Ukuphuma kwelanga ekuseni kuveza ubuhle bezwe, kukhala izinyoni zitshikoza, ziculela ukubona ubuhle bezwe, kwename namathole etshakadula, kanti ke nathi thina bantu sithokozela ukubungaza impilo ngobumnandi bayo kanye nesilethela khona. Kodwa ke futhi ukusa akugcini ngokuphuma kwelanga, ngoba siyavuka ekuseni izulu lidinwe liveva, libafazi bedube inyama. Injabulo yokuphuma kwelanga iphikiswa izinyembezi ezifika nokuduma kwezulu, kuqhume isililo kwembathwe amatshali, sisale sikhexe ungenzansi. Injalo njeke impilo, ayinasiqiniseko sokuthi sizovuka kube njalo ngakusasa, asazi noma lizophuma ilanga kugqashiye amathole, noma lizothukuthela lize nezikhukhula zezinyembezi nomunyu kanye nosizi.
Lifikile ifu elimnyama kithi balandeli bomculo wesintu, ikakhulukazi thina bathandi baka Maskandi. Sikhala siyazithulisa ngokudlula kokuzuma kuka Sibongiseni Mjikijelwa Ngubane obebuye aziwe ngenun’ emnyama kodwa emhlophe ngenhliziyo. Ukudlula kwalensizwa yakoMbomvu ngokuzuma kusigqeme engeqiwa ntwala ingozi le! Phela lensizwa amagalelo ayo kulendima omculo wesintu awafunwa ndawo futhi awazingelwa ehlane njengenyamazane ngoba umsebenzi wayo uzikhulumela wona, ngendlela abethandwa ngayo futhi namanje akathandwa ngayo ngisho eselele ikuveza ngokusobala ukuthi lensizwa bekusilomo futhi engindabamlonyeni kubantu ngemisebenzi yakhe emihle.
UMjikijelwa uzalwa kwaJikijiki, eMvoti esifundeni saKwaZulu Natal, okuyilavokutshaleke khona imbevu yobuciko futhi akancele khona ubugagu bomculo kaMaskandi. Iqhawe lethu lidlule emhlabeni ngezi 26 ku Nhlaba 2018, edlulela esibhedlela eDurban Hospital. Kumndeni wakhe, izihlobo kanye nabalandeli sithi, “Dudu, alwehlanga lungehlanga”
Brief Overview
I wrote this article with a heavy heart to say the least, after the untimely passing of our maskandi hero, known as Mjikijelwa Ngubane, whose stage name is IChalaha as famously known or “Inun’ Emnyama ‘mhlophe ngenhliziyo”. The article is based on a brief history of this hero, his musical journey and also where he was born.
Siboniso Langa is a content generator, researcher and practising poet. His work focuses on Zulu oral and material culture, its promotion and preservation. He holds an Honours degree in Community and Development studies from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).
Cha uyaluqhakambisa ulwimi okuyinto enhle. Uqhubeke nje ungapheli amandla. Baningi bayafunda okuningi kuleli khasi lo ‘Ulwazi’.