of the grave
Morolong!
Lefatshe, nkometse
Sabata-mpho Mokae
Lefatshe bulega ke tsene.
Fa o mpona ke leba kwa le kwa jaana
Fa o mpona ke ebaeba jaana,
Itse fa ke le senyae;
Ke tlhoka le bona boyo.
Ga go na fa nka ipayang gona,
Fa nka tlhomang mogwaafatshe teng.
Lefatshe nkometse:
O fetoge legaga le le boteng,
Le le botengteng, le le sephara.
Gongwe nka bona lefelo,
Ka alela mamphorwana a me.
Lefatshe bulega o nkometse.
Gongwe nka kopana le batsadi ba me
Ba mphimola dikeledi.
Earth, swallow me
[English translation of Lefatshe, nkometse by Sabata-mpho Mokae]
Earth, open up and swallow me
my eyes look at all directions
because I'm a vagabond
I've nowhere to go
I've nowhere to pitch a tent.
Earth, open up and swallow me
be a deep and wide cave
maybe in there I may find my forebears
maybe I may find a place to pitch a tent
for my children.
Earth, open up and swallow me
perhaps I may meet my forebears
and they may wipe my tears.
