Ngiphe umlomo nephimbo

Elimemeza kugcwale,

Kudume zonk’ izikhotha,

Kuzwe nalow’ obengezwa,

Ngob’ ikhon’ indab’ enkulu,

Bayibikile bayisho.

Sabe siyathe silapha

Silinga ukuyiziba,

Bayibebisa emhlane,

Nomhlaba waze wayizwa.

Woza nosapho lwakho Zulu,

Lusib’ olusenkundlen’ oSuthu -

Ukhombise umhlaba wonke,

Nkayishan’ enkulu kaMenzi -

Udumo lwawoyihlomkhulu

Olusele kubaQulusi.

Sifuna zona lezo nsizwa,

Sifuna zona lezo ntombi,

Sifuna lona lelo khehla,

Sifuna yena lowo mame.

Shayani izinsimbi nina

Zikhumukani zakwaZulu,

Kusukela ngakwaDukuza

Kuye kushaya phans’ oThukela.

Bikelan’ amandl’ amhlophe

Ngentokozo ekini namhla.

Nant’ izwe selibuyelana,

Selizibonel’ imiloyo

Ayikhuluma mhla esefa

Osixhokolo siseNkandla,

Bangamtshela nazibuko,

Bamweza ngelicong’ amathe

Ngoba beth’ uyisishaka.

Bamtekulela abafazi

Bombango wakwaNyuswa bethi:

“Inkom’ esengwa kwaMavela –

Ingawuqeda ngandlelani

Owenhlakuva yamanxiwa,

Lokh’ uSihayo wahluleka,

Ovunulel’ ezimfundeni

Zasala zaba amahlungu,

Ingani ngezamanzi?

Pho thina soshonaphi na?

Sobuya sikhosele kuye,

Singafuni kukhonza kodwa,

Kodwa sifuna ubuZulu

Bona bumi ngeshashalazi

Lezizwe zonke zeNyakatho.”

Wakhotha nabakwaMthethwa,

Wabemuka nehubo labo

Ngoba lingabafanelile

Nxa bethi: “Zinomland’ omkhulu

Lezo zinkomo, zifuzise

UShayandlondlo kaMjokwane.”

Akubona labo kuphela –

Wakhothuluz’ abasokoco

Baphansi nangaphezulu,

Wathungathisa okwenqina

Eyabhul’ eMabedlana,

Kwakhal’ amawa nezintaba,

Kwachwakazela wonk’ umsindo,

Namankankan’ abang’ umsindo

Athontel’ emigodini.

Nathi besingakazalwa,

Sisazizulel’ emoyeni,

Kodwa indaba yakho sezwa,

Kodwa sabaleka njalo,

Salindela lezi zikhathi

Zokubhekana kwezwe lonke.

Omnyama ubheke omhlophe,

NeKula lizishis’ eziko

Lilwela amalungelo.

Pho, thina siyakwazi yini

Ukuzingena ezombango?

Kwanga sazalwa kanye nawe!

Igama lakho liyohlala

Libusa njal’ enhliziyweni

Yesizukulwane sonke

Esesizelwe nesingekho.

Zining’ izinto ezidonsa

Zikhumbuza wena njalo.

Ma sivakasha kwaZulu

Sibon’ okuhl’ okuningi:

Laph’ amathol’ ezikhalela

Nonina beza bekhalima

Nemin’ isingugalanga;

Laph’ abafazi bez’ ekhaya

Bethwel’ izinyanda zenkuni,

Nabadlezana bephuthuma

Ukuzincelisel’ ekhaya;

Nakho phansi kweMfolozi

Izinsizwa naw’ amakhehla

Eyigonil’ intomb’ endala

Empondonde zingangawo

Phel’ amagudu ezinyathi

ZaseMbozamo neNonoti

Emahlathini oThukela.

Bayawabonga bewalumba

Ngensangu etshalelwa wena

Emadotsheni ezimfunda

Zomuz’ omkhulu uDukuza.

Zigawuliwe lezo hlahla

Kwamiswa itshe lakoShaka,

Wena Ntab’ ehlal’ ingonyama

Yesab’ izulu ukuduma.

Incwincw’ ephuza kwezind’ iziziba,

Ingaphuza kwezifushane

Amadidiba nal’ udaka

Fun’ ayinind’ iziphuka,

Anqinde nezimpiko zayo.

Lapha ngibheka lawa matshe

Angomabula abamhlophe,

Ngiwafanisa njengehawu,

Ngiwafanise njengengubo

Emboze amathamb’ amhlophe

Aseyilona lifa lethu

Owalisicilela phezu

Kwaw’ amakhand’ akwaZulu;

Yilona leli hawu lakho

Owawuhubhazela ngalo.

Okhokho nawobabamkhulu

La impi bengayiboni,

Beq’ izihlahla namahlathi

Besubatha ngamajubane,

Baphang’ ukuyogwaz’ ulwandle,

Bajabule ma belufica

Ludlondlobele, lugunyile.