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Mthabisi Tshuma, Showbiz Reporter

LUPANE-based poet Jonathan Moyo aka Mntakagogo has celebrated the work that the late arts guru Cont Mhlanga did through a poem.

The poem titled Hamba Kahle Mdladla is available in text and audio. Listening to it, one is made to vividly see the numerous and vital efforts Mhlanga put towards developing the country’s creative sector.

Khulu as Cont was known to many, passed away last Monday. He was laid to rest at his rural homestead in Lupane last Saturday.

Mntakagogo said he learnt a lot from the engagements that were facilitated by Mhlanga.

“We used to have sessions with Khulu Mhlanga under Shangano Arts. He taught us a lot about values, strategies, and the dos and don’ts in the industry. Mdladla stayed 40kms away from my rural home and we used to mingle a lot.

“He never hesitated to impart his knowledge which is something that we’ll greatly miss,” said Mntakagogo.

Below is the poem Hamba Kahle Mdladla:

Ngabe nje kade ngisazi bengizamane ngimbikel’ uDambuza ukuthi ngiyibonile’ inyokamuntu

Ngabe nje kade ngisazi bengizamtshel’ uAlibaba ukuthi nansi lendoda

Ngabe nje kade ngisazi bengizazivikela ngokuthi sivele sinjalo thina angithi singabantu benyama

Sivele sinjalo siyajika ,siyaguquka

Nanko phela amakorokoza ayizolo awasafan’ lawanamuhlanje won’ asethwala amabhemba

Gula lamas’ esizwe kanti luzakudlan’ usapho namuhlanje

Nondlini kamama kanti ngubani ozakondla lezintandane na?

Nsengwakazi kababa kant’ uzunywe yini na?

Mthapho wolimi lwakwethu kant’ uthunjwe ngubani na?

Mthombo wolwaz’ olujulileyo kanti ugqitshelwe ngubani na?

Siphala samasik’ akwethu

Mina angilamathe

Mina angilankani

Mina ngimadolonzima

Mina ngimdambiyana

Angisoze ngiphinde ngiwathathe kalula amazw’ abantu abadala,lapho bethi kulemhlolo

Angisoze ngiphinde ngiwatshay’ indiv’ amazw’ abomakhand’ amhlophe

Ngiqinisile ngiqinisile ngithi angisoze ngiphinde ngibabone ukuphosisa bona abampunga ngoba yibo phela omakadebona

Bakhuluma abakwaziyo

Bakhuluma abakubonayo hatshi abakuzwayo

Indlela bayayazi ,abayiphumputhi

Bayazi beyiqonda ngqo

Ngiqale ngisizwa kuvunguz’ umoya ngathi ngokaNtulikazi, kanti ngiyazikhohlisa

Kuvumbuluk’ isavunguzane sangena sitshokile esangweni

Ngazam’ ukusikhomba ngomgigo kagogo kwaba yikutshay’ indlovu ngempama

Kwaphakam’ umlilo wemvutha kakhulu wathungel’ umkul’ wesalukazi sami kwasal’ umlotha

Angibuquthanga ngobusuku bayizolo ngenyoni zabagad’ iwombela amajingiji,zimemezana zisabelana laph’ ekhaya

Ngethuke ngaphosa ngazichithela emathathakusa laph’ ngisath’ kangilahl’ amanz’ esibayeni ngazithol’ zijame mpo imbangamhawu zikhokhelwa nguJeqe loJamluthi

Ngiqale ngizizwel’ eningizim’ insingizi ngaziduduza ngisithi mhlawumbe zihlola elembolisamahlanga, ngankema owangaphansi lapho ngizibona zizula zizungezw’ umuz’ wakwethu

Ngivele ngayifund’ ivaliwe, ngavela ngabon’ ukuthi kukhona kukhul’ akulamkhos’ okunyenyele enxulumeni lwakwethu

Ngisakhakhamele ,imkhongol’ ikhwaze ngakhuza ngaze ngabeka phansi,ivumelana ngemikhulungwane leyakomakhelwane

Zukuzuku liphume lendaba ezimbi bazifakaz’ onozindaba

Bathi usekhotheme okaKhebesi

Ngizw’ izililo eningizimu

Ziyampompoz’ impophoma zezinyembez’ empumalanga

Entshonalanga kuthont’ ezimathonsi

Enyakatho ziyehla ziyahlengezel’ izinyembezi

Ziyehla ziyawohloka ziswel’ abesuli

Ziyehla ziyajuluka

Emagumbini aman’ umhlaba uzulu udabukile

Konakele bantu bakithi

Konakele bakaMalandela

Konakele bantwana benhlabathi

Konakele esikhosini

Konakele emzin’ omkhulu

Kuhlwile enxulumeni

Sembesiwe yifu elimnyama tshu

Sembesiwe yisizemazema seyezi

Mayee yek’ usizi olunganani

Ngithi dudu kini Zimbabwe omhle

Dudu kini bakaMalandela

Dudu kini bantu bakithi

Dudu kini bantwana benhlabathi

Akuhlanga lungehliyo

Inyembezi sulan’ bantu bakithi

Inyembezi sulani bantwana benhlabathi

Akuhlanga lungehliyo

Likhotheme ithole lamakhosi

Ikhothem’ intanga yamakhosi

Ikhothem’ intanga yamaqhawe

Likhothem’ iqhawe lamaqhawe

Umsebenzi uqedile

Indima yakhe uyidlalile

Emjahweni unqobile

Iqhawe linqobile

Iqhawe kalilali kodwa liyaguqa

Asiphelelanga namuhlanje,namuhlanje siyasilela

Asiphelelanga namuhlanje, namuhlanje, asenelanga

Asiphelelanga namuhlanje, namuhlanje siyingcosana

Asiphelelanga namuhlanje, namuhlanje siyingiyazana

Yes Khulu Cont

I can’t believe this

I can’t believe you are no more

I can’t believe you are gone

And my question is who is going to fill the gap that you left

Eishhhh what a blow

What a loss

The district is doomed without you

Matabeleland north,the province that thunders,it thunders no more without you

The arts industry is limping without you

The arts industry is crippled without you

The nation has been robbed of an asset

Mdladla owal’ ukudlulwa

Imisebenzi yakho ibonakele

Imisebenzi yakho ibukiwe

Imisebenzi yakho inconyiwe

Imisebenzi yakho iyakufakazela

Umkhulu awulakulinganisw’ umsebenzi owenzel’ umhlaba jikelele

Umkhul’ awulakulinganisw’ umsebenzi owenzel’ ilizwi lakithi

Umkhul’ awulakulinganisw’ umsebenzi owenzel’ isizwe

Umkhul’ awulakulinganisw’ umsebenzi owenzel’ isifundazwe sakithi

Umkhul’ awulakulinganisw’ umsebenzi owenzel’ isiqinti sakithi

Umkhul’ awulakulinganisw’ umsebenzi owenzel’ umphakath’ wakithi

Izicoco ziyakufakazela

Amamendulo ayakufakazela

Indondo ziyakufakazela

Izincwadi lazo ziyafakaza

Ngizamil’ ukufinqa ngawe ,kwafik’ ilizwi lathi’ akukufanelanga lokho

Ngizamil’ ukuthi fahlafahla ngawe kwafik’ ilizwi lathi’ akukufanelanga lokho

Ngizamil’ ukubamfitshane ngawe kwangalela

Ngijike ngazam’ ukujula kwand’ amazwi kwath’ kangilob’ inkulungwane zengwalo ngawe

Ngiyesab’ ukuhamba ibanga kulendima yembali yakho ngob’ ibanzi funa ngikhathale qede ngivul’ amabhanga

Ngiyesab’  ukuhamba  ibanga kulendima yembali yakho ngob’ iqhelile funa ngidinwe,qede ngivul’ imzezema angizondel’  amaSwazi

Ngiyesab’ ukuhamb’ ibanga kulendima yembali yakho ngob’ ichayile fun’ ngivul’ imhlonga qede bangihlamukel’ abakoMhlanga

Ngithi ezakh’ izangel’ aziyikuphela ngoba umkhulu lomsebenzi.

Mdladla owal’ ukudlulwa

Imbali yakho izothile

Imbali yakho izinzile

Imbali izikile

Imbali yakho ijulile

Angilaw’ amazwi ayeneley’ okukuphakamisa ngoba vel’ uphakeme wena

Angilaw’ amazwi ayeneley’ okukudumisa ngoba vele idunyisiwe wena

Angilaw’ amazwi ayeneley’  okukugqamisa ngoba vel’ ugqamile wena

Angilaw’  amazw’ ayeneley’ okukuqakathekisa ngoba vel’ uqakathekisw’ ngumhlaba jikelele

Angilaw’ amazwi ayeneley’ okukuzothisa ngoba isizwe sinqekuze sakuzothisa

Wee mdladla owal’ ukudlulwa

Ngithi imbali yakho izothile

Imbali izikile

Mdladla owal’ ukudlulwa

Wee ntanga kadibha

Abangaziyo ngawe ngizabazisa

Abangaziyo ngawe ngizabasakazela

Ngizawusakazel’ umhlaba

Ngizafakaza ngawe zizw’  izizwe ngoba ngimqitho kawunqundwanga

Ngizafakaza ngawe zizw’ izizwe ngoba awugcwalelwa Gwayi owam’ umlomo

Mhla sidabul’ igusu lensindamadoda silond’ umzila wenkosi yethu sasikhokhelwa nguwe

Mhla siwel’ umful’ omkhulu uTshangane siguqa ngamadolo silond’ umzila wenkosi yethu sasikhokhelwa nguwe

Mhla sigiy’ etshebetshebeni likaTshangani silond’ umzila wenkosi yethu sasikhokhelwa nguwe

Mhla sikhuphukel’ ePupu ,emagcwabeni amaqhawe silond’ umzila wenkosi yethu sasikhokhelwa nguwe

Mhla sitshitshel’ esihlahlen’ esikhulu somtshwili  silond’ umzila wenkosi yethu sasikhokhelwa nguwe

Wee mdladla kaKhebesi

Ngizafakaza ngawe zizw’ izizwe ngoba ngimqitho kawunqundwanga

Ngizafakaza ngawe zizw’ izizwe ngoba awugcwalelwa Gwayi owami umlomo

Baneng’ abalakubalwa abaqeqetshwe nguwe ndoda yamadoda

Baneng’ abalakubalwa abagqanyiswe nguwe nsizwa yezinsizwa

Baneng’ abalakubalwa abafuzwe nguwe ntanga kadibha

Baneng’ abalakubalwa abakhuselwe nguwe Khebesi omuhle

Ngith’ imbali yakho izothile

Imbali yakho izikile

Wena mdladla owal’ ukudlulwa

Umdladl’ owadladlazela wandlondlobala lalapho bemdlepha

Umdladl’ owadladlazela wandlondlobala lalapho bemdlel’ umona

Umdladl’ owadladlazela wandlondlobala lalapho bemdlelezela

Ngith’ imbali yakho izothile

Imbali yakho izikile

Mdladla owal’ ukudlulwa

Inkunz’ emidwayidwa ngokudungwa ngeziny’  izizwe

Inkunz’ eyajwaqis’ imqegu enhlobonhlobo

Inkunz’ eyapheqa yaphoqhozis’ omaqañdaphokolo

Inkunz’ eyapheqa yaqegul’ ongoqo

Inkunz’ eyapheqa yaqonulis’  imjanja

Inkunz’ eyapheqa yaqonulis’ amanxaha

Inkunz’ ekhonya ngokukhalipha kant’ ezinye zikhonyel’ ubukhokho

Inkunz’ ekhonya  ngokukhalipha kant’ ezinye zikhonya ngenkafulakufa

Inkunz’ ethumba ngokuthula kant’ ezinye zithumba ngentukuthelo

Mdladla owal’ ukudlulwa

Imbali yakho izothile

Imbali izikile

Imbali yakho izinzile

Qhawe lakithi elaqung’ isibindi lasihlahlel’ indlela

Qhawe lakithi elaqung’ isibindi lasiphembel’ indlela

Qhawe lakithi elaqung’ lasincandel’ indlela

Qhawe lakithi elaqung’ isibindi lasicabel’ indlela isibindi lasicabel’ indlela

Qhawe lakithi elaqung’ isibindi lavul’ amasang’ evalilwe

Ngithi ubuqhawe bakho abuyikwesulwa

Ubuqhawe bakho abuyinqundwa

Bukhulu buqhelile ubuqhawe bakho

Bukhulu buqhakazekil’ ubuqhawe bakho

Bukhulu bugqamil’ ubuqhawe bakho

Ubuqhawe bakho abuyinqundwa

Ubuqhawe bakho abuyikunyamalala

Ubuqhawe bakho abuyikutshabalala

Ubuqhawe bakho abuyikwesulwa

Ubuqhawe bakho abuyithunjwa.

Guqa qhawe lakithi ungalal’ okwamagwala

Guqa qhawe lakithi ungabubhuq’ obukabhuka

Guqa qhawe lakithi ungasithuz’ isithongwana

Nxa ujujwe ngesijula ngiyasesaba leso ngoba sedlul’ eseMbizo sona esabongolelis’ umntakamesisi waphangalala

Nxa kungumkhonto ngiqinisile ngiyawesaba ngoba wedlul’ owomkhonto wesizwe wona owakhawulisa ondlebe zikhanyilanga

Nxa uthuzwe ngentonga ngith’ iyangethusa leyo ngoba yedlul’ ekaMqabuko yon’ eyaqoqod’ injelele yavungama

Ngithi nxa kuyinganunu ngizwa ngigodola ngoba yedlul’ eyabogwa yona eyagedezelisa yagomelisa ogubuzela

Ngithi nxa kungokwendalo kulungile nxa kuvume uMlimu

Hamba kahle Mhlanga omhle

 Hamba kahle Khebesi okhaliphileyo

Ndinisana kaVuso

UVusalinda

Lindamkhonto

Mabuya ngokubuy’ eswazini

Sithimbil’ esingenkonazana

Matshingil’ onjengenyathi

Inqunqul’ emnyam’ eyagez’ engazini zabafowabo.

Ulembelimnyama elobeTshabi

Zihebhe zikagomazana.

Umholi wasemazibukweni

Umholi uyadliwa ngubani ?

Uyodliwa ngama Swati wodwa.

Okandukwana  okaMaphungo

Umhuqu  njenge mbuzi

UMqobelambonjani, usahamba phezulu

Ulindalufu.

Hamba kahle mfoka Dibha

Hamba kahle mfoka Mbikwa

Ilotshwe nguMntakagogo

“Imbongi elobuntu ngoba ikhulele ebantwini”

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