Chirikure Chirikure

Just listen to yourselves talking -
The family is no more!
So, the family is no more, is it?
Tell me: what are you?
...

I am not stone, chicken or even wind, no!

There was something that bound me to my mother, in her womb,
For nine months, and I did not lack for food.
There is something that unites me with the human family on earth,
...

Those stories about
Children singing and dancing
To celebrate and welcome thunder and lightning
Racing each other in the downpour
...

At night before we sleep, we say, 'See you tomorrow',
There is no point in saying, 'Sleep well',
It is clear to all of us - babies, boys, old folk -
The slushy muddy earth is our bed, the biting wind our blanket
...

Inzwai!
We, in diaspora, overseas, fought this war,
We sourced donations and mobilised foreign support
Yet we never lagged behind in our studies, preparing for the future of our country
...

I heard the word from Macmillan of Britain
There is a new wind blowing in Africa
A wind of change sweeping across Africa
A wind the whole world is warned to take heed of
...

Kubasa, muswere wose inongova "Yes, yes".
Ndiwo mutauro wemuhofisi!

Kumba, mhuri yose inongova "Yes, yes",
Ndiwo mutauro wapinda mubereki nemwana.

Kubhawa, kwose kwose, ndiyoyo, "Yes, yes",
Ndiwo mutauro unodiwa pamadiscussions.

Kumisangano ikoko kwacho, ndiyoyo, "Yes, yes",
Ndirwo rurimi rwadzo politics.

Kana mumagudza, paruvato, ndizvozvo, "Yes, darling",
Ndirwo rurimi rusinganetsi kutaura zvinodikwa.

Hamenowo ikoko kwacho kudenga,
Pamwe inongova, "Yes, yes" - ChiShona kwete!
...

In the work place, the whole day, it's "yes, yes".
This is the official language of the office!

At home, the whole family goes "yes, yes".
That's the new language between parent and child.

In the beer-hall, everywhere you turn it's "yes, yes".
This is the best language for argument and discussion.

Those political rallies and gatherings, it is "yes, yes".
To understand politics best use this language.

In bed, just before going to sleep, again "yes, darling".
Wishes are more easily made and more quickly granted in this language.

Maybe - I don't know - maybe, up there, in Heaven,
It's also "yes, yes" everywhere, and chiShona?
Strictly forbidden!
...

Izororo ramagamba,
Kuremekedza vaya,
Vakaisa nyika mberi,
Upenyu hwavo kumashure.

Izororo ramagamba,
Mabhawa akati pa-a,
Zvikari, mabhotoro, zviri kuzeya,
Ronwiwa zvese nevana varo.

Izororo ramagamba,
Mvana nemachinda adzo,
Ibishi mumakwenzi, makoronga, nemumotikari,
Kupana njovhera murudo rwekunyepera.

Izororo ramagamba,
Vane mari nemasimba,
Vari kunzveyesana, nyama dzichigochwa,
Uku vachiruka mazano ekumora imwe mari.

Izororo ramagamba,
Nyika yose iri mujakwatira rorufaro,
Magamba ari kudyiwa nehonye,
Mhuri dzavo dziri mumisodzi.

Izororo ramagamba, nai?
...

It is Heroes Day holiday,
To commemorate those
Who put their country first
And thought nothing of themselves.

It is Heroes Day holiday,
Beer-halls are packed to bursting,
Beer mugs and bottles are dancing in hands
As carousers drink beyond drinking.

It is Heroes Day holiday,
Some have already paired off illicitly,
The bush is on fire - some in dongas, others in cars
As they exchange STDs in the false name of love.

It is Heroes Day holiday,
The rich and powerful
Dance their intrigue games round braais
As they weave new plans for the next plunder.

It is Heroes Day holiday,
The whole nation is awash with joy,
Somewhere, worms are feeding on the heroes,
The heroes' families are in deep mourning.

It is Heroes Day holiday, is it?
...

(Pakuuya kwe ESAP)



Baba, chokwadi mandikanda parumananzombe.
Munondigugudzira runyanhiriri runo, chimhukutira,
Monditi, "Sunga manyatera tirove pasi, izvozvi,
Usunge dzibate, rwendo rwacho rurefu-refu!"

Inga munoziva wani, ndiri munhu wemhuri,
Ndongonyangarika sedova mashambanzou ano,
Ndisina chandasiya ndapaka munzeve dzemhuri?
Hamuoni, ndikadzoka musha rangova dongo?

Inga munoziva, baba, kusunga ndinosunga chose,
Asika ndingasunga sei, zvakasimba sei chaizvo,
Ndisingazivi kureba kwerwendo rwamaronga?
Kune makata here, materu here, zuva here, chando here?

Madii kujekesa: ndepiko kwatakananga kwacho?
Kunei chaita kuti muronge sedimikira kudai?
Ndianiko ambokurotsai rwendo rwacho urwu?
Inga zvinenge zvaIsaka naAbrama kugomo reMoria!
...

(on the advent of ESAP)



Father, I don't understand -
You knock on my door at this ungodly hour
To tell me: "Tie up your sandals and let's go, right now.
Tie them up firmly, the journey is very, very long."

You know very well I have a family.
How can I just dissolve and disappear without sitting down with them first?
Don't you see, when I come back,
There won't be a family to speak of here?

You know me, Father, if you say tie up your sandals,
I tie them up, but to tie them up properly,
I need to know how far we are going.
Is it uphill or downhill, is it warm or cold?

Help me, Father: where exactly are we heading?
What is it that made you take this mysterious decision?
Did somebody visit you in a dream?
This sounds like the story of Abraham and Isaac and the Mount of Moria!
...

wese andaita mahwekwe naye
mubvunzo ndiwo mumwe chete:
kwakadini kwamanga mapota?


mhinduro ndiopa yepasi pemoyo:
kutaura zvese handingakwanisi,
zvakapinda mumusoro zvinozadza dura


vose vanozoita kunge vapatika kyuhope,
vobvunza zvakare, uso vakasunga:
gara zviya ndepiko kwawaiva?


Handinonoki kudzora mhinduro:
ndaiveko kunyika yemutsindo,
kumatuhnhu emuzinda we Timbouctou.


vese vanokapaza misoro semabhuru,
vopfipfidza vachinwa rukweza rwavo:
nzvimbo dzakadaro ndezdzemumabhuku chete.


ndinotsikisira wangu musoro pasi,
ndozvipodza hana nemashoko mumoyo:
ndakakomorerwa ndakazvionera pamhino sefodya.
...

Every face encountered
the same question
about places I have been

Only the heart answers
the mouth is feeble, but
what is in the heart fills the granary

all the dreamy faces will still be dreaming
incredulity,
posing more questions of wonder
asking again about where you have
journeyed.

I answer promptly
I was in the land of silent echoes, and
The sands of Timbuctu

They shake their heads like bulls
laughing in mockery as they drink:
such places are only of fiction.

I bow my head
consoling my heart with soothing words:
the blessing in the heart is mine.
...

Mashaiwa dzimwe nyaya here?
Hanzi musha watsakatika!
Musha watsakatika nhai?
Aizve! Musha wacho chiiko?

Handiti musha ndimi!
...

Just listen to yourselves talking -
The family is no more!
So, the family is no more, is it?
Tell me: what are you?
...

Handisi dombo, huku kana mhepo! Kwete!

Chaivapo chaindisunganidza naamai, mumhumbu,
Mwedzi mipfumbamwe, kudya ndichiwana.
Chiripo chinondibatanidza nemhuri, panyika,
Upenyu hwose tsigiro neyamuro ndichiwana.
Chiripo chinondisungamidza nevadzimu,
Kurarama kwese vari mudonzvo nemwenje wangu,
Chiripo chinondibatanidza naZame Musikavanhu,
Kusikwa, kufa, kumuka, rwake ruoko ruchinongedza nzira.
Chiripo chichazondisunganidza nevari pasi, ndiri nyikadzimu,
Kufara, kusuwa; kuguta, kushaya ndichizovabatsira.
Chiripo chinondisunganidza neivhu rababa - Afrika,
Kupondwa, kushushwa, kuremadzwa, ndichingoshingirira.

Ichocho chacho ichocho,
Ndiko saka ndiripo
Nezuro, nhasi, mangwana, nekumhepo.
...

I am not stone, chicken or even wind, no!

There was something that bound me to my mother, in her womb,
For nine months, and I did not lack for food.
There is something that unites me with the human family on earth,
Giving me support and sustenance all my life.
There is something that unites me with the ancestors.
I owe my survival to their guidance and light.
There is something that binds me to the Almighty Creator
Whose hand points out the way for me - in birth, death or resurrection.
Something will unite me again with those gone before, when I follow them.
In happiness or sorrow, in times of plenty or famine,
I will be working hand-in-hand with them.
There is something that binds me to the fatherland - Africa.
They can kill me, torture, harass or even maim me,
I will still persevere.

This something, whatever it is -
This something is why I am here, now, alive
Yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever!
...

Zviya zvekuti pwere
Dzapemberera kutinhira kwemupande
Dzichimhanyidzana mumvura inonaya
Dzichikanya-kanya matope
Vakuru vachirima mupunga nenzungu
Dzangova ngano chete.

Zvava kuitika kwadziri pwere
Kuchema kutinhira kwegidi
Dzichivanda chimvuramabwe chemabara
Dzichikanya matope eropa
Vakuru vachisvimha, vapwere vakatarisa
Ichiteurwa minamato isina mudaviri.

Pwere hadzichaziva chinonzi rufaro
Vana havachaziva chinonzi musha
Vasvava havachaziva chinonzi kudya
Kana vari munhumbu, upenyu harwuchina kodzero
Nekuda kwake munhu
Munhu anotungamidza simba nepondo pamberi
...

Those stories about
Children singing and dancing
To celebrate and welcome thunder and lightning
Racing each other in the downpour
Stampeding and messing themselves up in the mud
While their elders smile and congratulate themselves
At their bumper rice and groundnut crop -
That - is just fairy tales now.

What is happening to children is:
They howl at the blast of the machine gun
Hiding from the hailstorm of bullets
Stampeding in the mud of blood
While the elders cry shamelessly
In the presence of their own children
Sending up prayer after prayer that no one answers.

Children don't know what happiness is anymore
Children don't know what home or family is
Babies have forgotten what to eat is
Those yet to be born are being denied the right of life
And all because of something called - human being
A human being who sings the praises of power and money
Above human life.
...