Zithi izindunankulu

Mangihlale phansi ngisho,

Ngibhonse njengenkomazi

Ibuya iqond’ ekhaya

Laph’ ilanga lisezansi,

Linjengezintomb’ ezinhle

Zihlab’ umshungu ntambama,

Zisuk’ eMhlathuze ziya

Zoganel’ eMhlathuzane,

Zishiy’ umbuso kwaZulu.

Bath’ abemfundo mangisho,

Mangiland’ umkhondo wazo

Lapho zendela ngakhona,

Ngingakhohlwa yiminyaka

Zaphum’ emakhay’ oyise.

Yebo, lalela-ke Mame,

Nawe mfokaz’ ongathandi,

Oth’ ufika ngaseBhayi

Wanqathuza ngamaRoma

Ngob’ ufun’ uZibusele.

Kunamuhla ngihlabelela

Ngezibongo zabantwana

Abadukelwa ngumhlaba,

Badinda kant’ emakhaya

Baboph’ imithwalo beqa,

Bahamba bashay’ uthuli.

Namanxiw’ awoyisemkhulu,

Nezihlobo zamagazi,

Nomhlab’ othel’ izithelo,

Nelanga lemin’ ehlobo,

Nenyang’ enhle yobusika –

Bahamba beyishiy’ emuva.

Badabul’ amanz’ olwandle,

Bayobhekana nomkhonto

Owakhalis’ amaBhunu,

Newis’ elaxosh’ iNgisi

Liphethwe oMasiphula

Phakathi kwesidlavela

Semizi ngaseSandlwana.

Ye! Beza bazibonela.

Bheka ngaphansi komuzi

Obuswa ngamathong’ odwa,

Ngababona behlangana

OMakhedama noJama,

Behlangana namathongo

Ezwe laseJalimani,

Benz’ isinqum’ esikhulu

Beth’ uZulu makakholwe,

Nay’ ahambe ngenkambiso

Yezizw’ ezapholofithwa

Ithole lokaLangeni.

Baya bathint’ inhliziyo

Enesihe kaFulansi,

Wahlabeka walalela.

Wabeyazibe bamphehla,

Wabeyathule bamhlaba.

Waboniswa ngamaphupho

Izindonga ezibomvu.

Ngizibona ngikhumbule

UMgungundlovu kaZulu.

Phakathi kwazo wabona

Kuphethuz’ izizwe zonke,

Zimnyama, ngisho nonwele

Luqoqene njengolwemvu.

Wezwa zikhulum’ ulimi

Olunobuqhawaxhiwa,

Zigqok’ izikhumba zodwa,

Zihlom’ umkhonto nenduku.

Kwathi laph’ ebuk’ amehlo

Wabon’ ukulangazela

Kwemiphefumulo yazo,

Ilangazel’ ukukhanya

Okwase kuphum’ ezansi

Kuphethwe ngoGilawoti

NoLindile noLandamu.

Wahlabeka kwas’ ebopha;

Wafika eSibubulungu

Wathelwa ngamanz’ oMtate,

Wafunga ngabaphezulu

Ezinikela kuZulu.

Laph’ amagqum’ anodumo

Elulek’ eMkhambathini

Ebalwa ngenkulungwane

Eqonde ngempumalanga,

Uyobona nesikole

Sephupho likaFulansi,

Ephusheni lakhe wezwa,

Wabon’ izinsizw’ ezine

Ziba zinde ngamakhanda,

Ziphawulwe ngezimpawu

Ezagcoba yen’ eRoma.

Wabuka wamangaliswa.

Wafika eMhlathuzane

Wabon’ uKhofi kaMnganga,

Wamephuc’ umutsha wakhe,

Wawusulel’ ezaleni;

Wahlangana noMabhabha

Abathe uzalwa nguMuthwa,

Wamkhininda amahawu,

Wabagugul’ ononhlevu.

Kwaqhamuk’ uPelepele

Omehl’ anjengomthakathi

Othakath’ umfan’ ekhanda:

Wathakath’ okaWeseli,

Wathakath’ okaGumede,

Baphenduk’ amalangabi

Behlangene noSavela

Abazalwa ngawoMbhele.

Thula mfana fun’ angizwe

Kanti sihleba sodwana!

Uy’ uPelepele lona

Kanye namabutho akhe,

Bathath’ imithi kwaBhaca!

Ngathi ngimbona weza

Nenkinsela yakwaKhathi

Ezimbulunga ngamehlo

Njengesikhohlokhohlwane

Esigagul’ inkulumo

Odengezini lwemfundo.

Halala, Makhehla ndini!

Kwem’ izinsizwa zingemi,

Kwasinwa kwafik’ uHuzi

Ogolwe ngapha kwaXhosa

Esegazingwe zinhlupho

Nomhlaba wamdons’ ingqondo.

Yibo laba thina Zulu

Bekanye noBhulayindi,

Abahudule imbiba

Sasale sathungathisa

Amaqangqa namabhansi,

Ngezincwadi zenkalipho

Esifakan’ imilomo

Ngazo ngisho nanamuhla.

Amaqangqa oCaluza

Abacab’ ithambo lakho,

Bavuka bengom’ ingoma,

Bayidons’ umlando wayo

Kuleli zwe lamawele

Abathi siyalithanda,

Silithandil’ i-Afrika.

Amaqangqa ngamagagu

ONgcobo noMayathula

Abaqhwish’ eWendolina.

Nawe ntokazi kaHwanqa

Uyintwasahlobo njalo

Ngokuchumis’ isikole,

Nom’ ungayaphi namuhla

Uyindaba yamagudu.

Uyinxusa lembukiso

KoNanda noManzimtoti.