Saturday, 10 February 2018

Wenyuk'umbombela

Wenyuk'umbombela

from the dusts to ashes we 
form land to soil 
and from forests to parks 
we have had embarked to the journey 
the journey of life, of manhood and the journey of prosperity
yet described. 

Shuku-shuku-shuku-shuku
webab'ubyangishiya
you find all African men gathered together 
Mbombela represents a quest, a journey of searching for the fathers 
the spouses and sons who have familiarised what is strange
is a search for those who have formed families away from home

Mbombela knows it all hence keeps our secrets 
He has carried away the sons and daughters of the soil  
you have witnessed the discovery of gold and its impact on our families 
you have seen how that has stopped men from cultivating their lands and started focusing 
on industrial activities
you have noticed how young boys struggled to grow up with their fathers
you know the excitement expressed by the men who went to eGoli 

Wenyuk'umbombela
wenyuk'ekuseni 
wenyuk'umbombela 
wemam'uyandishiya
if not you Mbombela, it is Taxi 
she has been charming our mothers to the same city 
 it is rather her who have seen her crying on my shoulders before boarding into her
she was standing by the tar road calling her to be quick while I was in denial 
I was at the same time imagining our life as children when our parents when our parents are in the city

shuku-shuku-shuku,
wenyuk'umbombela
Why this city. Is this a city of power, prosperity or hope?
Taxi came back and never tell me whether my parents are happy
she pretended not to know me when I was walking around from the forest 
she never taken me to my mother in the city
she never accompany me to the forest though she knows my father was away in the city

wenyuk'umbombela 
wenyuk'ekuseni 
Mbombela is famous 
a young boy in the forests and a young man by the kraal sing about Mbombela himself 
he is also respected by all
he swallows the entire village boys and turn them into manhood one by one
he grants them higher status than of their partners and allow them to explore the world further



No comments:

Post a Comment