Mina, Muzikayise Guinede wamakhuzwayo wamaQwabe, esengikhule ngaba ngaka, ukukhula kwami osekufakazelwa ijwabu lesikhumba sami eselifana namagxolo omtholo omdala, isimakade, esengilindele ngokunganqikazi usuku lolo esengiyoqoshanyiswa ngalo egodini lami ngingasenakuvuka ngibuye neno, ngizwa nginothando nesifiso sokuba ngaphambi kokuba nami ngiye emagumedeni lawo asasishiya awelela kwelinye, kengikhinike osekwake kwabonwa yilamehlo.  Kungenzeka, mhlawumbe, umuntu angeze azi, ukuba kuzaleke buhle buthize kukho engizokuzeka.  Angazi-ke ukuthi umuntu wesimanje uzocabangaiii, futhi athini ngendaba yami, ngoba phela lesi sizwe esesaya ezikoleni izinto sona siziloba phansi zigciiieke emaphepheni.  Siyasuka lapho siqhathailisa ingxenye ethile nethile, size sifinyelele lapho sesibeka kliona imigoqo, noma lapho sesikhipha imicabango ethize esiyisusela kulokho kuqhathaniswa.  Eminye yalemigoqo ebekwayo noma yalemicabango okuflnyelelwa kuyo, umninindaba abe engazange acabange ngayo.  Kodwa-ke phela osekweiizekile kweiizekile, sekungamane kuqhubeke futhi kwenzeke njengoba kunok-wenzeka.
Engikufisayo nje kodwa ukuba loludiwo engilubumbayo lube udiwo lwempela; lungabi umbihlane ongaphuliluka noma nini, futhi lungabi ngumancishane ngosekwedlulele, lungabe, lusakwazi nokumumatha okulingene ukuba kungayikholisa ingane encane iqede ukoma.  Akuthi-ke labo abafundayo, bafunde amazwi ami, bawafunde ngokulandelana njengoba ephuma epulukutshela emlonyeni wami.  Kangizibandakisene ngokungako neneazelo abangahle bayenze ngalokho engikushilo, keplia ngithimula ngikhi.pha lokho engikuzwa kufuthuzela kimi ngaphakathi.
Ingxoxo yami lena ngiyiqala esikhathini esiphambili esengisibona silokolokoza kude, kusengathi mina ngiini egqu-

nieni clisentshonalanga, ilanga liphikelele ukuyothi lokotshe fishone, agisinga empumalanga ngibuka izinkalo, amagquma, izintaba, imifula, amahlathi, ameva, izimbali, ihlobo, ubusika, konke engedlule kukho.  Ngisuka phansi nayo, lapho ngisengumfanyana ogijigijima ebaleni ehia enyuka enqunu, umzimba wakhe umonyolozi, ngize ngiyiphethe ngiyiphothule esikhatwni esengikusona minje, nginje, njengoba ungibonaisikhumba sami sesimashwabliashwabha okosu, ikhanda lami selinihlophe ungathi lilele iqhwa, ngingasenalo ugazi lwami lobungane, ngingasenawo amangqabangqisha obubhungu, ngingasenakho ukulangazela kobunsizwa nawo umkhaba wobunumzane.  Manje, lapho ingqondo yami ingasebukhali, lapho seyafuthelana ngokuningi okwedlule, lapho ixakazisana nezithunzithunzi ezifiphazayo ehlangana nazo nianje, lapho yeqela emagqumeni asitheic icabanga ingafiki ndawo-konke lokhu osekuyenza manje ikihlale ihlale isabalalele emoyeni.
Yebo, yileyo naleyo ndlela inomkhawulo, kodwa thina esesibadala nje siyazi ukuthi eqinisweni zonke izindlela ziphelela endaweni eyodwa.  Kuyenza kube khona imehlukwana ethize esiyitholayo mayclana nezindiela, kodwa okuseqinisweni ukuthi leyomehluko iphathelene nalabo bahambi bezindlela uqobo.
UMvelinqangi wadala umhlaba wonke.  Ezinye izidalwa zakhe ezingabantu wazenza zaba mnyama, ezinye wazenza zaba mhlophe, ezinye wazenza kazaba mhlophe ngokuphelele futhi kazaba mnyama ngokuphelele, zaba phakathi naphakathi nje.  Kodwa zonke Iezi zidalwa wazibumba zaba mfanekiso munye.  Kuningi okuzifanisayo kunalokho okungazifanisi.  Lokhu kuiiqiniso lamaqiniso, kodwa-ke futhi, ak,,lkho bantu ababili abake bafanana nse.  Okusemqoka kumuntu yilokho okukuyena kunalokho okusemfanekisweni wakhe wokubumbeka, noma ebaleni lakhe lasebusweni.  Kodwa sisengapha kweliba kasimiselekile ukuba Iezi zinto sizazi siziqonde ngokuphelele.  Yingakho-ke sizibona zifilifiliza okwezithunzana ekudeni.  Kuthi kodwa lapho izinsuku zethu zokuphila sezihaqwe ukuthambalala kwenhlamvu yelanga isisentshonalanga, ziqale Iezi

2

zinto ukugqama, ziye ngokukhanya nokucaca emehlweni
asemadala.
Konke-ke kwamiselwa kwadalwa kwasekuqaleni, ngakho kuyibulima ukudumala nokunganeliswa ngalokho osekuyikho nosekukhona, umuntu angenamandla okukuguqula.
Noma kunjalo, ngizibuza ngiziphendula, ngizichazela nginganeliseki kahle hle, kambe akuqiniso yini ukuthi ngisho nezinkomo imbala zihlala ziwahalela ziwalangazelela amadlelo ensinde nobabe.  Thina bobantu side sicabanga ukuthi amadlelo asendulo ayemahle, lawa eseseluka kuwo agwadulekile, mabi, kanti eqinisweni isondo lenqubekela-phambili liyaziphendukela, akekho ongalimisa aliguqule alibhekise nyova.








3

Uma ngingaphumeleli ekuqhathaniseni amazwi nalokho engikuzwayo, engikwaziyo, nengifuna ukukusho, mhlawumbeke sengihema ngedwa, angisezwakali.  Uma lokho engifuna ukukusho, ngikusho ngamazwi alunjaniswe kahle nengikuzwayo, woza kimi-ke, hamba nami.  Ngizolinikina ikhanda lami, kuhluzeke kuhlehle lokho okunqwabanele kulo okufuna ukuza kanyekanye, ihleleke icace indlela engifuna ukuhamba ngayo.  Yebo, sengiqalile ukuyibona ikhanya, okuyifiphazayo kudeda kuwa emaceleni njengezihlahla zomgawuli ocabela indlela.  Sengiyayibona igqame emagqumeiii yaye yayoholekela eniathafeni.  Sengiyalubona nofasimba obeluyihaqile kusengathi luyaphakama okor@ilalamvubu owomayo uphele.  Sengiyawabona namathunzi amahlathi abenabalalele otshanini, eseshaywe yilanga omela obala.
Sengibona phambili-ke, kusengathi nami ngiyaphupha uma ngizibona ngiseyinganyana.  Ngibona kahle, kangiphuphi, ngoba nazi nezinye izingane esakhula nazo, esasidlala nazo.  Wo! Yeka intokozo eyehluleka ukuba msulwa, ngoba kukho uk-ujabula kokulunguziswa emumva lapho umuntu ehlala ekhalela ukuphindela khona, sengibona umii-ani wami, unonkosi, owaminza sibhukuda sisengabafana.  Kuzo izimbali ezazisihaqile sisezingane, nameva ayekhona.  Kepha-ke, umqondo uyagijima, uthubeleza uthinta lapha nalapha okwegundane elifuna ilituba yokubaleka. 1Cuyaye kutlii lapho lelogundane seliyitholile intuba, liqenqetheke njalo ngomgudu walo selibheke into eyod-,va vo, iphambili.  Nansi neyami ingqondo isithubelezile yayithola intuba, ibhek-e iphambili, lelo eezosifinyelelisa kulelibanga engixoxa sengikulo manje.
Intuba engipulukutshela ngayo iqala esithangamini ngasemthumeni eduze nesibaya lapho ilanga libantubahle, ngesikhathi lapho abakwazi ukusinga izinyosi bezibona kahle khona.  Kungesikhathi lapho izinkomo zeluka zibhekise amabombo 4

emakhaya, amankonyane eklabalasa ekhalela onina, izinsengwakazi zibhonsa zishiswa ubisi.  Kungesikhathi lapho izalukazi zicoshela inswani yokuphemba ekuseni ngakusasa, lapho amagula engeniswa ezindlini, lapho omakoti begqigqizela nezimbiza zamanzi, abanye bela amabele noma ummbila obugunyuzwa.  Lapho thina sisalindele isikhathi sokusenga lapho sasesizobamba amankonyane khona, sasihlala sizungeze insizwa endala, sithokozela ukulalela izindaba zayo eyayizixoxa ithi zenzeka kudala.
Abadala ekhaya babengasamesaseli umkhulu lo, abanye sebesho iiokusho ukutlii useyinto engasenamsebenzi, useluhlupho ekhaya, usengumtliwalo kulabo ababevele benemithwalo yabo.  Babekhuluma bengasenamahloni ukuthi ozwayo uzothini, bathi insakavukela yena uyadla kodwa akusekho noluncane akwazi ukulenza.
Lokhu kukhuluma ayethuka ek'@velamela ngezinye izinsuku, nesimo ayezibona esekusona, kwenza ukuba azame ukubagwema abagegele abazali bethu.  Kwesinye isikhathi kube sengatlii umqondo uyambalekela uma bekhona, noma kube sengathi ikhanda lakhe liyaduma.  Waye tholoza ubala, kwesinye isikhathi athule athi du kube sengathi akekho enduni.  Ngaleso sikhathi sasingaboni lutho olumangalisayo, kodwa maiije sekuyangikhanyela ukuthi kwakukhona nokubesaba abazali bethu k-umkhulu.
Wayesoma emzimbeni kepha ekhanda izinwele zisekhona, phezulu sezimayoyoswana, eduvaduvazile ekhanda, kodwa ingxenye ekhanda isenamayoyoswana amnyama.  Amchlo akhe ayesaba mpunga, kodwa enokunye futhi okuthile okwakuguquguquka, kubelula iikumbona emehl,@veni ukuthi uthokozile wenelisiwe yini noma uk-uthi uduinele ujabhile akanelisiwe yini.  Ubuso bakhe babuyisikhephecana, buluhlaza, enamashiya ayemsiza lapho ekhuluma ngoba wayewakhuphula awehlise kanyekanye, kanti kwesinye isikhathi akhuphule elilodwa chlise elinye.  Wayenohwezane lwamadevu ayethanda ukuwaphulula kodwa engesiwo izinsansa njengak@baba.  Esilevini sakhe kwakulenga uphemana lwentshebe okwakuthi lapho chleka luthi nyakanyaka bese luma luthiile du; kuthi uma

ekhuluma noma edla lunyakaze nalo ngokunyakaza komlomo luthi nyakanyaka nyaka.  Entanyeni kwakulenga intshengula ngobuhlalu obase buthi kabuphuphe ngenxa yentuthu nokuwudlana nomzimba wakhe impika namalanga.  Wayengavamisile ukugqoka utho kwesingenhla, ngakho kusukela entanyeni ibonakala kahle imificizo yesikhumba esase sisidala.  Lapho kwalcukade kunezibele khona sasingasaboni lutho.  Elakhe ibheshu elase liyisiqeshana selaqothuka phakathi nalo kwasala ubovana obumnyama emaceleni kuphela, Ialifakwa nezinjobana njalo nje.  Wayehiala echophile omdala, inqakala idla umunyu.  Emlenzeni wakhe wangakwesokudla kwakunocu olulodwa lobusenga ayengafuni ukusitshela ukuthi lwase lunesikhathi esingakanani lusemlenzini wakhe, nokuthi wayeluthathephi.  Esihlakaleni sakhe sobunxele kwakunesongo nalo elahlala njalo liyinkinga kithina engasombululwanga muntu.
Lapho insizwa endala le izithamelele kahle esithangamini, amalunga omzimba wayo eqala ukuthokomala, ubuhlungwana eyayisibuzwa kuwo buqala ukushabalala, yayiba ngomunye umuntu, ibonakale ingtiquko k-uyo kancane kancane iye ngokuqhubeka, ize ibukeke isifana nalokho eyayisitshela ukuthi yayiyikhona kuqala iseyiyo.  Amehlo kamkhulu ampunga ngenxa yobudala ayephenduka akhazimule kube sengathi kuvele inhlansi yobusha kuwo, izindebe zomlomo wakhe zaziqina zingadedeleki njengezomuntu omdala.  Kwakuthi uma ekhuluma sekufike ezindaweni ezithize asukume agxume esikhombisa ukuthi lento ayishoyo yayenzeka kanjani.
Thina zithohlongwane zezingane sihlezi simzungezile, umkhulu ugumede sasingamthathi nje kuphela njengomkhulu wethu sonke kuphele lapho, kodwa futhi wayefana nethanga elalihlanza izifiso zethu ezinkulu esasinazo.  Lokhu kwakufanele, ngoba akuyena yini kanti owayesitshela ngezinto zonke ayeseke wazenza wedlula kuzo, izinto Iezo nathi esasizimisele uk-uba langathize sizenze sedlule kuzo?
Kwakulivelakancane kuyena ukuba abe nayo inhliziyo yokuxoxa nathi, kodwa kwakuthi lapho ethuke waxoxa, siyeke konke sibuthancle eduze nalapho ayekhona silalele ngoku-

6

langazelela, singafuiii ukuthikaziswa muntu.  Kwakuqaqela ntombazane kuqaqele mfana sonke sithathekile ngoba izindaba ayesixoxela zona umkhulu zazingafani nalezo esasizixoxelwa ngomama ngogo, okumvamisa yazo zazinezinto eziningi ezazingakholeki.  Ezikamkhulu izindaba sasazi ukuthi ngezezinto ezenzeka ngempela nezabantu ake ahlala nabo yena luqobo.
Akekho noyedwa kithi owayengabaza ngisho neyodwa indaba kulezo esasizixoxelwa ngumkhulu.  Lezi zindaba zazingarnaqiniso-inhliziyo yayilokhu ishilo ithi: "Kwazibani, mhlawumbe nami ngiyogcina ngizibonela ncramehlo zonke lezi zinto ezixoxwayo?" Yayikhona futhi nenhliziyo eyayithi nathi sasiyogeina senze izinto ezinkulu ezingangalezo umkhulu ayesitshela ukuthi wake wazenza.  Sasihlala-ke phansi, kwesinye isikhathi singahlali naphezu kwamacansi noma naphezu kwezikhumba, kepha sihlale nje impela silalele singendlalanga lutho, siphike ukuthi ngeke singeole kakhulu ngoba sijwayele ukubhuquza ezintulini.
Kodwa-ke kitlii kwakusho ukutliini lokho ukuthi kasembethe lutho?  Kwakungekho hlazo lapho.  Kwakungekho sici kulokho.  Engathi sonke sasingabakwagumede, sonke futhi sasihlala ndawonye ezindlini zokulala nasemaxhibeni.  Akukhonto esasingafihlelana yona.  Intombazane ",akuyintombazane, umfana k-ungumfana, kungekho mbandela kulokho futhi kungekhonto emangalisayo nephambayo.
umkhulu izindaba zakhe wayengazixoxi ngendlela elula, ezenza zibe lula ukuze sikwazi ukuzizwa kahle.  Lesi senzo sikamkhulu-ke sasisenza sihlale njalo silalele ngokuzimisela, ukuze sikwazi ukulandela konke ayekusho.  Kodwa-ke noma sesizimisele kangako, k-wakungabi lula kithi ukuzwa konke ayekusho umkhulu.  Nokho okusemqoka kwakwenzeka, ngoba izingqondo zethu unikhulu wayekwazi ukuzibamba ngendaba zinganyakazi, singak-ukhathaleli okunye okwakuba seceleni.  Yonke imicabango yethu sasiyibeka engqondweni leyo eyayixoxwa ngumkhulu.
Kaningi amankonyane enyisa noma izimbuzi zingene emasimini.  Uma sekwenzeke lokho-ke sasazi ukuthi lusukile 7

udweshu.  Kwakukhala isibhansubhansu wonke umzimba.  Iyofutha ifuthe imivimbi ebusuku ubuhlungu bubuye buphele.  Kwakuthi noma sebuphelile bona, indaba isale igqamile engqondweni, umuntu acabange ngayo njalo eyiguquguqula kuhle kwalokho okuthosiwe, ize ivuthwe, isivuthiwe ingephulwa, kepha ihlale njalo ifundunyalisiwe ize ingapholi.
Angisho ukuthi ngase ngedlulile eminyakeni eyisiphohlongo ngaleso sikhathi.  Noma ngangimncane kangako kodwa ngesikhatlii ngizwa izindaba zikamkhulu, ezinye zazo zisasele zicacile engqondweni yami, ungathi bengizizwa izolo.  Ngisazikhumbula kahle, kodwa umxoxi wazo usazihambela kudala wayozihlalela noyisemkhulu.
Ezinye zezindaba ezazisithatha kakhulu tllina zingane yilezo ezaziphathelene namazimu.  Kuyamangalisa njalo ukuthi cishe zonke izindaba zikamkhulu kwakungezaloluhlobo.
Umuzi wakithi wawakhe ehlanzeni, esifundeni saseMsinga.  Kuyibangana usukela othukela.  Lena yindawo yezintaba namagquma nezihosha eziningi.  Uma lomisile izinkomo ziyashesha ukuzwela kulamatshe.  Ehlobo kuyaye kushise lcuchoche kakhulu kangangokuthi izilwanakazane ziyayeka ukuhlokoma ziklabalase njengoba zivamise ukwenza.  Izilwane zilala phansi kwemithunzana leyo yezimbashelana zezihlahlana ezigqagqene.  Nabantu babelizwela lelilanga, wawubona izintombi ezikhulile eziyaye zishayele phezulu sezithele imizimba phansi zibhocobele, amakhehla aziphakamise eziphakamisile izicathulwana ethi aqeda ukoma, thina zingane kuthi engani kasigqoke lutho singezwa k-ushaywa ngumoya, nathi sigclne sesidlala khona ngaphansi kwemithunzi yeraithi eyayingenhla kwekhaya.
Ebusika kwakuba makhaza kubande umnkantsha ekuseni nalapho sekuhwalele, kodwa kwakungavamisile ukuba kubande lapho sekuya emini.  Ngalesi sikhathi kwakuthokomala wonke umuntu athokoze.  Ngantambama sasikhumbula amabhayana ogogo, lapho umzimba usuhwelele uhlavane.  Lapho selimakhaza ngempela babeba yingcosana kabi abantu aba-

8

hamba phandle, nababonakalayo babethi shalu kubonakale ukuthi babalekiswa izinsunswana zamakhaza.  Izingane zaziboshwa izihlathi ngamaduku, amadoda ayekhaphuzela namaphaphasi, amakhosikazi ayeyendisa izinyanda emakhanda ehamba sakukhasazela, zisinda, kanti ajahe nokufika emakhaya abasele izingane.








9

Umuzi wakithi wawumkhulu, uyinxuluma elihioniphekile, sibaningi thina zingane, - kwazise ubaba wayeganwe ngamakhosikazi amane: uMaNdaba, uMaNtshangase, uMaNqele noMaShabane.  UMaNdaba washona esethole abantwana abane, uMaNtshangase washona esethole abantwana abathathu.  Njengoba kwakuyinjongo kababa ukuba abe namakhosikazi amane ngaleso sikhathi, wabuye wathatha uMaYezi kanye noMaMlotshwa.  Mina ngangizalwa uMaShabane, siyisikhombisa kwethu.  UMaNqele wayenabantwana abahlanu.  Omama abathatha kamumva ubaba bona bathola izingane ngantathu ngantathu, kwangamantombazane odwa.
Okwenza umuzi ube mkhulu kakhulu-ke yikuthi amadodana okuqala kaMaNdaba ayesethethe.
Inxuluma lonke Ializungezelwe ngothango lokutshalwa, inhlaba.  Isibaya sona sasizungezelwe ngomthuma.  Kwakuthi lapho inhlaba lena eyayizungezele umuzi wonke iqhakazile, okungongcede nenlizwilifi kugxumagxume phezu kwayo, sithi siyakuklubha ngezagile noma ngamatshe basikhuze abadala bathi sizolimaza abantu abedlulayo, uma sifuna ukuyozingela kasiphume inqina ebonakalayo siye emihosheni.  Ebaleni kwakangahlali lucofi lokungcola, kwazise odadewethu babekhuthele bekhwishizela lize liyoshona.  Kanti nomama babekhuthele, bendulela abanye besalibele ukuthungathana nemizi yabantu behlebana.  Ngenxa yokuthi ngenhla kwakithi kwakuke kwaba nomthombo wamanzi, kodwa owase washa sekwasala ixhaphozana nje, kwakunesihlahla esikhulu somnyezane lapho ubaba ayevamise ukuhlala khona nebandla.  Ngokuba ubaba wayevamise ukuba nokhanjana lwakhe lokubheka izihambi, baningi abase behamba bethotha izinyawo lapho sebezofika ngakuleso sihlahla, uyezwa umuntu usephatha omnguni, oqwabe nowela, useyathopha phela.

10

Ubaba-ke ubunumzane bakhe wayebugcwalisela ngokuba kuthi uma ekade ebusisa amadoda, uyabona abanewethu phothuphothu isiphohlohlwana sekwenzelwa ukuba amadoda aqede ukuhashuka.  Lapho-ke ubaba useshayela phezulu, isihluthu ekhanda siyacwebezela, kubonakale ngentshengula ilokhu ithi bani bani kuso lapho ihlangana nokukhanya kwelanga.  Uhamba nje umfo wakwabo nekhanda lakhe liyanyakaza liyathukela, njalo lilokhu lithi qhi, qhi.
Thina sasizikholisa ngamasi amaguqa nomlaza, izaqheqhe kwakuyinkihliwane.
Ngemumva k-wenxuluma lakithi buqanyana kwakunentaba ende, ihamba ihamba igcwele ukhethe, kungabonakali ngisho isiqintshana sotshani noma senhlabathi.  Ungakafiki impela entabeni, kwakukhona izindawana ezazingaqongile kangako, kube khona neziyingana okungathi zingamathafa.  Kuyasuka lapho kuyama kuyaqonga futhi, kungamatshe ndawozonke kuye kufike phezulu nalapho kuthi akube yisicabana khona.  Akekho owayeseke wenyuka waya esicongweni lapho, ngoba kwakwaziwa kahle kamhlophe ukuthi leyo ndawo yilapho amazimu ayeke asina azibethela khona, agcagcaza alela ukhasha kumuntu oke wavela ngakhona.  Ngumkhulu kuphela, mhlawumbe-ke futhi nabanye abantu abadala ababesenezibindi, owayeseke wababona "lababantu-zilwane".  Kodwa-ke kwakwaziwa yibo bonke abantu ukuthi amazimu wona ayeke ahlala laphaya empompolwane.
Umsuka walaba bantu ulandelwa uye ufike ezikhathini lapho ushaka ehla enyuka egwinya izizwe ngezizwe edla izinkomo zamadoda, ethi ewele lomfula awele lowaya, aye adle nezithole ebezithi ziphephile.  Ngalezi zinsuku-ke ezinye izizwe ezincane zisele nezibaya zikhala amabhungezi, lcushe izinqolobane nezilulu, amasimu aginqika izidumbu zamadoda, zabaleka zathatha imithonselana yezinkomo eyase ibalwa ngeminwe, zayohlala emahlathini, ezinye zahlala ezingoxeni zamadwala lapho zazingezukutholakala khona kalula.
Kulezi zindawo kwalcuneziqintshana ezincane kuphela zokulima.  Lokhu kwenza ukuba kuthi dukuduku ukudla kube yindlala.  Uma kuphekwe izinkobe kuzodliwa amasi kwaku-

ngasekho ukuba ezinye zihlafunwe kusagaywa umcaba.  Kwaya kwaya nezomcaba zaphela.  In-ipilo yaguquka kanzima, amanzi amponjwana abanumzane ababebusa ngawo kababe besawaz@.  Amabele ayengasekho.  Emva kwesikhathi amasi aphela nawo.  Kanti nezinkomo njalo zaziyingozi enkulu, ngoba uma zazelukela endaweni ezazingabonwa kuyo ngamabutho kashaka, kwakuyokusho ukuthi sebezocoboshiswa bafe baphele.
Ngaphandle kokuthi kwakungasekho okunye ukudla, sekuhlatshwa izinkomo kuphela, izinkomo zabulawa ngamandla kwenzelwa ukuba zisheshe ziphele.  Emva kwesikhathi nazo zaphela.
Ngalezo zinsuku lapho abanumzane babeke bavuka babukela imfuyo yabo yelukile ezinkalweni, kwakungeluki nkomo, kungakhali mbuzi, kungabhonsi nkomazi, izibaya zithe nkwe.  Kwaba lusizi.  Kwathi engani bekucatshanpva ukuthi sekuzokuba ngcono ingasekho imfuyo sek-iizolalwa kungethuk-wa ukuthi mhlawumbe amabutho kashaka asethole umkliondo wezinkomo, ukulilupheka kwaya phambili, kwalalwa, kwasa akwadliwa, zaqala manje izingane ukuchwaza zikhala zilambile.  Nokukhala kwezingane kwase kuyiyo ingozi uma umsindo ungezwakala emabuthweni edlulayo.
Kungazo Iezi zikhathi lapho abantu balamba badla izingxabo zezihlallla zasendle, abanye badla noma yiziphi izimpande ababehlangana nazo, abanye baxephula amaxolo ezihlahla bawapheka badla.  Lesi senzo sanda nezigojana eziningi ezazinabantu abacashele kuzona.
Kwaba sengathi labo bantu balahlekelwa yimiqondo, abanye bagula babangwa namaliba, ngoba amaxolo nezingxabo kwazo zonke Iezi zihlahlana zasendle akusikho ukudla kwabantu bengezidalwa zasendle.  Ak-ukho muntu ongakudla lokhu angaguli.  Lezi zinto zenza isisu sibe buhlungu, kuthi umuntu obeselambile angabe esabanamandla neze.
Kepha ukudlanga kwendlala kwenza nemigilingwane yanda.  Kwaqala emzini owodwa, kwanda nayo yonke, abantu baphenduka izilwane, badlana bodwa.  Abanye balaba bantu ababegila imikhuba sebengamazimuzimu babekhonjwa emizini othile.  Laba bantu babephumisela nokuphumiseta ukuthi

1 2

umnkantsha womuntu osemncane, nemvomvo yamathambo akhe, kumnandi kwenwayisa isiphundu, cishe njengoba uyaye uzwe umfimfitha ithambo lengulube.
Hayi, ukukhuluma nje ngalezi zindaba kwenza umuntu aphendukelwe yisisu, kwenza umuntu athuswe nayizindwani zotshani imbala.
Impilo yeningi ezikhathini eziphambili yayimtoti, akekho owayezisola ukuthi uphilelani, kwakungandile ukuhluplieka, ukuphila kwakungakhokhelwa intengo osekukhokhelwa yona namhlanje.  Into eyaphoxa leyompilo emnandi kangako kwaba yikho nje ukudliwa kwabantu.  Ongakubona wena wesimanje sengathi kwakuyizigameko ezazenza impilo inganambitheki, kulabo baleso sikhathi, kwakuyinsakavukela umchilo wesidwaba.  Ukufela empilli, ukubulawa ngomkhonto, nokushaywa ngewisa ufe, uma seliphume kumlomo ongathethi manga, kwase kwaba yizinkwa sabo semihla ngemihla, futhi bekubona kufancle lokhu.
Mhlawumbe umuntu ukhuluma nje abanye bokhokho bethu baholelwa kuyo leyontaba, impompolwane, baqobolwa khona ngezagile bafa badliwa, amathambo ajikelwa izinja!
IMpompolwane yindawo okwakungayi muntu kuyo ngokuthanda.  Kuthiwa kodwa izangoma nezinyanga zaziyikhwela zona leyontaba ziqombole ziye zifike esicongweni sayo, khona lapho impela lapho kwakuthiwa kwake kwaba namazimu khona.  Thina zingane sasingasondeli ngisho naseduze kwalezo zindawo okwakuthiwa zona zingconywana ziphansi nayo intaba.  Okwakusimangalisa kodwa. kusithokozisa ukuthi amankonyane nezimbuzi esasizelusa zazingavamisile ukwelukela ngakhona.  Uma zike zelukela ngakhona sasicela abanewetliu, bona base bekhulile, ukuba bayosinqandela.  Sasingeke silokothe ngisho kusemini endala, ngisho sasingahamba sibe lidlanzi, ukuba senyukele kuleyontaba, noma sisondele kuyona sithi siyonqanda amankonyane n6ma izimbuzi.  Engani kwakwalela ngisho abanewethu labo esasibahloniplia sithi sebe badala, babeziyeka izimbuzi bangazilandi uma zike zasondela ngasesicongweni sentaba.  Zazize zizidilikele sekuthanda zona.

13





owl

Abanewethu-ke, bona ababeke bathi ukukhuphukhuphuka, babesitshela ukuthi kuyabonakale kwezinye izindawo, kuyo intaba leyo, ukuthi endulo kwakuke kwaba khona imizi khona phezulu lapho, nakuwo amatshe lawo; kwakubonakala ukuba kwakuke kwama izinhlanga zonimbila, kwalindwa namajuba ukuba angawaqedi amabele. lziza Iezo ezazike zaba nemizi, namanxiwa lawo ayeke aba namanxuluma, ayabonakala emile utshaiii obabehlukile kulobo obabumile kwezinye izindawo kulo ihlanze lelo.  Babubonakala kahle bona ukuthi babtunile lapho kwakuke kwenaba izintanga khona kwadliwa imifino kwadliwa inqeke, lapho kwakuke kwathameliswa khona amagula kw2@phuphuma izaqheqhe.
Babeyixoxa abadala eyokuthi lapho phezulu ezixhotsheni zamatshe kwakunezinhlwathi ezazilokhu zazulumba, ngisho namazimu uqobo ayengazange aze asondele ngalapho.  Babexoxa nendaba eyayisihlekisa, yokuthi ngolunye usuku izangoma nezinyanga seziyithwasise zayigilisa yonke imikhuba enye indoda, zama phansi nayo intaba zayitshela ukuba ikhwele impompolwane iyogqobha umuthi eyowufica umile esicongweni. Yakhwela indoda mphini leyo, iyikizela izikhumba, izinyongo, ubuhlalu, amashoba, ubsenga, ebusweni ibomvu gwe yibomvu.  Yasho phez-ulu-ke ihuba amahubo lawo eyayiwanikwe ngabangasekho, yayithobotha intaba yenyuka nayo.  Zehla izithukuthuku zaconsela emhlabathini, yaya ngokwenyuka intaba isigcino indoda yayeka ukuthobotha yahamba nje ngamandla.  Ubufahlafahla bemifece babusezwak-ala emaqakaleni.  Kwathi isisondele ezicongweni lapho ilanga selithe phasha liphuma, yabona idwala elihle limanyazela yanikela khona izikhathele.  Kwabe kayisondele, yamthinta ufeleba ezithibele.  Ukufa kwenhlwathi.  Mamo umthwazi, igama lendoda leyo eyayithwasiswa phela.  Wathi ebheke ezansi wayeselandelwa luhwezane lwamatshe lusuka ezinyaweni zakhe.  Umuntu esephelile luvalo ebona ukuthi inhlwathi imgwinyile-ke namuhla, wabalekela ukufa nokuphila; kwawa nyongo akaze ayicosha, kwaqina busenga akaze abuxegisa, kwawa bheshu akaba nandaba.  Kwakuthi lapho ethintwa yizindwani zotshani athathele ngamandla ngejubane sekungathi uyahlanya.  Wayeke eqe 14

amangqeshe umthwazi ajombe amadwala amakhulu.  Wanquma nayo intaba engabheki ngemumva, ombonayo wayengathi useyingqabavu.  Khwintshi, lutho umthwazi ukubheka kulabo ababemlindele phansi kwentaba, wadledlemuka njalo ibomvu ebusweni seliconsele entanyeni yikujuluka, imiyeko ilenga ebusweni usungathi yisilwane.  Nanamuhla lokhu akwaziwa ukuthi wagcinaphi, akaphindange abonwe nangalukhalo.  Izangoma nezinyanga Iezo zabhula akwabhuleka, zazama ukumthwebula abuye akaze abonakala, zammemeza egabheni akaze asabela. lziga zempompolwane n,-alezo zikhathi.








15

iv

Sasizesaba singakaze sizibone lezo zilwane.  Ababazi babethi ebusuku kweluka amakhonde.  Abanye bethi njalo ngesokulilwa abakhunlculi beliyuka lentaba beyozibambela izindangala zabo okwakuthiwa bazigibela nqunu bempunyuluziebusuku.
Noma kwakukhona esasichazelwa khona uma sibuza noma sikufundiswa ukuba sikugcine ngendlela ethize, okunye sasingakutshelwa, saze sasibonela nje sesibadala.  Noma sikutsheliwe singakuchasiselwa konke.  Ngelinye ilanga ntambama, kade siyobhukuda ngenxa yokushisa kwelanga, okwakukade kukliipha inhlanzi emanzini, selamela olukhulii unyimbilili lwenyoka.  Saqhamuka nje lapho lenyoka isizithandela embuzini kulungiselela ukuyigwinya.  Sanikela emakhaya ngamajubane sabikela abadala.  Baphuma nabo bekhaphuzela bephethe izagile nemikhonto.  Kodwa bathi qa ngamehlo, bathi dlengelele, bama.  Bayeka kunjalo bathi kasihambeiii siye elnakhaa. Samangala thina ukutlii lembuzi engalekelelwa kanti y
ibisenokulekelelwa?  Lenyoka engabulawa kanti zonke kuyaye kuthiwe ziyingozi?  Sababuze kwathiwa nje qaphuqaphu kwayekwa.
Sakhula-ke sazi ukuthi kukhona inyoka engabulawa, clidlozi.  Sesikhulile sezwa ukuthi inhlwathi leyo yayitliathwa njengedlozi.  Nanamuhla 16khu kuthiwa ophupha inhlwatlii usuke enenhlaiihla.  Kukhona enye-ke futhi inyoka eluhlazana, encane, okuthiwa ngeyedlozi ebizwa ngokuthiwa ifulwa.  Nayo kayibulawa.
Mayelana nenhlwathi lena clidlozi, kuthiwa ngapha emachunm,ini omunye umnumzane wathi angabona inhlwathi iginqa imbuzi yakhe, wathi uyokube wephuzile wazizwela ngeklwa laklie kuyo.  Yabaleka inyoka yayishiya imbuzi.  Kuthiwa kodwa emva kwalokho kazifanga izimbuzi zalomnumzane zaqala phansi, zifa nganye, nganye.  Kwavela mvelive-

16

layo wathi akuthathwe enye imbuzi iyokhulekelwa esihlahleni eduze nalapho inhlwathi yayifuna ukuginqela khona imbuzi.

Nempela kutmwa zagcina ngalelo langa izimbuzi ukufa kulowo muzi.

Kufana nezindawo ezinye thina zingane sasingavunyelwe ukuya kuzo.  IMpompolwane bese ngiyishilo, lapho-ke sasizesabela thina, kusiphuka unwele uma umuntu eke wethuka eyonqanda imbuzi ngakhona.  Kanti-ke futhi nakweminye imibuthano yesizotha, lapho kukhuluma abantu abadala, noma kuhlangenwe ktidingidwa udaba oluthize.  Nangamhla nje kuse komunye umtizi wakwadlodlo, owawubuqanyana nowakithi, kunezidladla zendangala ebalcid kubonakala kahle impela ukuthi kade igeakagca emageekeni akhona. 1,' wasuka umsindo omkhulu kubatshazwa, abanye banqikaza nokweqa lapho kuhambe khona imfene, abanye bahlala emaxhibeni belindele inyanga eyayisithunyelwe ukuba izogoma kushabalale kungasebenzi okungabe kubhulclwe, njengoba kwakucatshangwa.  Izidladla zemfen-, Iezi zazimanakalala kakhulu ngakoKaMavanciii, umakoti owayesanda kwendela lapha kwadlodlo.
Inyanga-ke yafika yashaya aniathalnbo yawakhomba yawakhomba, yavungama yavungama, yazibuza yaziphendula, yamkhomba othumele lendangala lapha kwadlodlo.  Yasho kayagigiyela ukuthi kwakunguqotho, owayekade eyimbangi kamuntuwezwe, indodana yalapha k-wadlodlo eyayiganwe nguKaMavaneni.

Loludaba-ke lwabikwa enduneni yesifunda.  Wabizwa uqotho, kwabizwa noyise umfishane, kwabizwa 'amadoda, lwasha udaba ngaphansi komkhiwane.  Kodwa-ke tliina zingane kasizange sikwazi ukiiphetha kwalolo ludaba.  Inye kambe into eyasikhanyela, ukuthi nempela izimfene zazikhona empompolwane, nabazithumayo bezilanda khona.  Sazi futhi ukuthi izinhlwathi nezinye izinyoka okutffiwa kazibulawa zelukela khona.  Sasingakholwa ukuthi amazimu ayengasekho lapho.  Sasihlezi silokliu sitlii akhojia impela.
Kuningi kodwa thina zingane esasizazela khona ngokivethu, ikakhulu ngabantu benda-,vo, abadala nabancane.  Sasazi futlii nangokuiiingi okwakuphathelene nabo luqobo, nga-

1 7

munye ngamunye.  Sasibazi amagama abo, sibazi namabutho abo-omahlangu, omahashi, omkhulunyelwa, ompheni, nomanukelana, nonqabayembube, nophondolwendlovu, noNtabayezulu, noyhandempevu.  Ababenakho sasikwazi kahle ngoba kwakuhulunywa ngakho nathi sikhona, kusukela ekutheni banamakhosikazi- amangaki, angokabani, banezingane ezingaki amagama azo athi athi, omakoti asebegancle khona, banezinkorno nezimbuzi ezingaki.  Sasazi iiangezjnsizwa nezintombi, sasazi nalabo abathandanayo, sazi nalabo ababelalelwa ngasemfuleni kuvukwe kuthiwe gubhubhu bathuke kuchitheke izimbiza zamanzi, sasazi futl)i uma sekulunga.  Sasiyibona nemibondo, sasizibona nezindwendwe.  Sasizwa lapho kukhuzelwa, kwesinye isikhathi sizwe nalapho insizwa ithi:
"Ngaze ngaphelela endleleni,
Ngamlenze mncane, ufuna ngize Ngishunqe ngibe yintuthu Nginyamalalele emafini yini na?" Sizwe futhi lapho omunye athi:

"Bengingakami entabeni ngikumemeze ukini, uma ushunqa phela ngidabukela abazali bakho, anginandaba nawe ngoba kangazi ukuthi uhlushwe yini."
Sizwe futhi lapho insizwa isibonga Iona lelo elithi:
"Ngidabukela abazali bakho."

lbone kamumva intombi ukuthi iphahlukile, lelo likhomba ukuthi iyabazwela abazali bensizwa; uma ibazwela iyabathanda; uma ingabazondi, ayikuzondi-ke konke okwabo, iyakuthanda.  Ngakho-ke intombi lena ayisenakuphuma ngazwi, isenze isenzile isiphosiso, mhlawumbe ibise ivele lcophe ukusenza namuhla, mhlawumbe iphahlukile ibithi izosenza ngesonto elizayo.  Kodwa-ke okungasangabazisi yikuthi insizwa isibonga okumhlophe okunjengezihlabathi zolwandle.
Sasizilalela ngokulangazelela izindaba esasizixolelwa ngumkhulu, kungekho neyodwa futhi esasingayikholwa.  Kwesinye isikhathi sasesaba kakhulu lapho esexoxa ephakamisa izwi ekhombisa elinganisa impela okwakwenzeka.  Ngezinye izinsu-

is

ku sasilala singalele ebusuku sethuka.  Ngaleso sikhathi sasazi singangabazi ukuthi zonke Iezi zinto umkhulu ayesixoxela ngazo zazikhona nje eduze nemizi, size sicabange nokuthi zisemnyango, sigcina siziphuphe zisendlini.
Njengoba sengike ngasho, zonke izindaba zikamkhulu zazithi kazifane.  Njengoba sengakhula manje ngaba nje, sekulukhuni ukuba ngizikhumbule kahle ngokucacile.  Esengikukhumbula manje yizihloko ezithile nje ezindabeni zakhe.  Ngazi kahle ukuthi izindaba zikamkhulu zaziphathelene namazimu, nabathakathi, nokulwa, nemisindo (imigcagco) nezimpuzo kanye nokuthandana kwezintombi nezinsizwa kusukela esikhathini kukhuzelwana, kuze kufike esikhathini kuvunyelwana.
Kwakungakhathalekile komdala ukuthi indaba uyiqala kanjani, konke lokhu esengikubale ngenhla wayekutholela izikhala endabeni yakhe ukuze akufake akuhlanganise nendaba leyo ayixoxayo.  Yazi-ke futhi ukuthi kuleyo ndaba iqhawe, ohlabanayo, owaphuma emazinyweni engwenya, owahlala isikhathi eside esizibeni kwaze kwalalilwa ithemba ngaphandle, owabulala izimu, owayeyisilomo ezintombini, nguye umkliulu nezinqotho zakhe, akekho omunye.  Kwakunguye futhi owayehola izinqina zezinhlobo ngezinhlobo, owayezwa kuqala uma kukhona abamthakathayo, ahambe ayokhendla ikhubalo elinamandla emathongeni, kuthi lowo obegadla kubuye ngaye.  Nguye owayenenyazangoma engayiwa, ayeyigcoba ahlikihle izandla asho athi: "Unganyazi mina nyaza omnyazayo, ngeze ngibe mkhulu emakhosini ngesabeke njengamakhosi akwaZulu, nina bakithi barnbani izinhliziyo zabangizondayo." Nempela aphume kahle nasemacaleni, amthethe, abe nguPhunyukabemphethe okwegama lakhe.
Ezinye izinto ayethi wayeyizona noma wayezenza, zazifakazelwa yindlela umkhulu ayeziphatha ngayo, nangaleso sikhathi sethu, esekhule esengako.  Kwak-ube kaliqhamukile itshitshi, asukume ame ngezinyawo umkhulu, ahambe lukeke noma akhiphe isifuba sakhe sibe yiqhushumbana okwesejuba.  Lapho akasakhuzeli useqala phansi usho khona ukuthi: "Gegelagege ntaba zonke ziyangigegela, wagqiha unomagqihela19

kodnva yagegemuka njena, iyaphi emazol,@veni?  Wo!  He! ... engabe mina ngedwa ngeiizani.  Uma ingakashaywa ngiyishaya manje, uma kukhona oseyishayile akakayosi, uma eseyosile akakayidli, uma eseyidlile usadle icala." Kuyothi lapho intombi isiyosithela umkhulu athi: "Wol He!  Akukho sibonda saguga namagxolo aso."
Ubani yena?  Umkhulu?  Wo, sukani.  Useqeda lapho usehlala phansi usezibonga:

"Useqa sikhotha
Silaiiguza amalangabi,
Uzinqe zafuswa yintuthu kazasha,
Ukhozi olukhal' okhalweni
Kwamemez' uMaMyeza ezansi
Wathi: "Kaz' abantabami baphephile na!"

Inkomo eyaluka yodwana
Kodwa zonke ziyilandele
Ziyijijile, umpunyumpunyu ophume
Entubeni bebhekile wakhwela
Intab' eyobon' ukuthi
UNongilazi ufihleni ngalena.

Kulokho okwakwenziwa phambi kwethu sibuka siyizingane, sasingaboni lutho olungafanele.  Eqinisweni kwakusijabulisa ukubona umkhulu esayithanda impilo, esenompe lokuthanda.  Sasikuthanda lokho esasikubona kwenziwa ngabantu abadala, sazi Lkuthi nelethu ithuba liyeza sesisezingeni elite lapho siyoke sizibone ubuciko bethu bokukhuluma nobokuhlabelela ngisho emigcagcweni imbala.  Isikhathi leso sethu sasisenelisa, singaphangi mdaka.
Sakhula-ke kanjalo, sidlala unomacashelana, abadala basibone mhlawumbe basitliethise basikhumbuze izinkomo esezingena emasimini.  Kodwa namhlanje sesiyazi ukuthi olcunye ababesithethisela khona babengaqinisekile, okunye eqinisweni babekwesasela.
Lapho umuntu esakhula, cishe ulcuthi nje kwelinye icala akahlukile esilwaneni.  Sasidla sisutha ngalezo zinsuku, kodwa

20

isimangaliso kwaku fana nokuthi sihlala njalo silambile ngoba sasilokotshisela konke lokho ok-udliwayo.  Uma kunendlala, mhlawunibe ukudla kushile emasimini, kwakuba lusizi emizini eniiningi.  Kodwa Ialibuye lisize isiko lokwethekelisana, ikati lingasheshi ukulala eziko ngisho sekuk-ubi.  Mina nje kangikhumbuli silala kithi singadlanga lutho, ngisho ukwesula umlomo nje.  Uma sekukubi impela sasidla imbuya siyitshobele nezinkobe.

Akekuthiwe kuschlobo-ke, futhi yin@ilt?  Umuntu wayezikholisa ngawe wena futho, nqeke, sink-wa sommbila, yimfe, mlaza, lubisi, zaqheqhe, masi, ntoni ntoni.  Okuzingane lapho k-ukhinkele kukhinkele izisu zize zibe ngaka izindansa.  Yingakho nje lesi sikhathi sonyaka saziwa ngokuthi ngundansa.  Nenala yasendle yayike ibe khona, sizigqobhela amagonsi, sidla izibuje, namakhiwane.

Kwenzeka konke lokhu-ke siyakhula.  Sakhula silazisa ilizm,,e lokhokho, salithanda ilizwe esazalelwa lculona elinezinkaba zethu.  Sike sibheke emumva uma sikhumbule okudala, sikubone kufana nomhwamuko.  Kuthi uma sisinga phambili sibone kuluvindi.  Sibuye, size lapho sikhona, nakhona kusengathi sicaea onqenqeni lofasiniba.








21

v

Ngizoxoxa enye yezindaba zikamkhulu, ugumede, ngizame ukuxoxa ngendiela esondelene naleyo ayeyixoxa ngayo.  Kwakuthi lapho exoxa umkhulu sihlale silalele ngokuthula, yilowo kithi azame uk-uqagela isiphetho sendaba.  Kwesinye isikhathi siqagele ukuthi umkhulu usezoqhubeka athini-ke manje, siqagele nelinye iphuzwana Iezindaba zakhe ayevamise ukulifaka.  Kuthi uma lokhu lcungenzekanga, k-ube khona lokho kudumala, kodwa kokumangaliswa sakujabula ngenxa yalokho osekuvelile umuntu abengakulindele.
1Jmkhulu wayenezikhundla eziningi khona ngasesibayeni esithangamini sakhe.  Kwesinye isikhathi wayehlala edundwini athi coshosho, abheme kahle ngentokozo.  Amathunzana omthuma abonakale ekhanda lakhe, asabalalele nasemadolweni akhe, nasemhlabathini, nasezandleni zethu.  Kanti uma efuna ilanga nje impela, engafuni mthunzana, wayehlala kwenye indawo.  Uma ehlezi kulelo dundwana-ke wayebona konke, abone nabantu ekhaya bephuma bengena ezindlini.  Abone futhi nezindlela zizongozelekile zisabalalele emizini ngemizi.
Umkhulu wayeya kuleso sithangami uma ezwa ethanda ilanga, mhlawumbe ekuseni noma ntambama.  Bekuthi kungafudumala-ke akhumule asale nje nebheshu lodwa.  Athi lapho ehlala alipheqe azihlalele nje ngezinqe emhlabathini.
Kwakulula ukubala izimbambo zikamkhulu.  Kodwa noma ayomelele enjalo, ubuso bake babugewele, futhi bunogazi, kwazise wayenesigubu esihle umuntu Iona.  Yiwo nje-ke umlomo owawusuzikhewu, amazinyo amaningi asaphuma.
Izindaba zakhe umkhulu wayeziqala ngendlela engandile.  Kwakwenzeka sethuke eseyiqalile indaba singazi ukuthi isukelephi.  Uma ethanda indaba wayeyisusela nje ekukhuzeni omunye wethu uma kukhona akonile noma engone lutho nje.

22

"Wenzani lelibhojongwana?  Wenzani nje kodwa?  Ukhohlwa ukunqanda amankonyane la kayihlo?  Yilokhu ushaya izingane nje ngizoliphophotha ikhanjana lakho leli.  Wenziwa yilokhu ukuba ube ulokhu ungumlengelenge uzungezana namaxhiba sengathi uyinkukhu egulayo.  Sisebancane thina izingane zaziyazi indawo yazo, futhi zazi ukuthi yini okufuneka ziyenze nokuthi masinyane kangakanani, ngaphandle kokuba zibe lokhu zikhunjuzwa njalo ngabadala.  Woza lapha!  Ngithi woza lapha!  Yeka ukuba ngisemusha bengizukuxosha ngikufice ngikuqhuqhumbise izithwana Iezi ngoswazi indaba ungayithandi.  Mxosheni i-dna bafana, mbambeni'.  Wo!  Niyamesaba?  Kuthi kangishaye nina eniseduze khona manje.
Yekanini ukuba mdala madoda.  Yimi Iona esenginje?  Yimi Iona esengehluleka ukukhuza izingane ezingezwa?  Yirni Iona esengaba nayisinxibi sesinemfu?  Kwatshwala angisabutholi.  Bona labomakoti bamadodana ami, angikaze ngizibone izincishani ezinje.  Engaba bazalwaphi, bathathwaphi?  Uthi ulutho ukungenzela isicathulwana nje?
Yek-a ababegane thina.  Ogogo benu phela bantabami.  Thina sasikwazi impela ukukhetha unkosikazi, siqonda kumuntu esimbonayo uk-uthi ungumuntu, angawuphatha umuzi, hayi umuntu onezandla esengatlii zaboshwa.  Konke nje sekwaguquka manje umuntu akasazi nje ukuthi ukuphi.
lphi yona imigcagco esile?  Ziphi izintombi ezazivula isango ngobuqhwaga zizoganisa, seziphuma emfuleni, izinsizwa ebezithi zilivalile ziye ziphonseke laphaya?  Niyakwazi khona ulcusina okubizwa ngokuthi uk-uduzula?  Nina mhlawumbe seniyokufa ningabonanga bliubesi, ningabonanga ndlovu.  Niyogcina ngakho lokho ukuzibona sezaboshwa zaqoqelwa ndawonye Iezi zilwane, njengoba ngizwa kuthiwa abelungu bazakhela iziqiwu zazo.  Kodwa ukuthi ningazibona zisendle nje, anisoze.  Anikaze nibabone abantu belwa.  Anikaze niyibone impi.  Anikaze nibabone abantu befela ezinyaweni zenu nibeqa sebedindilizile.  Yebo, kuthi ngakusasa kuzulazule amanqe esibhakabbakeni maqondana nenkundla lapho bekulwelwa khona.

23

Ngisho nezindaba zamazimu nizithanda kangaka nje, anikaze niwabone futhi mhlawunibe anisekupllinde niwabone.  Mna-ke amazimu ngiwazi ngokuwezwa, ngokuwaphupha, ngamehlo ngiwabona luqobo, nangokulwa nawo.  Laphaya, ngakuloluya ludonga olubomvu, bhekisisani ngakuleziya zililahlana zamanqayi, ngake ngabhekana ubuso nobuso nezimu." Uma-ke sekuke kwaphathwa eyezimu sasithula cwaka sisondele simzungeze umkhulu, silalele ngokukhulu ukuzithoba nokuzimisela.
"Indaba leyo yezimu yenzeka kanjena.  Sasikade sihambile siyophuza ngakuleyo nda@yo lapho manje sekunomuzi omkhulu wamandiya wasepomeroy.  Ngalezo zinsuk-u sasingazi ukuthi leyandawo iyoze ibe nomuzi ongaka wamandiya wesiLungu.  AbeLungu sasibezwa ngendaba, singakaze sibabone.  Ok-unye okwakushiwo ngabelungu laba sasingakunake nakukunaka, ok-unye singakukholwa, futhi singenandaba nje ukutw kuthiwani ngabo.  Lapho sithinteke ngani phela thina?
Zazifika izindaba zokuthi inkosi yakwazulu yase yejwayelene nabelungu laba, isize yababela yabanika nendawo ukuba bahlale.  Kodwa lokho thina kwakungasincinzi nakancane. lzimpi zakwazulu zase zike zaligandavula lelo langakithi, kodwa saba nenhlanhla yokuba sizwe zisekude sibaleke nemfuyo yethu siyocasha.  Sasinomgede wethu owawuyinqaba yethu, usiza abaningi lapho befuna ukucasha.  Kodwa eminye imizi eyayivinjezelwa isatabutabuka, yayibulawa.  Izindlu zazishiswa zonke ngothi lwazo kubonakale ngezindunduma zomlotha lapho isike yedlula khona.
Kodwa-ke sengithande ukuyikhohlwa okuyiyonanto cbengiqonde ukunixoxela yona, uinqondo wami ususabalela kwezinye izinto.  Engifuna uk-unixoxela khona yikuthi ngalibulala kanjani izimu, mina, ngesibindi sami.  Ngangisemncane ngaleso sikhathi ngiphelela nje ebubhungwini, kodwa nginamandla esabekayo, ontanga yethu bengeke bangenze lutho ngisho sengibacasulile.
Kwakukade kuvakashele insizwa ethile emzini kababa, odadewethu begqigqizela.  Noma wonke umuntu wayazi ukuthi kukhona isivakashi saloluhlobo, kwakulindeleke ukuba umb-

24

hemi Iona avuke eqe kusesekuseni, engaze kuvuke nabadala bambone.  Kodwa-ke sengathi akukithi kuphela lapho kwakwaziwa khona ukuthi usomankehli wayezovuka kusempondozamnenke abambe indlela.
Kwathi esehambahambile usomankehli wezwa kuthi akathathe enye indlela hayi leyo ayekade eze ngayo.  Wayilaadela lendlela wahamba ngayo njalo.  Kwazise-ke usomankehli kwakungumuntu ohlakaniphile futhi oyinsizwa engeluswacuswacu, enesakhiwo esiqinile.  Kwathi noma eseshaywe kakhulu ngok-ukhulu ukuzuma lokhu futhi, wadlula wgcabanga ukuthi kufanele amemeze ukuze kuzwe imizi eyayiseduze athole usizo.  Wethembela futhi nasemadlozini ukuthi ayezomsiza amvikele.  Ukwenza konke lokhu nje weqa amakhuIn amadwala ebaleka eqonde ezansi nomfula.
Labo kodwa ababemhlanganyela bemshaya babelindele ukuba abaleke njalo ngendlela ukuze ahlangane nabanye ababemlalele ngaphambili uma ebashiya bona ngejubane, noma aphindele emumva, lapho futhi kwakulele abanye belindele ukumqedela engasazelele.
Kwathi lapho esengasemfuleni wathi uyeqa kanti akalilinganisisanga idwala, lide kunokuba ebecabanga, wawa bhu phansi wanebezeka ingozi ekhanda.  Phezu kwalokhu waqhubeka ememeza.  Waba nenhlanhla-ke ngoba noma sasilale siphuzile, futhi notshwala sisabuzwa kancane egazini ibhabhalazi Ialingasicobile ngokungako.  Sagijima sidlwayizela ziHbangise lapho sizwe umsindo ngakhona.  Yimina engawuzwa kuqala lowo msindo ngadumela ezami, neklwa lakwethu elalikade kwasa lihlabana, nganikela khona.  Bangilandela eduze abanye.  Sigijima nje kumnyama akunanyezi futhi kunezinkungu.  Ukuphuthuma lokhu kusenze sakhohlwa nayikufaka imitsha, ohlangana nathi uyagudluka endleleni, agcine ebalekile ecabanga ukuthi uhlangana nabathakathi.
Ngesikhathi ngiqhamuka idlanzana lamazimu laqoqanela ndawonye ngakulo idwala lelo uSomankehH ayelimalele kulo.  Umzimba wakhe wawulileze udikiza njengowenkabi ehlinzwayo. lgazi Ialimanakalala yonke indawo ayethe dindilizi kuyo.

25

Lomkhuba wawenziwe yilawomadoda amakhulu ayenoboya wonke umzimba; lapho bumila khona bungasuswa. lzingalo kwak-uyizimbodlongo ezinde ezilaphaya. lzifuba kuyizingikli, izinyawo kuyizingqoko nje, izinzipho kuyimihwebesha.  Benjalo nje babenqunu laba bantu.
Ameblo abo iyebomvu ekhanya umlilo oligazi ok-wawengwe ebusuku.  Amazinyo abo angaphambili ayevelele nangaphandle ngeiixa yobude bawo, umuntu engathi ngobhova.  Babephefumula kakhulu k-uphakame izifuba, uzwa lapho umoya uphuma uthi fu, fu, fu.  Ngisho namabutho kashaka imbala, iningi lawo laliyoxega amadolo lishiywe yimizimba.
Ngama ngawabuka amazimu lawa, kwabuya isibindi sami engangibanaso lapho sekukubi, kangaze ngazi noma ngibhekene nezinja yini konje.  Kwathi lapho ngibheka usomankehli egobhoza igazi, inhliziyo yami yaba negwebu, ngan,-,iciba ngomkhonto wami.  Ngasho ngangiwulandela eduze futhi umkhonto ngigijima ngeqa lawo madwala.  Okuyilona zimu Ialihola amaiiye Ialibala ulcuvika lomkhonto engicibe ngawo lakhohiwa nya ngami, kanti nami ngilandela umkhonto wami eduze.  Nc,,,okiiphazima kwehlo ngabe sengikhona.  Ngatlii sika, ngalithi nyi iklwa lami engangihphethe. langena ezansi kwenhliziyo ngawuzwa ufinyelela ngaphakathi ezibilini.
Ngawubamba ngawuxukuxa umkhonto ngizibonga ngenhliziyo ngokuhlabana kwami.  Kodwa kwashesha kwakhanya uk-uba ngangenze iphutha ehkhulu.  Wo!  Kababaningi asebeke bazama ukuwudonsa bawunyomule umkhonto emva kokugadla kanjeyana.  Bangabuza mina ukuthi kubanjani.  Kuyesabisa kukhinindana amandla.  Kufana nokuzama ukukhipha inyoka emgodini uyidonsa ngomsila.
Kwaba lukhuni ukuwudonsa ngibuye nawo lowo mkhonto.  Ngasale sengiwuyeka lapho wawukhona ngajikela esizanzeni sami.  Ngenhlanhla, ngangimi ngincike ngedwala, ngakho izitha zami zingakwazi ukungizungeza.
Ngalololusuku bangifunda bangiqonda babona ukuba zazikhona izinsizwa.  Bakwazi kuphela ukwenza umdwana engaiweni nasethangeni-sengizoze-ke ngithole izibongo ezithi: 'Inkunzi Icmdwayidwa, uzinduku zaphelel'edwaleni zamceza.'

26

Okunye kodwa awakwazanga ukukwenza kimi lawo mazimu.  Kodwa mina amabili awo ngawawezela kwelokhokho awo, akaphindanga aphila adla abantu.  Nasi lesi sibazi esilapha ethangeni, siboneni.  Ngathi ngisabhekene nelinye, kanti elinye lizama ukuphonsa umkhonto waye wafika washaya lucezu ethangeni lami.
Ngangiyogcina ngiwabulele onke, ngizwa nasekhanda.  Ukuba ake aqhubeka ehlezi, ngangizwa nasegazini lukhulu lwalusawalindele.  Kodwa-ke kwathi lapho kuqhamuka labo ababekade bengilandela, aduzuka abaleka amazimu.  Kangikaze ngibone silwane esigijima ngejubane elingangelalawaya mazimu.
Sawaxosha sawaxosha ngamajubane ethu sonke.  Sasithi engani siyagijima impela siqinisile, sidlule sibone ibanga phakathi kwethu liya njalo ngokwanda.  Kwathi lapho izinkungu ziqala ulcuba lula, sekuyisikhathi sokuba kuntwele ezansi, asenyamalala amazimu, sethuka nje singasawaboni.  Ukuthi anyamalelaphi kasazi.  Abanye kodwa bathi bawabonile eshona emmabathini.
Kulukhuni ukuthola ukhondo 1,,vamazimu.  Ulcuthi anyathelephi akusizi ngalutho ngoba ayakwazi ukuziphendulela izinyawo zawo zibheke emumva, k-utl-d engani agijima abheke eningizimu izinyawo zona zibheke enyakatho.
Sadela sawayeka-ke.  Sabuya nesidumbu sensizwa leyo.  Imimoya yethu yayiphansi, kulukhuni nokuba sikhulume sibabaze loludaba.
Lenhlekelele yesenzakalo yasingathwa ngabantu abadala.  Kwayiwa enduneni lwaphenyisiswa kahle lonke udaba.  Kwakuyinto enganambitheki ukuba kufele umuntu eduze komuzi wendoda.  Noma zazikhona ezinye izidumbu ziwubufakazi ukuthi nempela bekuliwa ngenxa yamanxeba ayekuzo, kwadingeka ukuba udaba luphenyisiswe kahle yibandla.
Kwayiwa ezangomeni kwabhulwa umhlahlo.  INduna udaba yayisilwedlulisela enkosiiii.  INkosi yathi ifune izangoma ziyitshele ukuthi yiziphi Iezo zinja ezazilwa impi ezweni layo, sekuyizona amakhosi zizilwelwa izimpi eziqanjwe yizona.  Kwaba sengathi kwehie ifu ehmnyama esigodini sakithi.

27

Wawuzwa abantu bekhuluma benyenyeza ubabone bekhombana ngezithupha.  Kwahlalwa isikhashana kulowo mnyama kungaziwa ukuthi iyozala nkomoni.
Kwathi lapho udaba scluphenyisiswa kahle lcuhlutshwa udlubu ekliasini, sekuhlolisiswa nezidumbu, kwatholakala ukuthi seziguqukile zafana nabantu nje bempela abaziwayo, akwabe kusaba ngezawo lawo mazimu engaligilwa nawo.  Zona izidumbu Iezo zazisenkulu ngangazo ezamazimu, kodwa uboya nazo zonke izinto ezichazwe ngalawo mazimu zingasekho.  Kwaya k-maya kuphenywa loludaba kwavela ukuthi Iezi zidumbu zifana nabantu abathize bakwadlamini.  Lokhuke kwakhishwa 'zangoma abantu bonke bathula bathi du;

Yl
okushiwo yizangoma kwakungaphikiswa ngoba zona zazithi
zonke ziyakwazi ukukhuluma nezithutha (namadlozi).
Kwak-ufanele kube khona ezikushoyo ukuze zanelise inkosi.  Kwakulindelekile ukuba zithole ezazizosulela ngaye futl-ti ukuze umsebenzi wazo ubatshazwe, kuthiwe utholakele umthakathi oyimbangi yakho konke lokhu.
I@,wathi-ke lapho sekushiwo ukuthi ngabakwadlamini labo ababenze lowo mkhuba wok-ufflasela usomankelili kwaze kwaliwa kwaphuma izidumbu, kwanqunywa usuku lokuba kuhanjwe k-uyohlaselwa khona ukuze kuphindiswe.
Noma sciigingabe ngingena kwenye indaba uma nginixoxela ngokulwa kwaleyompi, nginganitshela nje ngamafuphi ukutlii kuleyompi ngahlabana ngabathathu.  Ngangeqa lo osewile ngigadle komunye, ngiphinde ngimeqe nalowo ngiqhubekele phambili, basho bathi:
"Mshe, mshe, msheshengu -
Wath' esadl' ezinye
Wagadl' ezinye;
Wath' esagadl' ezinye
Wadl' ezinye . . . "
Kwakuyimpi enodumo, njengoba kuyaye kukhulunywe kanjalo-ke ngezimpi.  Kodwa uma umuntu esebuyela phansi emsukeni wayo, kwakungekho sizathu ukuba ibe khona leyompi, ngoba iqiniso ukuthi ngamazimu, ayi abakwadlamini, ayebuIale usomankehli.

28

Mhlawumbe izangoma zadidwa ngamathambo azo nga. lolo lusuku.  Noma zaphendukezela lokho ezazikutshelwa ngamadlozi azo ngoba zizesabela amazimu kwazona.  Mhlawumbe esinye salezo zangoma, kwazi bani, sasingomunye walawo mazimu.  Yebo, lomqondo wokuthi makube omunye walezo zangoma wayekanye namazimu lawo, ungifil.@ela manje.  Ungifikela manje maqede uqine.  Sona lesi esingifikela engqondweni, esasinamehlo angamabhamuza anamahlule, sinezindlebe amahawu, nekhala isingcafazi, kangisho ukuthi sake salikhuluma iqiniso nanirj-i, ngisho sikhuluma sodwa siqondise kuso uqobo.  Qha, kangikholwa.

Gijimani manje nina bafana neqele izimbuzi, zizongena emasimini nizoyikhotha imbenge yomile ngiyanitshela.  Gijimani bo, niyalibona ilanga ukuthi selikuphi?  Uma nithuke nishaya inyoni noma nibambile ezifeni zenu, uma bengakaninyokeli nilokhu nihlezi lapha, nikhumbule ukuthi yimina engifancle ukudla inyama.  Umshayi wenyoni udla iklianda ukuze aphinde ashaye -noma abambe futhi nangelinye ilanga.  Uma ningakwenzi lokho, niyobona kahle.  Ngaphandle kok-uthi aninakuphinde nibambe nyoni, ngiyoniceba nibhansulwe ngenxa yemikhuba namacala enu amaningi engiwagodle lapha esifubeni sami.  Futhi nje ngingephinde nginitshele lutho noma nginixoxele indaba.

Hambani!  Hambani!  Ngifuna ukuziphumulcla manje, ngizicabangele ngithule hleze namuhla ngiphuphe namaphupho ami amadala, ngiphuphe ngibona nezalukazi zami ezazingiganile, uMaMdladla noMaNgcobo."

Cishe ukuthi zonke izindaba zikamkhulu zazinjalo, k-uthi futhi engani uyayixoxa indaba, afake okunye ok-uqhuma eceleni ngokusabalala komqondo wakhe usukhumbula okuningi kanye-kanye-lokhu nami esengiyikhona-uthi ngangazi?
Sasimthanda umkhulu, elungile.  Uma ethetha esiza thina, uma exoxa ejabulisa thina, uma ethule engajezisi thina kepha k-ukhona ak-ukhumbula noma azama ukuthola insombululo yakho engqondweni.  Wayesemdala, esefana nesihlahla esesakhula sakhehleka sahlekeka, esesabamagwinci kwezinye izindawo, sasonteka kwezinye.  Isihlahla esesema elangeni,

29

omoyeni, estihwathweni nasezimvuleni isikhathi eside kakhulu kungasakhumbuleki kahle ukuthi kusukela riini. lzihlahla ezibanjena, nabantu asebabanjena bayahlonishwa, bahlonish,@ve kufanele futhi.  Kuyisiphosiso, kuyisenzo esibi ukuba kubulawe noma kufenyiswe lokho osekwahlala izizukulwane ezingaka.  Kuyibulima ukungahloniphi ilizwi nombono nobuyena bomuntu osekhulile.








30

vi

Ngokuhluma kwamahlamvu aluhlaza, nokuqhakaza kweziffial-da eziningi entwasahlobo kuya kulo ililobo, nokuwohloka kwamahlamvu aluhlaza eziblahleni, nok-uphaphatheka kotshani emadlelweni kusukela entwasabusika kuya kubo ubusika, isikhatlii sisuke siliamba.  Ngokulala umuntu avuke, adle alambe, one ajeziswe, alalele kukhulunywa kuze kufike lapho naye esekhuluma k-ulalelwe, usuke ekhula.
Kwaba kaiijena-ke nakimi ngazibona sengingena ebubhungwini, sengiba libhungu cliqinile, ngasuka lapho ngangena ebunsizweni.  Ngayeka ukwelusa amankonyane, ngayeka ukwelusa izimbuzi, ngaze ngayeka ukwel-iisa izinkomo.  Nalapho ngithunywa ngilayezwa okuthile, ngangithunywa kuphela lokho okusemqoka.  Sengethenjwa ngabadala uk-uthi umlayezo lowo ngangizowulanda ngemfanelo, njengoba ukhulunyiwe ngesikhathi unikezwa kimina, ngingashiyi Auto ngingangezi ngalutho.
Into eyayisilindeleke kimi manje mayelana nezinkomo, kwase kuyikuba ngizazi amagama nemibala yazo.  Ngizazi kangangok-uba ngikwazi ukuyichaza inkomo umuntu afike ayikhombe izelukela esigangeni.  Kwak-uthi futhi lapho izinkoMO zilahlekile, abafana abancane sebehlulekile ukuzithola, ngiphume mina nabanye ziyozifuna size sizithole. lzinkomo zaziphuma inhlazane ekuseni.  Zazibuya, ziphtinge imikhonto, ngisenge, abafana babambe amankonyane.  Sengiqedile abafana bazikhaphele emadlelweni.
Ngaphandle kwalemisebenzana-ke, ngase ngizikhululekele, ngingenza noma yini leyo efanele.  Ontanga, nanii, sahlanganiswa nalabo ababephuma izinqina bezingela.  Sasesihamba nemigcageo futhi.  Kukho konke lokhu-ke abadala babesibheka uk-uthi siqhuba kajijani, noma siyabukhombisa yini ubuqhawe.  Kuyamjabulisa umzah uma kukhona ingane yakhe okuhle eyaziwa ngakho, ingabi iyona into okuhanjwa

31

kukhulunywa n,-layo kukhonjwa lokhu nalokhu okubi eyikhona.
KuleUbanga engase ngikulona, sase sivunyelwe ukuba sihambe amehlo ethu sesiwavulile, kuthi ulna sihlangana nesimthandayo simkhulumise, seshele.  Ubaba wayesenginike izikhumba ukuze ngisike aniahawu, ezinye zishukwe ukuze kwenziwe amabheshu, ngibhince.  Uma sengiphelele kanjena-ke ayengabibikho ainahloni nokuzinyeza lapho ngiphakathi kwabantu.
Omame babebuye basikhulumele futhi kwezinye izintombi abazithandayo.  Uma kukhona ebahlulile ngothando kodwa niina ngibonakala sengathi kanginakile, babekhuluina bayichaze lentombi-babubeke babubeke ubuhle bayo nami ngize ngizwe sengiyithanda.  Kuthi uma sekunjalo, benze amalungiselelo ngendlela ethize ukuba sibonane.
Ngikliuluma ngilanda Iezi zinto lapha ngoba ngangizibona ziyinto negugu elildiulu elisemqoka kimina, kodwa ukuba wena olandela lamabala ezimpukane ayibunakalala ephepheni eqhubela emehlweni akho lokho mina engangikubona ngik-uzwa, ubone ukuthi isildiathi sesaguquka kangakanani.  Ubone ukuthi ngezinguquko eziningi esezaba khona bunzima buni osebalandela.
Mina angisoze, ngisho sengiphupha, ngivume futhi ngize ngicabange ukuthi izinto engangizenza ngisemncane zaziphambene nenqubo efanele.  Kodwa namlilanje konke lokho sek-uthathwa ngolcuthi kwakukubi, kungalungile, futhi kuphambene nomthetho.  Kabani?  Kangazi.
Kodwa-ke ngizozama ukukugwema ukugiya ngiphume esibayeni nginhlanhlathe ngaphandle.  Ngizozama ukuyixoxa lendaba ngiiigayixovi, ngifuna ilandelane ngendlela izigigaba Iezo engizokhuluma ngazo ezazehla ngayo.  Yebo, kufanele lendaba ngizame uk-uyeluka ibe lulungelunge olungenamafindo, futhi ingah@imbi ijuquka sengatlii ngeyeiikosikazi ethanda ukukhuluma.
Kuningi engizokhuluma ngakho okwakuphahle indlela yami kusukela ebunganeni bami kuya ebudaleni bami.  Ngalessikhathi indlela yami yayicentekile, lcungekho ziphunzi ku32

ngekho migodi.  Ngangazi nje mina ukutlii Iezi zindlela zipliikelele ekuthanathaneni. ziyophelela khona ngendlela eyikuthanathana.  Uma sekukhona k-uyokuba nje kube njena.
Ak-uselona ivelakancane ukuba izindlebe zomuntu zihlangabezane nokukhonona kwalabo abazi leli likamjokwane kandaba lisesesimweni salo esidala.  Batl-ti ikudala nenamuhla akusafani.  Bathi inamuhla kalisafani nekudala, hayi ngoba inamuhla selingcono kodwa ngoba seliye ngokudedela lavuthulula amagugu athize, awa njengamahlamvu esihlahleni siphoqelelwa ubusika.  Indlela okwakupliilwa ngayo kudala, enhle, isiyashabalala, iyaphela.  Impilo eyayiphilwa ngokhokho bethu isiyokuba yinganekwane ezizukulwaneni zethu.  Angazi ukutlii konke lokhu kungani nokuthi kwenzeka kanjani, kodwa engincqiniso nakho 1,,unye, ukuthi namathongo ayiwajabulisi neze lenguquko esikuyona.  Kwawona sengathi akasasiholi asisize njengoba ayenza kuqala.  Mhlawumbe yitliina esiyimbangi yakho konke lokhu, mhlawumbe k-ukhona esingakwenzi okufanele, nesikwenzayo okungafancle, noma ok-wenziwayo okungafanele kodwa okuthi ngokuthula kwethu kutshame ukuthi siyavumelana nakho, kangazi.  Kodwa osekubonwa nayingane encane ukuthi okuningi kuyedlula iljengoba umgibeli wehashi eyaye abone kuviliza izihlahla ezishiya aye ayosithela kude nkashana.
Ngisakhula mina bek-iithi uma kuhlatshwe noma yini, kube khona okubekwe eceleni kuthiwe ngok-wezitliutha.  Namanzi amponjwana abeyaye akapakiselwe phansi athi,,ve p otsho emhlabathini, kuthiwe kabadle abaphansi.  Ngalezo zinsuku lukliulu usizo olungasekho ababesenzela Iona.
Ngok-ukhula kwami njalo-ke konke engangikwenza kwakuphumelela. lzinkomo esibayeni sikababa zazikhuluphele zimanyazela, kanti futhi kuhlangene izimpondo zathula zathi du-ziningi.  Zizodwa ezazisemasisweni, zizodwa ezazilindelwe kwabanye obaba abancane iikuba bazibuyise, ababelotsholelwe ngazo ngubaba kwathenjiswanwa uk-iithi kuyothi kungagana amantombazane okuqala, zibuye izinkomo.  Ayeselotsholiwe-ke lawo mantombazane.

33

Kanti nodadewethu base bekhulile, itshitshi likhwela phezu kwelinye itshitshi, ungathi umbondo ekhaya uma siphelele sihambe kanyekanye saya lapho kunomsindo ngakhona, ungathi sinclima uma siphelele sonke emasimini.  Izintombi zikababa zazikhulile, zizinhle zincincizisa amakhehla.  Zacclwa ubuthaphuthaphu ubaba waze wacasuka, (nomake sengazi namhlanje ukuthi wayejabulela ngaphakathi) eminye inugcagco kwathi engani abakhongi bacela ulcuba ibe sebusika bayo leyo miiiyaka, ubaba wathi phinde, imigcagco leyo wayikhomba nyakenye.
lzinkomo zelobolo Iezi-ke zazandisa kakhulu izinkomo zikababa.  Ngaleso sikhathi ilobolo Ialingenamgomo wokuthi kufanele izinkomo ezilishumi nanye, manje k-ufuneka izinkomo ezilishumi nanhlanu.  Qha.  Umuntu ubelobola ngalokho anamandla okukukhipha.  Uma enezinkomo eziyisiphohlongo, eshaya izinkomo ezine noma ezinhlanu, kwabyanela lokho.  Uma ethembisa uk-uthi uyolobola ngezinkomo zendodakazi yakhe yok-uqala, esho engazi noma uyobathola yini abantwana, k-wakusalungile futhi nalokho.  Bheka-ke khona ezitholile izingane engazi noma uyozithola yini izingane zamantombazane.
llobolo Ialingesiyona indlela yok-uceba neze, Ialilisiko eliligugu kuzulu.  Ekuqaleni impela kwakulotsholwa ngisho nangamathanga.  Kodwa-ke kukhona abalala beguquka becabanga ngalelisiko likazulu bavuka bathi akuqondile.  Bathi kungani ezinye izintombi zilotsholwa ngezinkomo ezintathu ezinye zilotsholwa ngezinkomo ezilishumi nesihlanu.  Baqhubeka bafaka imigoqo.  Eminye imigoqo ibiyela ukuba lokho okuphakathi k-uphephe, kongeke, kondleke, k-ungapheli.  Kodwa eminye imigoqo iluhlobo lokuvalela ngaphandle lokho obekufanele kungene, kodwa eminye ingeyok-uvimba ukuba k-ungabe kusababikho lutho olungenayo, nalutho oluphumayo, olcuphakathi kube phakathi, kukhuntelane, isigcino kufe kuphele.  Namhle-ke ilobolo selinezinqumo neminqumiya, nenjongo yalo akuseyona ngok-uphelele leyaya endala.
Abafana babezikhipha esibayeni izinkomo zikababa kuthi eziphume kuqala zize zibe nkashana kodwa ezinye zisa-

@34

phuma esibayeni. lzimbuzi kukhona ezazingasabuyi entabeni, ezinye izintondolo sezigijima nayo insizwa uma ingabhekile.  Ngalezo zinsuku kwafika ezindlebeni zikababa ukuba ngangingenabo ubuqha, izintombi zazingithanda, eqinisweni ngangifisoka.  Lokhu kwamthokozisa ubaba, awumfikelanga umqondo wokuthi ngangizomiiciphisela isibaya sakhe.  Wangibiza wangeluleka.  Washo wathi kwakufanele ngikhethe njengoba ngangithanda, kodwa ngiqaphele nje kuphela ukuba ngingaphangi mdaka ek-ukhetheni.  Wathi k-wak-ufanele ngizanelise enhliziyweni nasengqondweni ukuthi labo engangibathatha babenothando lwami, benothando lukamama nolwakhe, benothando lomndeni wonke.  Wangeluleka ngezidingo sok-uba intombi ethathwayo kube ngephilile, kube ngebukekayo, kube ngekhulele ekhaya elihloniphekileyo nelihloniphayo, ngeqondile ezenzwe zayo, ngeyiyisibonelo kubantwana, ukuze lolo lubhaqa lulilangane nalolo lwakwethu kukhanye kakhulu lculowo m-Lizi kagumede.
Wangeluleka ukuba ngize neiyix@vaye iiitombazane ethethayo, ezofika emzini ihlebe, eyishaya emumva iyishaye phambili, etliandayo uk-ubukela abaiitu bexabene.  Lathi ikhehla ngize ngingamthatlii u.nontandwakubukwa onjengesakabuli, ngize ngingathathi umasoqinase ongeqiwa ndaba.
lzeluleko zikababa zakha isiyingi engqondweni nasenhliziyweni yami esisekhona namanje, esingakhohlakaleki.  Lesi siyingi siqukethe Iezo zeluleko.  Kodwa sekukaningi ngithi isizukulwane sanamuhla ngisinyomulela kuleso siyingi, singaIaleli.  Ngalezo zinsuku izintombi zaziqondile, zazinakho konke lokho ubaba ayengeluleka ukuba ngikuqaphe ngithathe ezinakho.  Kodwa namuhla akusenjalo.  Kunamuhla lapho sekufanele k-uqashelwe ngempela.  Namuhla, lapho iningi Iezintombi lingasentombi, lapho Iezi zintombi sezikhuluma ngok-wasemzini zingakafinyeleli nakhona, lapho sezidla amasi asemzini zingakawanikwa.  Lezi esezibuka uninazala noma uyisezala emehlweni.  Lezi eseziqoma kungaziwa, Iezi esezinamasoka ngambili ngantathu, Iezi esezitholela abantwana emakhaya.

35

Anginakuyisusa phansi indaba yokuthola kwami labomakoti bami ngize ngiyikhiphe phezulu.  Kodwa ngamafuphi ngaganwa ngumzamose Nkomonde, kwalandela usothondose Ndwandwe kwase kuba ngunonina Ndlozi.
UMzamose wayemude, ensundu, enamehlo amakhulu, enesiphongo esiphumile, eshaya lapha phansi uma ehamba kuzwakale kuthi gi, gi, gi, ekhuthele futhi umuntu Iona.  Yena wayezalwa yinduna yendawo.  Nguyena-ke owaba ngundlunlculu wami.
UMaNdwand-@,Ye wayenomzimba ombulungene, emhlophe ebusweni qwa.  Wayenamazinyo athothene, abanzi, ehleka njalo kodwa kutm njalo futhi uma ehleka asheshe athule.  Wayenamabele ayenza isifuba sakhe sifukuke, encokola futhi umuntu Iona.  Ebusheni bethu, sisaqagelisana ubala naye, ngangike ngimqale ngitl-ii ubhaqa aludingekile uma ekhona, ngoba wayemhlophe ngokwanele ukuthi uma kukhona into engiyifunayo endlini ngivele ngiyithole ngenxa yobuso bakhe obabunokukhanya kwezinkanyezi.  Lona-ke yena waba ngowendlu yekhohlo.
Akubanga bikho ukweneliswa kimina, ngangiphila, nganginogazi, kwakulunga ngincokola, kwakulunga ngiqinisekile.  Kanti noma ngangingaba namahloni okweshela noma neshwa lok-ungathandwa, ngalezo zikhathi amakhosikazi ayeyikhulumela indoda yawo uma kukhona intombi ayithandayo. UMaNdlozi nje Iona ngancengwa yibona omkami ukuba k-ube nguyena engimthathayo.  Esefikile-ke ekhaya wafana nengane nje yabo.  Kanti futhi wayesemncane kakhulu nangeminyaka.  Ubuklume bobuso bakhe, izwi lakhe elalipholile limtoti uma ekhuluma, ikhono lakhe lokudlala umakhweyane ahube yedwa, kwak-uyaye kuthokomalise namathumbu enhliziyo ahube wodwa, kwak-uyaye kuthokomalise namathumbu enhliziyo yami uma ngikhumbula ukuthi konje lo, ungunkosikazi wami, ngoba ungunina wezingane zami.  Lona-ke kwaba ngunkosikazi wesithathu.
Ngahlala-ke ngenelisiwe, nobaba enelisiwe, umuzi usabumbene njengoba wawunjalo sisakhula.  Lawa kwakungamakhosikazi oqobo, ayendulela ezivandeni abanye bengakaphuphi nokuphupha, ayephisa ingqondovu yotshwala obunye 36

buphekwa ngomdokwe wobunye. lzimbiza zazihlala ziphuphuma ingwebu.  Ubaba akazange asikhale yena esikababamkhulu sokuncishwa utshwala ngabakoti ngenxa yokuvilapha ukugubukula itshe umuntu agaye.  Yileyondlu yaba nezinkomo, amagula acwebezela ngaphandle, yaba namasimu, yaba nezinqolobane nezilulu.
Akuzange lcube bikho ukuzondana nokuxabana, ukuhlebana nokungasizani, ukuklolodelana nokulaywa, ukusongelana nokuthakathana, ukudlisana nokubulalana-lokhu umuntu asekubona namhlanje lapho abesifazane behlezi ndawonye.  Okuncane okwakuvela kwakutshelwa mina ngikuqondise, kuphele. lzwi lami lalihlonishwa ngaso sonke isikhathi, kwaqhutshekwa futhi lihlonishwa kwaze kwafinyelela esikhathini lapho ngase ngiduvaza khona ekhanda, kwaya kwaya zangigabha izimvu.  Ngaleso sikhathi-ke nami ngase ngiganisa.  Lahlala njalo izwi lami lingunqamlajuqu emzini wamieqinisweni umuzi ok-wakungokababa.
Emva kwesikhathi sengikhulile kwakhanya kwabaningi ukuthi njengomuntu omdala ngase nginolwazi ezintweni eziningi.  Babazi ukuthi umuzi wami ngangiwuphethe ngobuqotho, kungekho bubi eduze komuzi wami.  Ngisho nenduna yendawo yayikwazi lokho.  Kaningi ingicela ukuba ngikhulume ngaphansi komuthi lowo wayo owawuyisigcawu.  Baningi abantu ababehlala balalele, abaningi bazemukele bazenze izeluleko zami.  Babazi ukuthi owami umuzi ngangiwuphathe ngaphumelela, ubuningi bemfuyo kababa kwaphindana kimina.  Yebo, kwakumahlikwane izinkomo, kwakunezinqudulu, nezinsengwakazi nezigqala nezinyumba.  Kwakunezinkunzi, kunezinkabi, kunamajongosi.  Kwakunamaguqa, kunamankonyane kunemiinvemve.  Lapho zibuya ntambama amabele ezinsengwakazi ayethi akahushe phansi. lzingane zami zakhula zondlekile.  Kwakunezimvu zisindwa yimisila, kunezimbuzi zikhuluphele zicwazimula, kungenkukhu ngingalazi nami inani lazo, futhi ngingenandaba nalo.
Ngezikhathi ezifanele ngangihlaba babuse abantu; ngangihlaba ngibonge namadlozi; ngangihlaba ngicele emadlozini, ngangihlaba ngishweleze uma lcukhona okonakele.

37

Ngenxa yokugcina leyo misebenzi inhlanhla yanda.  Ummbila wabeletha ngainbili ngantathu emasimini, inja yethanga yathuthwa emasimini kwaze kwakhathalwa.  Kwakuthule wena ndlubu, bhatata zindumba. lzinyoni zazidla zizishiyele emfeni nasemabeleni.  Kwagcwala izinqolobane, kwagcwala izilulu, akwabe kusakhwanyelwa ndawo, kwadedelwa abahluphekile ukuba bazikhwanyele bathathe bayozidlela.  Ukuthengiselana ukudla- kwakungekho ngaleso sikhathi.
Ekwindla amasi kwakuba ziphihli nefutho lize libukwe ngamehlo.  Ngangike ngime phandle ntambama ngiwabone amakhosikazi ami, nodadewethu, namadodakazi ami, bonke beza phesheya emasimini benquma kabili namasimu, belandela indlela emazombezombe bethwele besisitheka.  Kwakungenala kuyinqaba.  Ababefika bazokwethekela babekhonjiswa izinqolobane kuthi@ve kabazibonele.  Bazikholise bazikhohse bagcine lapho kuphela khona amandla abo.
Isihambi sasibusiswa ngokwanelisayo emzini wami.  Umuntu wayenqandwa ehamba ngaphandle angeniswe endliiii kuthiwe akehlise udenda.  Abaningi babesale sebelala bahambe ngakusasa.  Abanye njalo balale nangalo ikusasa lelo bangahambi.  Phela yini eyayijahwa kwazulu?  Isikhathi sasiphethwe ngabantu kungesikhathi esiphethe abantu.
Umuzi ongaka-kd, nakho konke lokhu okwakukuwona, yizinto ezikhulisa isithunzi somuntu.  Yizo ezenza umuzi womnumzane ube nesigqi.








38

