LICENCE TO WRITE

SEK Mqhayi is known as the first amaXhosa nation’s poet. His famous works include two eulogies; Umkhosi Wemidaka (Army of Blacks, also used to be known as Native Army), as well as Ukutshona kukaMendi (The Sinking of Mendi). Both poems were also included in his classic novel, Ityala Lamawele. The following eulogy ( Ukutshona kukaMendi) reveals the deep sorrow of a nation that has lost some of its brave sons, swallowed by the sea on their way to fight in World War I.

UKUTSHONA KUKAMENDI

Ewe, le nto kakade yinto yaloo nto Thina, nto zaziyo, asothukanga nto! Sibona kamhlophe, sithi bekumelwe; Sitheth’ engqondweni, sithi kufanelwe. Xa bekungenjalo bekungayi kulunga, Ngoko ke, SoTase! Kwaqal’ ukulunga! Le nqanaw’ uMendi namhla yendisile, Nal’ igazi lethu lisikhonzisile!

Asinithumanga ngazo izicengo; Asinithenganga ngayo imibengo. Bekungenganzuzo zimakhwezi-khwezi; Bekungengandyebo zingangeenkwenkwezi Sikwatsho nakuni, bafel’ eAfrika, kwelaseJamani yaseMpuma-langa bekungembek’ eninayo kuKumkani, bekungentobeko yenu kwiBritani.

Mhla nashiy’ ikhaya sithethile nani, Mhla nashiy’ intsapho salathile kuni, Mhla sabamb’ izandla, mhla kwamanz’ amehlo; Mhla balil’ oonyoko, bangqukrelek’ ooyihlo; Mhla nazishiy’ ezi ntaba zakowenu, Nayinikel’ imiva imilamb’ ezwe lenu, Asitshongo na kuni, midak’ akowethu, Ukuthi, "Kwelo zwe nilidini lethu!?" Ngesibinge ngantoni na ka kade?

Idini lomzi liyintoni na kade? Asingamathol' amaduna omzi na? Asizizithandwa zesizwe kade na? Ngoku kuthetha ke siyendelisela, Sibhekis’ ezantsi, sihlahla indlela. asinguHabheli n’ elomhlaba idini? asinguMesiya n’ elasezulwini?’

Thuthuzelekani ngoko, zinkedama; Kuf’ omnye kakade, mini kwakhiw' omnye; Kukhonza mnye kakade, zekuphil' omnye. Ngokwenjenje kwethu sithi, yakhekani; Lithabatheni eli qhalo labadala: Kuba bathi, "Akuhlanga lungehlanga!"

AWU! Zaf’ iint’ ezinkulu zeAfrika! Isindiwe Ie nqanawa de yazika, Kwaf’ amakhalipha, amafa-nankosi. Agazi lithetha kwiNkosi yeenkosi. Ukufa kwawo kunomvuzo nomvuka. Ndinga ndingema nawo ngoMhla woKuvuka, Ndingqambe njengomnye osebenzileyo, Ndikhanye njengoMso oqaqambileyo. Makube njalo. NguSEKMqhayi