Читать книгу Nations's Bounty - Nontsizi Mgqwetho - Страница 12
ОглавлениеMgqwetho defends Marshall Maxeke’s editorship of Umteteli wa Bantu against the charge that it splits the South African Native National Congress. The conduct of some of the Congress leaders, she claims in response, has itself brought about internal dissension.
3 [The split within Congress]
Listen! You’ll hear
of the split within Congress,
graver than any
Rev. Maxeke, B.A. might have caused.
1Hawulele! Hule! 5
Nontsizi foresaw it.
Tramps’ ancestors
are no match for mine.
2Tired of snipping,
we came out of our holes: 10
you might as well lie
as snip at an issue.
3Maxeke’s split?
Neighbour, you’re blind
to internal dissension 15
in National Congress.
4Today we’re a team:
you’ve done a good job,
exposing the filth
before I could reach you. 20
5Stoke up the fire,
President Makgatho!
Watch the sparks
swirl up today.
Hule! Bo! 25
6The ancient of days
says the nation is stunned:
National Congress is chomped
like corn on the cob.
3 [Uqekeko lwe Congress]
Pulapulani! Nizakuva!
Uqekeko lwe South African
Native National Congress,
Ingelulo oluka Rev. Maxeke B.A.,
1Hawulele! Hule! 5
Ndanditshilo mna Nontsizi,
Iminyanya yakowetu
Ayibambani neye Xelegu.
2Siyapuma egusheni.
Sidiniwe kuncwela 10
Ukuba Siyancwela
Ingab’asinanyani.
3Uqekeko luka Maxeke?
Walulibala ke nawe
Mfondini wakowetu 15
Olwe National Congress.
4Namhla Sigagene
Tyapile wenjenje
Utyile amanyala
De ndakufumana. 20
5Kaukwezele!
Nto ka Makgatho (President)
Nandzo intlantsi
Namhlanje ziq’uq’umba
Hule! Bo.’ 25
6Uti u Xego-Dala
Isizwe simangele
Kuba i National Congress
Seyidliw’amaq’ashu.
7Our people are spent, 30
urged over the edge.
I’d carve the meat
for a guide to a ford.
8Halala! As we said:
National Congress, 35
envious watchers
would grind you to dust.
9Please consider
your internal split:
your bloated body 40
comes as a shock.
10Cape Native Congress
and Bantu Union!
The ford’s struck by lightning:
our future’s cloudy! 45
11Which one of the two
appeals to the people,
raises their hopes
of Africa’s return?
12Maxeke, B.A., 50
says Africa’s scuppered
when Cape Town and Jeppe
urge us over the edge.
13The ancient of days
calls out at the ford: 55
he’ll stand toe to toe
with both liars today.
14Without leave from Congress
they urge us over the edge,
they preach their sermons 60
and grab the headlines.
15And as a result
Natal Congress walked out,
and the Free State walked out,
and the Cape’s splinters splinter. 65
7Abantu bayapela 30
Kukufunzwa eweni
Ndindim ngendimlumela
Nowalat’izibuko.
8Ha-la-la! Sasitshilo
National Congress 35
Boze bona bakubone
Oc’ul’ukunyatela.
9Kaukangele ke
Uqekeko lwako
Kwanokummangalisa 40
Kokutyatyambileyo,
10Yi Cape Native Congress!
Bantu Union!
Zulu osebenzela ekaya!
Ne Zibuko esingazi ngomso. 45
11Yiyipina ke kuzo
Eginyisa amate
Nenika abantu itemba
Lokubuyiswa kwe Afrika?
12Uti oka Maxeke B.A., 50
Yatshona i Afrika
Ngo Funz’eweni base Kapa
Kunye nabase Jeppe.
13Uti u Xego-Dala
Wase zibukweni 55
Namhlanje makaguxane
Amaxok’omabini.
14Kuba o Funz’eweni
Bashumayela
Abangakwamkeli ku Congress 60
Bakwenze indaba ze sizwe.
15Imkile i Natal Congress
Ngenxa yabo
Imkile kwane Free State
Nantsiya ne Koloni izintlantlu ngentlantlu. 65
16Maxeke, B.A., speaks out.
Long he stood downwind
watching their antics,
and in the end he turned his back.
17We’re urged over the edge, 70
says Maxeke, B.A.,
by those who run blind,
with no home to turn to.
18Maxeke, they claim,
is selling the nation; 75
but they sold it off
a long time ago.
19They scuttle Africa:
down there the big guns
of Congress are roaring, 80
pounding away at their very own ranks.
20Thus Maxeke, B.A.,
ancient teller of tales.
He forces down today
those urging us over the edge. 85
21Hawulele! Hule!
The boil came to a head today,
wonders erupted like pus
mixed with P.E.’s blood.
22We stumbled in starting! 90
We seek a ford!
We won’t bury our heads,
afraid to speak out.
23The nation’s ill served by those heroes
who lurk in their lairs like wild beasts, 95
heedless of others,
betraying our trust.
24Wake up, Makgatho, the air’s in motion!
Why can’t you tell
where the wind comes from 100
or where it’s blowing?
16Uti ke yena oka Maxeke (B.A.,)
Ungasemoyeni
Imikwa yabo kudala
Ayikangela wancama.
17Uti oka Maxeke (B.A.,) 70
O Funz’eweni abasazi
Nalapo mabapate
Bayeke kona.
18Bati oka Maxeke
Utengisa nge sizwe 75
Kanti kudala bona
Basitengisa kuqala.
19Yatshona i Afrika ngabo
Kuba nenkanunu ze Congress
Nandzo zigquma 80
Ziqekeza amabandla.
20Uti ke oka Maxeke (B.A.,)
Umdala okade ubalisa
Namhla o Funz’eweni
Uyabotula ezintabeni. 85
21Hawulele! Hule
Latsitsa namhla ibhunga
Igazi lase Bhayi
Libuya nezimanga.
22Sifunze! Kakubi! 90
Sifuna! Izibuko!
Asikusela ezadungeni
Ngokoyik’ukuteta.
23Isizwe asiwafuni amaramnca
Avele ngomx’ak’emngxunyeni 95
Angenantlonipo ngumntu
Nangatembekiyo.
24Vuka! Nto ka Makgatho
Wapepeza na Umoya?
Ungawazi apo uvela kona 100
Nalapo usinga kona?
25Congress is split by those in Jeppe
urging us over the edge,
crows who pick it over,
scratching the ground for seed. 105
26Maxeke, B.A., speaks out.
Today he swathes
all their deeds
in a baffling mist.
27Why is Congress 110
put to the torch?
Where are the visions
of those in sympathy?
28I’m warning you all!
The nation’s sinking 115
while you look down,
fumbling for matches!
29There could not be
a matter more grave:
there are some who believe 120
they alone are the people.
30So wake up, Makgatho,
and seek a ford:
you’re getting a whiff
of the stench that sinks 125
the ship of the nation.
So peace, it’s up to you!
25I-Congress iqekezwa
Ngo Funz’eweni base Jeppe
Abamana beyipanda
Bexel’amahlungulu. 105
26Uti ke oka Maxeke (B.A.)
Uyayicima namhlanje
Imisebenzi yabo
Njengelifu eligqingqwa!
27Itsha nganina 110
Indlu ye Congress?
Azi babebone ntonina
Osivuma-ngamehlo.
28Lumkelani! Iyatshona
Inqanawe ye sizwe 115
Nina nisalibele
Kukuqwit’ezidosheni!
29Bekungekonto ikakade
Ibingade igqite nto
Kubantu abazicingela 120
Ukuba bangabantu bodwa
30Vuka ke Nto ka Makgatho
Ufune Izibuko
Nango umoya ukuq’ola
Wevumba elitshonisa 125
Inqanawe ye sizwe
Camagu ke! Mahlala bemsusa!
