Izibongo zikaAnton Lembede
UMagalela ngobuchoph’ abanye begadla ngezikhali,
Inkunz’ abayikhuz’ ubunzima ngesikhathi sobandlululo
Ithole likaMaLuthuli elitshekedul’ epulazini lomlungu
UMnumzane Frank Fell kwangabandaba zalutho.
Inkunz’ abayikhuz’ ubunzima isekude
Izalwe kwasuk’ ingxabano kwabomndeni
Ingan’ uMaLuthuli wayesefuna basuk’ epulazini
Ngob’ efuna indodana yabo ithole imfundo.
Kukhul’ okwabonw’ uMbazwana ngonyaka ka-1914
Kuzalw’ iqhawe, inkunz’ ezalwe ngesikhathi esinzima
Isipheth’ esiqhum’ enhla nepulazi salikhukhula lonke
Ubandlululo ngesawoMbazwana ngesawoMathetha noDlozi
Isamban’ esamb’ umgodi sangawula
Mndeni wakaLembed’ awumncane
Mndeni wakwaLuthuli naw’ awumcane futhi
Ukube naningekho sasingaba yini isizwe saseAfrika?
Umthent’ ohlab’ usamila wakith’ eMbumbulu
NgowakoNdima, ngowakoBayeni
Inkunz’ abathuk’ ingakafik’ eGosdeli ekhaya konina
Ithe ingafik’ eMphephetho bonke bavungazela
Ith’ iya eMpandwini bathi sokesibone
Yafik’ esikolen’ iNkanyezi yanqathuza yanqaphaza
Bahleka kancane bathi iyeken’ eyaseMbo
Ayiniphathe vele zonke izizwe ziphathw’ eMbo.
Ngisho iNkosi uNkasa kaTilongo elele kwelamathongo uyazi
Wazi ngeqhawe lamaqhawe, isilwane esithe sifika kweleNkosi
UMakhanya kwanyakaza izwe lonke
Ngisho nothisha basesikoleni i-Adams College bayavuma
Ngisho noBab’ uAlbert Luthuli elele kwelamathongo uyazi
Ngesilwane saseMbo esakhulul’ iNingizim’ Afrika
Ngisho noBab’ uMadiba uyavuma mfokaLembede
Wayibhala incwadi wayithumela emhlabeni wonke
Mndeni wakaLembede sukumani nilwe ngezikhali zika Antoni
Nibhekane nakho konke okungenza kungakhohlakal’ ukusebenza Kwethole lawo
Ndima lawoMbazwana lawoMathetha
Sicelakini mathong’ akoLembede nikhanyisel’ isizwe saseAfrika
Nikhanyisel’ iMbumbulu kuze kukhanye ngisho naseMphephetho
Lapho kulele khona zonk’ izinyanya zakwaLembede
Lala kahle mfokaLembede isizwe sonke siyakuhlonipha!
English Summary
This poem is praising Anton Lembede’s contribution in South Africa. It gives history of his family and on how he was born on a farm and the conflict between the family when his mother decided to take him away with her so that he can get education. It outlines his timeline, at Umbumbulu the schools he attended, from Primary level to Adam’s College. It encourages his family to continue on his legacy.
Compiled by: Kozekubenjani Shange