The following poem is about two of the ANC’s late ex-presidents: Oliver Thambo and Dr. Nelson Rholihlahla Mandela. It is important to note that this poem is meant for performance on stage. It tells about Oliver Thambo’s leadership which influenced Dr. Mandela to be a positive leader. The writer wishes people could follow the example of the humble Dr. Mandela who assimilated Oliver Tambo’s leadership traits.
UBUNKOKHELI
Yaguga inja ibikade iluma
Waguga sithebe ubukade usophulela
Ikhwelo elakhala ngo1917
Phezu kwentaba zaseNkantolo
Nanamhlanje amawa neenduli zisa linganisa
Iqathi esaqala ukulihlafuna ngo 1967
Nango 1991 besali nambitha ubumnandi
Yiyo lo nto mna ndisithi
Silibonile iqhude lakowethu
Ungafunga uthi liyaxhentsa
Lixhentsela lixel’uxoxozi
Indlov’eyayi mboko umde
Wokurhamza uqaqaqa
Owawu fuye amaqaqo namarhoqololo
Amaqanda enyoka ezindlebe zimhlophe
Ingwe eyayigquma inabise uqaqaqa
Iqengqe amadoda alishumi ngaxesha nye
Ingwe eyayibila isoma
Isina iziqhwabela
Ixhentsa izombelela
Ubunkokheli sabu bona kuyo
Amehlo atshawuza imibane eHoly Cross
Yantinga yantingela kwaNokholeji
Yafika yahlangana nofaf’olude lakwa Mandela
Yathi yakufika kwaNokholeji
Waguqa kuyo unyana kaNoSekeni
Wathi ndiphehlelele kwedini yase Nkantolo
Undiphe amava
Yamqeqesha eyase Nkantolo yamlola
Yiyo lo nto ke mna Mnqentsa ndisithi
Le na kwaku yinqantsonqa yenkokheli
Ubunkokhelo sibubone kuyo
Nekulapho yantingela kwindlu zomdibaniso
Zama Afrika united Nations ngamakhumsha
Yafika yalatha ezantsi eMzantsi Afrika
Ixela undonakele kuma Afrika
Ingakhathalele kuthenjwa
Eyase maMpondweni
Ingacenganga kuthandwa
Eyesizwe sika Faku.
Asitsho ngezwi elingatshiyo sithi
Umzantsi Afrika ulambile
Inga mbombozela ithetha phandle isithi
Isizwe soobawo sinxaniwe
Sinxanelwe inkululeko
Ubuncwane benkokheli zibungcamle
Sabubona phezu kweentaba zase Nkantolo
Sabubona kwinkunzi Oliver Reginal Thambo
Uba bekuya ngam sonke besizo
Zeka mzekweni kule nkunzi
Uba bekuya ngoku cinga
KwaMnqantsa sifunde
Ngalo O.R. Thambo
Nase zikolweni
Khona ukuze ufutho
Lobu nkokheli
Luzo phila kum nawe
Phakathi
Ngoba mna ndiyi nkokheli
Nawe uyinkokheli
Nawe uyiyo inkokheli
Sooooo nke sizI nkokheeeli
Ngu: Lizo Ndobe
