LICENCE TO WRITE
I must say that the beauty of this poetry column is that there is a variety of people who contribute to it, ranging from schoolchildren, adults, boys and girls, men and women, old and young and so on.
Your support is much appreciated. The following poems are all written by experienced poets dealing with various themes. The first one is “Iimbacu Zomgquba” (Displaced Africans) by Nosipho Adam. In this poem Adam is questioning the displacement of the Khoisans by colonial and other authorities in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
“Sicel’ imbeko Rhulumente” (We are asking for respect from you government) is by Dumisa Mpupha.
The title says it all, if you have been following what happens in Parliament particularly the behaviour of some Parliamentary dignitaries then you will understand this poem much better.
The last poem is “Ndandikho” (I was there), written by Zongezile Matshoba, also addressing an issue that hasn’t been dealt with extensively.
This is about people who were involved in the Struggle who don’t get any recognition if they didn’t serve their sentences in Robben Island, and so on. You may find that there is a link between the three poems as you engage with them.
Ndiqale kweziphi iintaba ukulaqaza ndifun’ intsusa? Kwezetafile bethu okanye kwezokhahlamba? Iimbacu zomgquba! Yinton’ intsusa?
Qakatha! Qakatha! Tsi! Tsi! Gxada gxada ngaphi bethu? Iimbacu zomgquba! Yinton’ intsusa?
Cala liphi? kwiintaba zikaHoho kusinina? Ndikhwaze ... ndixhentse, de kushukume iintaba zomkhenkce kweleNkwanca? de kushukume iintaba zomkhence kwele Cuba? Iimbacu zomgquba! Yinton’ intsusa? lizwe Egameni lenkululeko yokuthetha
Balandeli, bekutheni kwathini? Benivotele le nto niyibonayo? Izibhoxi ezibhomboloza ngokwasembarheni Ezingabeki mntu umdala nomkhulu? Zixel’ ilungelo lokuthetha
Phephani bantu ngelivakalayo Nivume xa kukho nto izuzekayo Kule Palamente yabantu Ephathwa ngathi imfund’ ikwanjalo Sibe ngathi sizizihiba
Isimilo mawethu! Asithengwa, kodwa siyafundiswa Kwase buntwaneni ekhaya IPalamente asindawo yokukhasa Noko nje sivuyel’vukubakho kweentsana.
Imbeko ePalamente siyayicela Siyayifuna siyikhangela Akukho abe mnye na kuni Onelizwi lobulumko? Owu sithi vukani maqhawe! Ngoku kwakuqhankqalazwa ezitalatweni Ndandikho, kodwa kwazi bani Kuba ndandisemxukuxeleni
Mhla kugityiselwa amatye emapoliseni Nam ndagibisela Nokuba zange ndide ndichane kwanto
Xeshikweni kungathengwa Nam ndandingathengi edolophini Silamb’ ekhaya kukushokoxeka kwezinto
Mini kusonyulwa iinkokheli zasekuhlaleni Ivulw’ imilomo imibutho yethu yenkululeko Ndandikwenye yezoo ntlanganiso, ndisonyula
Kuloo mingcelele yemikrozo Nomnt’ omnyama ede wavunyul’ ukuvota Ndoonyul’ umbutho wesizwe
Namhl’ andinabani Andibuyi siqithini Ndingabuyi lubhacweni Ndingenasizalwana esibulewe ngengcinezelo
Andinto yanto nefani engaziwayo Nengcwaba lam hleze libe nomnqamlezo nje Oya kugilwa ziibhokhwe unyathelwe ziinkomo Lingaziwa bani kungentsuku zatywala