Nation's Bounty , livre ebook

T HE N ATION ’ S B OUNTY :
T HE X HOSA P OETRY OF N ONTSIZI M GQWETHO
for Jenna and Madison
the next generation
T HE N ATION ’ S B OUNTY :
T HE X HOSA P OETRY OF N ONTSIZI M GQWETHO
edited and translated by
Jeff Opland
AFRICAN TREASURY SERIES 22
Wits University Press
1 Jan Smuts Avenue
Johannesburg 2001
South Africa
http://witspress.wits.ac.za
ISBN 10: 1-86814-451-8 ISBN 13: 978 1 86814-451-8 ISBN 13: 978 1 77614-318-4 (EPUB) ISBN 13: 978 1 77614-319-1 (MOBI)
© Jeff Opland
First printed 2007
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the express permission, in writing, of both the author and the publishers.
Typesetting and reproduction by Positive Proof, Johannesburg, South Africa
Cover design by Limeblue, Johannesburg
Printed and bound by Creda Communications, Cape Town
CONTENTS
Foreword by Isabel Hofmeyr
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1 Imbongi u Chizama
Chizama the poet
2 Imbongikazi Nontsizi u Chizama
Nontsizi Chizama, the woman poet
3 [Uqekeko lwe Congress]
[The split within Congress]
4 Imbongikazi No “Abantu-Batho”
The woman poet and Abantu-Batho
5 Iziko le Nyembezi
The vale of tears
6 Imbongi ye Zibuko
The poet of the ford
7 Umpanga ka Mama
Mama’s death
8 Ingxoxo yo Mginwa ku Magqoboka!
A Red debates with Christians
9 Unyikimo Lomhlaba-E-Rautini
Johannesburg earthquake
10 Maibuye! I Afrika! Awu!
Come back, Africa! Awu!
11 Yacombuluka! Inamba u 1923 ebisoloko ifukamele ukunduluka
A long lying-in, then the python uncoils and leaves! (1923)
12 Ufikile! Udubulesendlwini bac’ol’i nto emnyango! Kuse beyifanisa (New Year)
It’s here! Find-at-the-Door-What-you-Shot-from-Inside and only later identified! (New Year)
13 Pulapulani! Makowetu
Listen, compatriots!
14 Abaprofeti benyaniso-nabo-buxoki
Prophets false and true
15 Zatsha! Inkomo Nomazakuzaku!
Something’s coming!
16 Induli ka Xakeka!—Enyukwa ngu Ntu!!
The hill Difficulty the black man scales
17 Umanyano! Basebenzi Abantsundu!!
Unity, black workers!
18 Umpanga! ka Rev B.S. Mazwi
The loss of Rev B.S. Mazwi
19 Vumisani! kwi Nyange Lemihla!!
Consult the ancient sage!
20 Ingwe Idla Ngamabala!!
Spots feed the leopard
21 I Afrika ihleli Ayiyangandawo!!
Africa stayed! She’s nowhere else!!
22 Ikona na Intaba Oyaziyo? Kwezi Zimiyo Eyaka Yafuduka?
Show me the mountain that packed up and left
23 Isimbonono Saba Zali!!
Lament of the parents
24 Zipina Inkokeli Ezinje ngo Daniel?
Where are leaders like Daniel?
25 Ifikile! Ingqongqo Yomnqamlezo!! (Good Friday).
He’s here! The Drum of the Cross!! (Good Friday)
26 Sicope Emasebeni Emiti Njengentaka!!
We perch like birds on twigs
27 Iziko Lenyembezi!!
The vale of tears
28 Sahluke Pina Tina ku Kayin?
How do we differ from Cain?
29 Izibuko!!
A ford!
30 Ukutula! Ikwakukuvuma!!
Silence implies consent
31 Umanyano! Nomfela ndawonye!!
Prayer Union and Die-As-One
32 Kuguzulwa Okumkani! Kumiswe Okumkani!!
The king is dead! Long live the king!
33 Isizwe! Esingavaniyo! Nesingavelaniyo! Siyadwatywa Zezinye!!
Strangers strip a squabbling nation
34 Utywala Sisiqu Sempundulu!
Liquor’s the lightning-bird itself
35 Siyayibinza!—I Afrika!!
We’re stabbing Africa!
36 Imimiselo ye Zizwe! Iwugqwetile Lomhlaba ka Palo!
Foreign laws have upended this land of Phalo!
37 Izililo! Ze Afrika!!
Africa’s wailings
38 Emva! Kumasiko Andulo!!
Back to age-old ways!
39 Abafazi! Bomtandazo!! Pulapula!!!
Women of the Prayer Unions. Listen!
40 Saxulutywa!—Ngamatye Omsebenzi!!
Our efforts stone us!
41 Mene! Mene! Tekele! Ufarsin!!
Mene! Mene! Tekel! Parsin!!
42 “Masizake”!! Yin’ nale!!!
What’s this? Let’s build for each other!
43 “Ub’inqo”! We-Afrika!!
Africa’s petticoat
44 Umfula! Wosizi!!
The stream of despair
45 Ziyazaliseka—Ngoku! Izihlabo ko Ntsundu!! Pulapula!!!
The prophecies about blacks have now come to pass! Listen!
46 Ingonyama! Yobumnyama Isagquma!!
The lion of blackness still roars
47 Amaqaba! Pulapula.
Reds! Listen
48 Singu-Ndabamlonyeni!
We’re the topic of talk
49 Lunguza! Ku-ya-sa
Take a look, dawn’s breaking
50 Sesanina? Esisimb’onono?
What’s this lament?
51 Lityumtyum! E-Afrika!! Pulapula!!!
Something’s rotten in Africa. Listen!
52 Inyikima e Rautini! Gqala esase Sodom!!
Joburg earthquake: remember Sodom
53 Wabutwana—Afrika? Njengezitungu—Zesanda?
Are you bundled for threshing, Africa?
54 Yintsomi yo Nomeva!!
The tale of the wasps
55 Ukuba Umntu! Akakwazi!! Ukuyongamela Eyake-Indlu!!! Angatinina Ukupata Isizwe Sika Tixo?
If a man can’t rule his own house, how would he manage God’s nation?
56 Hosanna!! Melkizedek!!! (Xmas)
Hosanna! Melchizedek!! (Xmas)
57 Zemk’ Inkomo Zetafa! Zeza Nenkungu!!
They are stealing our cattle on misty plains!
58 Yaqengqelekana Iminyaka Umi Ndaweninye?
Will the years roll by while you mark time?
59 Watsha Umzi! Lupawu Luka Kayini!! (Passport)
The mark of Cain (the pass) enflames the land
60 Ubusuku—Bunzulu! Ekuzeni—Kokusa!!
The night is deep before the dawn
61 Wazinyatela na? Intombi Zezwe Lako Zibe Ngamakoboka?
Are you trampling your nation’s girls to enslave them?
62 Lipina Iqula Lamanzi e Afrika?
Where’s a well in Africa?
63 Tabata! Naso Isitshixo!! Esikinxe Izwe Lako!!!
There’s the key to the lock on your land: take it!
64 Vumani! Siyavuma!!
“Agree!” “Agreed!!”
65 Zapela Inkomo! Luqaulo Lwemitshato!!
Cattle are lost in divorce
66 Mazibhange! Izikumbuzo Ezingenalo u Manyano
Stop the divisive commemorations
67 Wapulwana Afrika Njengesitya Esingananziweyo?
Africa, are you trashed like a worthless plate?
68 Siyavuma!!
Agreed!
69 Ngubani Oti Ukuvumisa Akufuneki?
Who said there’s no need of divination?
70 Tsheca-Lomgibe!!
Snap this snare
71 Ukuxoka! Pulapula!!
Gossip! Listen!!
72 Nantso-Igushakazi! Pantsi Kwabaguguli!! (Good Friday)
Behold the lamb set for shearing (Good Friday)
73 Qengqa!-Elolitye!! (Easter)
Roll back the stone! (Easter)
74 Tixo Wam! Tixo Wam! Undishiyelanina?
My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me?
75 Hambani! Niyekuzenza Abafundi Zonke Intlanga!!
Go forth and teach all nations
76 Siyakuzizekela Ninina Uzuko?
When will we gain ourselves glory?
77 Hosanna! Cibi Elino Mnqwazi Ngapezulu!! (Xmas)
Hosanna, Lake with a bonnet on top! (Xmas)
78 Zemk’ Inkomo Zetafa!! 1925
On the plains they’re stealing our cattle! 1925
79 Yaqengqelekana Yonke Iminyaka Umi ndaweninye? (1926)
Will the years all roll by while you mark time? (1926)
80 Ilizwe-Liyakutungwa-Njengengubo!!
The country will be patched like clothing!!
81 Umanyano! Mihlamb’ Eyalanayo!!
Unity, diverse sheep!!
82 Nalo Igazi! Lidyob’ Umzimba Wake!! (Good Friday)
Look at his blood-flecked body (Good Friday)
83 Vuyani! Uxolile u Tixo Wezulu! (Easter)
Agree! God in heaven’s reconciled!! (Easter)
84 Umona! Pulapula!!
Envy! Listen!!
85 Simi pina?
Where do we stand?
86 Isizwe Esingena Tixo Siyatshabalala
A godless nation perishes
87 U-Yehova Uyasivana?
Does Jehovah hear us?
88 Namhla Izwi Lake Lise Zaqwitini!! (Usuku loku Nyukela)
Today he roars in a whirlwind! (Ascension Day)
89 Isimbonono se Afrika!!
Africa’s lament!!
90 Utando!!
Love!!
91 Umanyano Nomfela Ndawonye!
Prayer Union and Die-As-One
92 Yeyapina Lemfundiso?
Where does this teaching come from?
93 Siyayikumbula Njena Indlala?
Do we remember the famine?
94 Uvelwano! Pulapula!!
Sympathy! Listen!!
95 Yacombuluka Inamba Ebisoloke Ifukamele Ukunduluka (Abefundisi)
A long lying-in, then the python uncoils and leaves (Ministers)
96 Umonde!!
Patience
97 Yayisenzelwa Ntonina i Bhaibhile?
Why was the bible created?
98 Azi Le Afrika Iyakuze Ibuye na?
Will this Africa ever come back?
99 Vumani! Siyavuma!!
“Agree!” “Agreed!!”
100 Lomzi Wakona na Sawubizana?
Did we invite this nation of theirs?
101 Sabelani Niyabizwa Balindi
Watchmen, respond: you’re summoned!!
102 Gqumani Zilwandle! Gcobani Mihlaba! (Xmas)
Roar, oceans! Frolic, continents!! (Xmas)
103 Zemk’Inkomo Zetafa—Vula Ndingene!
On the plains they’re stealing our cattle!
Notes
Bibliography
FOREWORD
Like an elegant cat, the significance of this book lies curled in its title: The Nation’s Bounty . “Bounty” is a word with different meanings: goodness, worth, virtue, kindness, excellence, an act of generosity, a gift, a reward. This remarkable collection of translated poems partakes of all these meanings.
The nearly one hundred poems collected here come from the hand of a Xhosa-speaking woman, Nontsizi Mgqwetho, who wrote them in the 1920s in Johannesburg for the newspaper Umteteli wa Bantu . Now crumbling and yellowing, this newspaper survives in a few South African libraries. Jeff Opland, a leading scholar of Xhosa literature, has painstakingly located and collected these poems and then carefully and lovingly translated them with assistance from Phyllis Ntantala and Abner Nyamende. As Opland indicates in his introduction, Mgqwetho is “the first and only female poet to produce a substantial body of work in Xhosa.”
The resulting translation is a national cultural treasure, for the first time available to a larger readership within South Africa and beyond. The volume is indeed a bounty, full of goodness, literary worth and excellence. As an act of poetic creation and then of translation, the collection is an act of generosity, a gift to the nation and a wonderful reward for the reader.
As cultural and literary documents, the poems resonate with both historical and contemporary significance. One idea that now enjoys wide currency in South Africa is that of the “African Renaissance,” a term introduced by Thabo Mbeki in 1996 when he was still vice-president and then