THE SEARCH: 1997

“I am searching for the Spirit of the greatest heart under the African sky.”
I traverse the savannah veld scratched by acacia bush
I strain far and wide searching for the dignity of Africa
I peep about hedges and walls
I dig deep into the African earth
Searching for a free soul of Africa.
 
Abandoned hopes and dreams knock me out
I reach only to the memory of the perfection of the African past
I recall the chief, the king and his advisor
I wish I still had the cruel tough African past
Which confined me to my boyish occupations
Which gave me my girlish identity
Which told me I could only grind corn
Which taught me to fetch firewood
Which confined me to herding cattle
 
You will call me nostalgic, naive
You will say I intend to throw away progress and civilisation
You will see in me a dissatisfied Mthwakazi boy
Battling to overcome his native limitations
 
But I will ask you about hut tax and head tax
Give me a good explanation about why I should only keep eight beasts?
Tell me why amadlozi are suddenly a sign of heathenism?
Explain to me why my ubuntu is suddenly pagan?
Clarify to me the difference between good and evil
Explain to me why my black skin equates with evil ?
Give me a good reason for equating white with good
Satisfy my desire for fairness
Explain to me why a white boy gets a better salary on the same job as mine?
Convince me why I have to get a lower pay
Indicate to me the advantages of crammed male-only Sidojiwe accommodation
Why can I not own a house in Belleveu even if I can sell my cattle and buy it?
Tell me why I use different train compartments?
Why do I ride in the back of the Bulawayo Omnibus?
Why do I use a separate toilet to a white man?
Why do I walk on the road while the white man is looking at me and free on the empty pavement?
Tell me why I cannot vote!?
I will tell you this only:
“I am still searching for the spirit of the greatest heart under the African sky.”

Isicwaningo; ngo1977

Isicwaningo; ngo1977

“Ngidinga uMoya wenhliziyokazi engaphansi komkhathi wezwekazi leAfurika.”
Ngidabula indle yesavana edletshwa ngumtholo
Ngidonsela kude lade ngicinga isizotha seAfurika
Ngilunguza izintango lezindonga
Ngigebha litshone emhlabathini weAfurika
Ngidinga umoya okhululekileyo weAfurika
 
Amathemba adeliweyo lamaphupho ayangiqulekisa
Ngifunyelela kuphela inkumbulo yokuphelela kwezolo yeAfurika
Ngikhumbula inkosi, induna lomeluleki wayo
Ngifisa aluba bengiselayo ingezolo ebe ilukhuni ebe ilolunya yeAfurika
Ebingibandezela emilandweni yami yobufana
Ebingipha uphawu lwami lobuntombazana
Ebingitshela ukuthi ngazi kuphela ukuchola amabele
Engifundise ukutheza izinkuni
Engibandezele ekwaluseni izinkomo
 
Uzangihumutsha ngokukhumbula ekhaya, ubungane
Uzakuthi ngifisa ukulahla ubungqubelaphambili
uzangibona ngingumfana kaMthwakazi ongagculisekanga
Olwa ezama ukunqoba ukungapheleli kobudabu bakhe
 
Mina ngizamana ngikubuze ngomthelo wendlu lomthelo wekhanda
Ngipha ingcazelo enhle ukuthi kungani ngifuya izinkomo ezificambili kuphela
Ngitshela ukuthi amadlozi aseyibuqaba ngenxa yani
Ngichasisela ukuthi kungani ubuntu sebuyihedeni
Ngicacisela umehluko wobuhle lobubi
Ngichasisela ukuthi kungani ijwabu lami elinsundu lilinganiswa lobubi
Ngipha isizatho esizwayo sokulinganisa ubukhiwa lobuhle
Suthisa isifiso sami sokulunga
Ngichasisela ukuthi kungani umfana omhlophe ehola imali engcono esebenza msebezi munye lami
Ngidelisa ukuthi kungani kumele ngithole iholo eliphansi
Ngibonisa inzuzo yezindlu eziminyeneyo zabesilisa zokulala eSidojiwe emawositela
Kungani ngingeke ngaba ngumnini wendlukuzwa eBellevue loba ngingenelisa
ukuthengisa izinkomo zami zonke ngiyithenge
Ngitshela ukuthi kungani ngisebenzisa awami amatolokisi esitimeleni
Kungani ngigada iOmeni kaBulawayo ngihlalele emuva
Kungani ngisebenzisa esami isambuzi ngingangeni kwesomLungu
Kungani ngihamba ngivikana lezimota emgwaqweni umLungu engibhekile ekhululekile
esitubheni esingelamuntu
Ngitshela ukuthi kungani ngingavoti!
Mina ngizakutshela leli gama elilodwa:
“Ngisadinga uMoya wenhliziyokazi engaphansi komkhathi wezwekazi leAfurika.”