About the Poem
Despite being the world’s first major female Xhosa poet, Nontsizi Mgqwetho nevertheless has a past shrouded in mystery. Aside from basic personal details disclosed in her writings — such as those concerning her family, beliefs, and political beliefs — very little is known about Mgqwetho. It is known, however, that despite supporting the black resistance under apartheid, she still criticized the African National Congress for fragmenting rather than unifying the black resistance. Mgqwetho’s poetry frequently exhibits forms of hyperbole and covers issues such as those related to black rights and education.
| Xhosa – PULAPULANI MAKOWETU |
| Ndiyigxotile i Kresmesi, no Nyaka Omdala kwano Nibidyala ngezibongo. Ndizaku zibonga mna ke ngoku ndandule ke kwakona ukuqala into entsha. Camaguni! Taru! Nontsizi dumezweni ngentsholo Nto ezibongo ziyintlaninge yezwe Indlovu ke ayisindwa ngumboko wayo Awu! Taru! Sikukukazi piko e Afrika. Esikusela amatole aze engemki Emke nezinye intaka eziwadlayo Uyaziwa lilizwe nambakazi yezulu Enqenwe nazi Mbongi zada zaxelelana. Wugqwetele Mgqwetto lomhlaba ka Palo Beta izizwe ngesitunzi zidangale Uliramncwa akuvelwa ngasemva Nabakwaziyo babeta besotuka. Taru! Mdakakazi omabalaziziba Ovumba linuka okwenyoka yomlambo Camagu! Nawe Ndlovu edla Pezulu Uzibhalile noko Inkomo zakwa Mgqwetto. Taru! Nontsizi bulembu e Afrika Obuyepuzela emazantsi namaza Wak’ubeka ngonyawo weva ubuhlungu Wahiliza ngomlomo wawiselwa pantsi. Taru! Nontsizi bulembu e Afrika Ozihluba izibongo ekuhleni Zitsho nentaba zelizwe zikangelane Xa wapuka imbambo macala omabini. Taru! Mdakakazi ngqele ese Lundini Enje ngayo Imibete yase Herimone Ndakhubeka ndibheka emlungwini Awu! Ndeva sendibanjwa ngamadindala. Taru Mbongikazi Flamingo ka Vaaibom Esunduza inyawo xa isukayo Esunduza inyawo xa ihlalayo Zipume izilo zonke zigcakamele. Taru! Dadakazi lendada ze Afrika Ub’hib’hinxa lwentombi esinqe sibi Awu! Nontsizi bulembu e Afrika Akusoze wende nezinto zigoso. Taru! Mbongikazi piko le Afrika Sudukani bo arha ndabonelelwa Taru! Somikazi lomti wekiwane Ubonga noko side sipel’ isoya. Taru! Nontsizi bulembu e Afrika Izishumane mazambat’ amabhayi Kuba ayaziwa Iminyanya yakowenu Akungetshati ungabhinqi zik’ak’a Zipi Intombi zenu Izwi liyintoni Sigqibe lomhlaba sifuna ukwenda Salahla amak’azi salahla amakaya Namhla sizizigudu kwa namabhungela. Imfundo yintoni bapi onyana benu Bagqibe lamazwe befun’ inikisi Yona nto ifunwa zintaka inkuku Kusa ziqondele kuhlwe zingay’ boni Taru! Nontsizi ntsasa enemizila Egqibe izinga zonke iprofetesha Awu! Taru! Sanusekazi se zibongo Nalo neramncwa liwabhul’ amaphiko. Taru! “Chizama!” Odla inyama rwada Ayaziwa neminyanya yakowenu Mazibuye ke! Indlovu zidle ekaya Zingalala ezindle zilahlekile. Taru! Nontsizi intombi ka Sandile Mntana wenkosi kwinkosi zakwa Ngqika Kubonga amakosi not amabhungexe Watshiswa zinduku kumataf’ akwa Ngqika. Awu! Taru! Nontsizi bulembu e Afrika Ntokazi etsho ngentlombe ezimnandi Zitsho zidume nendonga ze Afrika Arha hai abhitye onke amadodana. Mhlana wafa Nontsizi losibekela Hashe lenkumanda loba lilahlekile Awu! Taru! Nangaye u Ntsikana Owayegqibe zonke izinga eprofetesha. Camagu! Sinungunungu Esingcwele Nantso ke into eyatshiwo ngu Ntsikana Yobomvana abarola ngamadolo Beza nobugqi bela ngela Mampondo. Lalinywa zinqwelo zomlilo elobawo Abe u Ntu engenandawo yokulima Canaguni! Mazulu! Camagu Mihlaba Camagu! Ke Langa! Camagu! Nawe Nyanga. Nini amagosa awasipeteyo Yinyusen’ ingxelo iye ko Pezulu Nisitetelele nide nicokise Soya pina? Ngwenya enesiziba. Sitshatshela Esikulu se Afrika Nanko u Ntu esiza enenyembezi Vumani! Siyavuma! Kwi Ngqongqo Yomnqamlezo Siyavuma! Ewe ngenyani! Siyavuma! Awu! Yatsho Imbabala yolwantinge Ezivutulula zimise nenkowane. Gqob’ha empandeni Nalo izwe loyihlo Lusisivivinya sayo imishologu. Watsho Umavelelunguzwa ngabe Nduku into ekangelwa Nangumbane kube situkutezi. Camagu! |
| English – LISTEN COMPATRIOTS |
| I launched Christmas, the old year and the new year, with praise poems. Now I’m going to sing my own praises, and then I’ll move on again to start something new. Mercy, all of you! Peace, Nontsizi, renowned for your chanting, Your poems are the nation’s bounty. No elephant finds its own trunk clumsy. Oh peace, hen of Africa with sheltering wing! Hen shepherding chicks Safe from the grasp of birds of prey, You are known by the nation and by heaven’s maidens. Poets were so moved that they told each other about you. Upset Phalo’s land, Mgqwetho, Cast your shadow on nations and sap their strength. You are a beast that does not stay in the background. Those in the know tremble in tackling you. Peace, dusky woman with the colors of pools, Your stench reeks like the river snake. Mercy! Elephant browsing top shoots, You’ve made a name for Mgqwetho. Peace, Nontsizi, African maize tufts Waving beneath the breeze, You stubbed your toe and felt the pain. A slip of the tongue and they stomped on you. Peace, Nontsizi, African maize tufts, You strip poetry bare and expose it And the nation’s mountains face one another As you sway from side to side. Peace, dusky woman, Drakensberg snow Like morning dew on Mount Hermon. I stumbled in walking with whites: Oh! I felt the cops’ cuffs on me. Peace, woman poet, Vaaibom’s flamingo, Which thrusts its feet forward for take-off. Which thrusts its feet backward to land: All the animals rise up. Peace, duck of the African thickets, Ungainly girl with ill-shaped frame. Oh, Nontsizi, African maize tufts, With crooked legs like yours you’ll never marry! Peace, woman poet of Africa with sheltering wing. Make way! Alas, I was used. Peace, starling perched in a fig tree, Your poetry puts feminine wiles to rest. Peace, Nontsizi, African maize tufts, Let spinsters again wear bodices For no one knows your ancestors: Without skin skirts there’ll be no marriage. Where are your daughters? What do you say? “We roamed the countryside searching for marriage, We abandoned the women and we abandoned our dowry, Now we’re milked though calf less, living with nobodies.” What’s education? Where are your sons? They roamed the land in search of nothing, Chickens scratching for scraps, Eager at dawn, at dusk empty-handed. Peace, Nontsizi, match-stick legs marked From roaming through thorn brakes prophesying; Oh, peace, poetic diviner, Watch out, the wild bird’s flapping its wings. Peace, Chizama, who eats her meat raw; No one knows your ancestors, May the browsing elephants make it home: If they stay in the open they’re lost. Peace, Nontsizi, Sandile’s daughter, Child of one of the Ngqika chiefs. You were thrashed on the Ngqika plains For praising chiefs and not commoners. Oh peace, Nonttsizi, African maize tufts, Woman, Africa’s walls are throbbing With the sound of your lovely parties: Oh shame! All the young men wither. The day of your death will darken, Nontsizi, The commando’s horse will lose its way. Oh, peace! And to you, Ntsikana, Who roamed through thorn brakes prophesying. Mercy, Awesome Saint! This is what Ntsikana spoke of: Little red people down on their knees, Casting spells when they come to the Mpondo. The land was plowed by our fathers’ tractors And the black had no place to plough. Mercy, Heavens! Mercy, Earth! Mercy then, Sun! And mercy, Moon! You all keep our final accounts, Present the report to the Highest Power, Make a careful case for us, Where else will we go Crocodile of the Pool? Mighty Champions of Africa, There’s the black approaching in tears. “Do you all agree?” “We agree! By the Cross’s Victor! We agree! Yes, in truth, we agree!” Oh! So says the enigmatic forest buck: Toadstools reach up when she’s through scratching. Keep scooping from the cask: There lies the land of your ancestors, Harassed by evil spirits. These are the words of those spied on By those bearing arms, Who watch her even by lightning. Mercy! |
Sources
Women Writing Africa: The Southern Region. (2003). United States: Feminist Press at the City University of New York.