Sinking of the Mendi (Xhosa)

Ukutshona kukamendi

Ewe, le nto kakade yinto yaloo nto-
Thina, nto zaziyo, asothukanga nto!
Sibona kamhlophe, sithi bekumelwe;
Sitheth'engqondweni, sithi kufanelwe.

Xa bekungenjalo bekungayi kulinga,
Ngoko ke, SoTase! Kwaqal'ukulunga!
Le nqanaw'uMendi namhla yendisile,
Nal'igazi lethu lisikhonzisile!
Asinithumanga ngazo izicengo;

Asinithenganga ngayo imibengo.
Bekungenganzuzo zimakhwezi-khwezi;
Bekungengandyebo zingangeenkwenkwezi-
Sikwatsho nakuni, bafel'eAfrika,
KwelaseJamani yaseMpuma-langa-bekungembek'eninayo kuKumkani,
bekungentobeko yenu kwiBritani.

Mhla nashiy'ikhaya sithethille nani,
Mhla nashiy'intsapho salathile kuni,
Mhla sabamb'izandla, mhla kwamanz'amehlo;
Mhla balil'onyoko, bangqukrelek'oyihlo;
Mhla nashiy'ikhaya sithethile nani,
Mhla nashiy'intsapho salathile kuni,
Mhla sabamb'izandla, mhla kwamanz'amehlo;

Mhla balil'onyoko, bangqukrelek'oyihlo;
Mhla nazishiy'ezi ntaba zakowenu,
Nayininikel'imiva imilamb'ezwe lenu,
Asitshongo na kuni, midak'akowethu,
Ukuthi, "Kwelo zwe nilidini lethu!?

Ngesibinge ngantoni na ka kade?
Idini lomzi liyintoni na kade?
Asingamathol'amaduna omzi na?
Asizizithandwa zesizwe kade na?
Ngoku kuthetha ke siyendelisela,
Sibhekis'ezantsi, sihlahla indlela.
AsinguHabheli n'elomhlaba idini?
AsinguMesiya n' elaseZulwini?
Thuthuzelekani ngoko, zinkedama;
Kuf'pmnye kakade, mini kwakhiw'omnye;
Kukhonza mnye kade, zekuphil'omnye.

Ngokwenjenje kwethu sithi, yakhekani;
Lithabatheni eli qhalo labadala:
Kuba bathi, "Akuhlanga lungehlanga!"
Awu! Zaf'iint'ezinkulu zeAfrika!

Isindiwe le nqanawa 'de yazika,
Kwaf'amakhalipha, amafa-nankosi.
Ukufa kwawo kunomvuzo nomvuka.
Ndinga ndingema nawo ngoMhla woKuvuka,
Ndingqambe njengomnye osebenzileyo,
Ndikhanye njengoMso oqaqambileyo.

Makube njalo.

Yes, indeed this was meant to be—
We, who know, are not shocked to see!
We see clearly, it was ordained;
In our minds, it was preordained.
If it were not so, it would not fit,
Thus, O Father! It starts to knit!
The ship Mendi today has wed,
Our blood has served us, so we've said!

We did not send you with mere pleas;
We did not buy you with small fees.
It wasn't for gains bright as stars;
Nor riches countless as the stars—
We say this to you, Africa's fallen,
In German East Africa's calling—
It wasn't your loyalty to the King,
Nor to Britain's crown offering.

When you left home, we spoke with you,
When you left family, we showed you true,
When we held hands, when eyes grew wet;
When mothers wept, fathers upset;
When you left these hills of your own,
Turned your back on rivers you'd known,
Did we not tell you, our dark brothers,
"In that land you're our sacrifice offers!"

What could we have pledged long ago?
What's the home's sacrifice, do you know?
Are we not the male calves of home?
Are we not nation's loved ones shown?

Now it speaks as we move along,
Looking south, clearing paths strong.
Are we not like Abel's earth offering?
Are we not like Heaven's Messiah bringing?

Be comforted then, you orphaned ones;
One dies indeed when another comes;
One serves so another may live.
By doing this we say, be built;
Take this proverb of the old:
For they say, "What's fated will unfold!"

Oh! Great ones of Africa have died!
This ship sailed until it capsized,
Brave ones died, death-with-chiefs they stood.
Their death brings reward and rising good.
May I stand with them on Rising Day,
Like one who worked, I'd sing and say,
Shine like Tomorrow's brightest ray.

So let it be.