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Ilima – umbongo

by Sintu Mdludla Mavi

Kwa ntu ubuntu sisintu
Nhyani ngabantu ungumntu
Kungako ndicela kuluntu
Kugcwel’ ingc’ entsimini yam
Ukhul’ enqodweni yam
Lazis’ usiz’ ezintsaneni zam
Nam, ndifun’ uba yindod’ emadodeni
Utat’ ebantwaneni
Njenge nyanda masibambaneni

Ngobubele sibophanen’ amanxeba
Ngemvisiswano sibethelel’
Amaphahl’ ezindlu ezadilikayo
Ngothando sibangulan’ ameva
Ngelima sibuyis’ isidima
Yima, “sathane”,
Bulumko phembelel’ imililo
Dangatya tshabalalis’ intiyo
Yiyo, unobangela wesililo

Bafazi silan’ utywala
Makwedini bophan’ iinkabi
Zintsana sitshon’ isikhalo
Nyembezi zinkcenkceshele
Enqondweni emadodeni
Alim’ emasimini

Ilim’ endithetha ngalo
Kukwandis’ uthando,
Hayi ukuphakamiselan’ izigalo
Ubuntu ibeyingub’
esimbathisana ngayo

Our only shield
Against the tempest
Of this cold world
A measure of our being
Against the world greed
Ma Afrika Masibambaneni
Ma Afrika Masihlanganeni
Ma Afrika Maaasithandaneni!!!!