WHERE IS KING MZILIKAZI? Poem by Albert Nyathi

Praise be to you of Zulu ancestry
Whose name is Mzilikazi of Matshaobana
We salute you!

All you Nguni kings,
Zwelithini
Muswati
Khayisa and Buthelezi

We ask you
Where is Mzilikazi son of Matshobana?
O where is he gone to Mzilikazi of Matshobana?
The wanderlust filled young Matshobana
Mzilkazi son of Matshobana
Born of Zimangele
Accompanied by those of long and short feet
To Bulawayo where he refused hindquarter meat
Pierced by Zulu spears.

The moon they say is in eclipse
Has but arisen
It rose a long time ago during the time of Mapeyana
This is the Zulu firebrand
The bull that fought and gored open the ram's stomach
Because they opened and Ngome and left
The spoor of blood is not to be followed
Those who follow will do so in vain.
Tshaka retreated
Dingane retreated
Some went up the mountains
Those not from royalty sought refuge caves
Praise be to you of the Zulu

As tall as the father Matshobana.
Our short one whose apparel is not to be tempered with
He dares to trample on the mighty ones
The mighty ones are Tsaka son of Senzangankhona
The mighty ones are Zwide son of Langa
The night star with a long trail.
The sun that rises in the ear of the elephant
Came out and black birds told each other
The cattle prod turned on men to scourge them
The tall grass mahalihali
A day will come when it will get burnt
It will be burnt together with men's regalia
A gecko that plays in between the rocks
Is scared of spoiling its fingernails
You who dug a hole with a spear
You who dug a hole with knobkerrie
Praise be to you.

The crab that moves sideways
In our father's houses
We are now suffering
Eating meat from the braai log
Hail Mzilikazi
Bayete king of kings!
You royal Zulu.