Intaka yeziduli ze-Afrika

Eyandulel’ izizw’ ezimnyana

Ngokuhluk’ ezikhoveni

Ezihlal’ entshonalanga.

Yathontela phezu kwamanzi

Esibhakabhaka sasolwandle

Iyofunda ubunyangakazi

Bemitshivovo yangaphesheya.

Waziqhutha phansi izimpaphe

Zezinyoni zasemihosheni

Ngoba kukukhanyela kahl’ ukuthi

Kawuyon’ intaka yemifula,

Uyinkosi yazo zonk’ izinyoni.

Inyon’ egolwe nganti zamkhonto,

Bayichamiselel’ emasimini,

Kungesiwo lawa kagampokwe.

Bayibona leyo ndab’ enkulu

Base bekugodl’ ekhwapheni,

Bathi masivakashele khona

Kulo lonke lawoyihlomkhulu.

Yebo wathi lapho uyofika

Wasitshela ngamafuphi wathi:

Nathi siyizona izinkozi,

Sekusele ukuba singandiza

Selul’ izimpiko zethu nathi,

Sizibhekele impumalanga.

Mina onjengawe kangimfuni

Ngob’ ushiya engikhombise,

Wangitshela ubunqunu bami

Kanti mina bengithi ngiyazi.

Wathi usuhambile ngasala

Ngabona ngokusha wonk’ umhlaba.

Bonke basukuma phansi bema,

Baboph’ imithwalo bayofunda.

Ma singase sikuvuse namhla

Uyomangal’ ukubon’ abanye

Bendlu yakwenu esele phansi,

Nabo sebe oNtabakayikhonjwa

Ngenxa yaz’ iziqu nezimpawu

Zobunusi nobungoma bezwe

Lakho, zifundiswa nenhlanzeko.

Konke lokhu kwehlakele emva

Kweminyaka elishumi qhwaba.

Bheka nakhu sibiz’ amathambo

Namadlozi abanjenganawe,

Sibiza namathongo e-Afrika,

Abuy’ azohlanganis’ izandla.

Sifuna lokho kuhlakanipha

Owaf’ ungazange usinike,

Nathi sinik’ abasilandela

Esizukulwanen’ esizayo.

Bhek’ ezigodini zaseLovedale,

Ugamanx’ ubuk’ eMorija,

Ukhuphuk’ ubhek’ eKilnerton.

Ungahlali phansi, bheka

Ngasenyakatho kwaTati

NaseWilberforce, wehle

Uzobona futh’ eManzimtoti,

Bes’ ugcin’ uhlol’ Ohlange

Umsebenzi wabamnyama,

Abafowenu bozalo.

Zonke lezi ndawo zokufunda

Kukhona izinsizwa nezintokazi

Zokwanusa nobungoma bezwe.

Yinamuhla lapho ungafika

Sikubone sikubingelele,

Magwaz’ eguqile njengethole.

Lezi nsizwa nezintombi

Zafukanyeliswa uwe Aggrey,

Esithi kuwe nenzalo yakho

Kuhle izwe iminjunju yethu:

“Abusisiwe lawo mabele

Ancelisa wena, nembeleko

YakwaShanti eyasonga wena.”

Siyayibongela nale ntombi

Eyakhanga wena eRaleigh.

Bathi ababhula ngononyezi

Wath’ ukuyibona wathi: “S’khihli

Kangisakudluli ntombazane,

Nezwi lakho limnandi limtoti,

Woza nami siye le e-Afrika.”

Kwab’ ushaye phansi mfo ka-Aggrey,

Intokazi yathintith’ ilokwe,

Yafulathelis’ imicabango,

Wena wayidoba wayahlula.

Yebo Ntombi bamb’ ithambo nanti –

Wahlabana ngenyoni yaneno,

Ekhalile kwezwakal’ umhlaba

Waze wavungama ngayo yodwa.

Kwesuk’ abakopoli

Bagwanq’ umgod’ ekhale kuwo

Ngoba bethi bazothola mbube.

Kwesuka ngish’ oMothoni

Nabalaph’ eGoli bakaPewula,

Bakukhafuza bakudiliza,

Bebona sampungushana njena

Ingahlukile nakwezalapha,

Imnyama imhloph’ amazinyo.

Kawusukanga lapho wadela

Le mibal’ emnyama wena nami

Esiphum’ eziswini zawomame

Simbeswe ngayo ngunaphakade.

Wena ngaphambi kwezidlangala,

Kuzo waphenduk’ iqhalaqhala,

Uzibinya ngombal’ omnyama

Lona mina nabazelwe nami

Esilwa sifun’ ukuwususa

Ngokubhix’ ibumba likamLungu

Elenz’ umunt’ afane nekhonde

Lon’ elilunguz’ emagatsheni

Livez’ ubuswan’ umzimb’ ungekho.

Kukho konk’ okub’ okwakwenzeka,

Izitha nabadlwanguzelayo

Belinga ngamandl’ ukukwehlisa,

Kodwa wena wawulokh’ uyuhleka

Ngob’ ubon’ ubuphoxo babo.