ISIXHOSA SIYAVUTHA

This is an awareness poem about the serious topic which is destroying young and old, alcoholism. The author Akhona Mafani (known as “Bhodl’ingqaka”) of the poem is personalising the Brandy. He says it is given dignified status in traditional ceremonies. He continues to say the traditional drink called “iqhilika” gave way to the “mshovalale” – the brewed beer which kills our communities and makes men to be boys in terms of their behaviour. Brandy, according to the poet, has played a role in our communities decaying and becoming dysfunctional. Traditional home-brewed beer (umqombothi) nowadays has no value if the brandy is not among the drinks offered, he says. He pleads to the ancestors to make him understand the reason.

Mayiphume le Branti

Umbhali: Akhona "Bhodl' ingqaka" Mafani

Ngaphakathi kweentlandi zakwa Xhosa Sazibhaqa sigqutyelwe yimiqala Sixhuzul’imikhalangotywala bomLungu

Isibhongobhiyane ilishwa leshwangusha Esa liteketisa ngegrangqa Tsi! Sizwe sakowethu kudala sanyoluka

Sayingcamliswa le Branti Kwangoko sanxil’ingqondo Sayinika isihlalo kwiintlanti zakowethu Ingena phi? Manyange mandi tyhilelwe inkungu

Kuthi masinga thuli kuba kungoku nje Isidima sendoda sise Brantini Angen’emanz’endlini Aqumb’aqhushumb’amadoda Xa umqombothi ungakhaswa yiBranti

Kwiinkalo ngeenkalo kwimizi jikelele Iintsapho zigudl’udonga Kukusindwa lusizi kuku lahlekelwa Ngamadoda exambulisana Ebhiudane ngeentetha de adlane Yile Branti Ngwe nengonyama bengquzulana Ukunga visisani ahlabane Kuphum’imiphefumlo Mayiphume le Branti Kumzi wakowethu izis’intlekele

Amadod’ebe xelengel’ikhaya Ngozife’egeqe ngenxa yale Branti Xa kunamhla ngamaxhoba ale Branti Umhla nezolo ihleli ezidyasini nase zinqeni Ibhulukhwe ibisazana nesinqa Ngoku seyi hlal’emahlezeni

Imiz’ikhal’ibhungane Abafazi bathwe’uxanduva lamadoda Ngabula bona azizinja ezife zithwel’ibotyo Athi akuhlawulwa aduke negama nesitshingitshane seBranti Abuy’exwebile Mayiphume le Branti

Sasi fudula sinamarhewu Nomabil’ebanda Sakhotyozw’ingqondo

Kwangoko sazeya iziselo zakwantu Bathi deda qhilika endaweni yomtshov’alale Iingqondo sele zagqwethwagqethwa zafun’ubuNtshona

Kwiminyak’ezayo ubhelu lomsele Luzoba yimbali Mayiphume le Branti Ipotyakalalis’ibhobhile Ibulal’ingqiqo Kulok’amaxheg’ebhodl’elele

Ziziimbongi zase Mpuma Sithi masi suse le nkunz’edl’ezinye Esel’ikhwela, yakuthi xaka Iphind’izehlele Sikholo ukuhlaba amadlala Sifundise silumkise Nibuye nithi”iyabulel’ilali”

Ngu-Akhona Mafani (Iimbongi zeMpuma)