! Iphupha.(The Dream) ~* Poem by Nkululeko Mdudu

A gentle dream
With dry fingertips
A thirsty tongue
Where are the enlightened ones?

A peasant left
The king did not arrive
His arrival delayed by Nomami*
If only Gazi* was still alive….

Where are the knowledge seekers?
Where are the loving hands?
Where are the symbols of healing,
That take me when I'm out of tune
And teach me all their melodies?

Son, question your father,
Daughter, question your mother
Let them teach you our culture.

Dare you smirk when I speak?
Dare you walk away from me?
The day I finally awake
All cheerful parties; you will hate
All sacred rituals; you will embrace!

When I look upon our ancestry
I see the changes that have come

But when I hear a voice of poetry
It fills me with joyful pride
I hear the spring time coming
Singing with a myriad of voices:

One says, "ntyilo-ntyilo"*
The other says, "I told you so"

The renaissance of Africa
My people's awakening! ! !


Nomami*- the which that lures the king to her lair

Gazi*- The healer and blood relative to the king

Nyilo-ntyilo*- The sound made by birds(especially the summer flocks)