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Ikosi uMjekejeke nendodakazi yakhe Inkosi Undabenhle Nendodakazi Yayo Ikumkani Ukayanja Nentwazana Yakhe King Kayanja and his daughter

Amana Yunus

Natalie Propa

Prudence Komane, Zanele Mthombeni

isiNdebele

Level 4

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Ekadeni kwakukhona ikosi ebekade ibizwa ngo Mjekejeke. Ikosi le yayihlala esigodlweni nendlovukazi kanye nekosazana yayo engu Sponono. Ikosazana uSponono bekumntazinyana omuhle khulu,yoke indoda endaweni beyifuna ukumtjhada. Kodwana ikosi uMjekejeke bekafuna inani eliphezulu khulu lamalobolo wekosazana le.

Kudaladala, kwakunenkosi ogama layo kwakunguNdabenhle. Inkosi le yayihlala esigodlweni nendlovukazi kanye nendodakazi yayo, inkosazana ogama layo kwakunguNaledi. UNaledi wayeyinkosazana enhle. Cishe zonke izinsizwa zendawo zazifisa ukuba ziganwe yile nkosazana. Okwakunzima, inkosi uNdabenhle, okunguyise, yayifuna ilobolo elimangazayo ngenkosazana yayo.

Kudala-dala kwaye kukho ikumkani egama layo linguKayanja. Yayihlala ebhotwe kunye nekumkanikazi nentombi yabo, unkosazana, Apenyo. U-Apenyo wayeyinkosazana entle, kangangokuba onke amadoda ayefuna ukumtshata. Kodwa ukumkani uKayanja wayefuna ilobola exabisa kakhulu ngentombi yakhe.

Long, long ago there was a king called Kayanja. He lived in a palace with the queen and their daughter, princess Apenyo. Princess Apenyo was such a beautiful young woman that every man wanted to marry her. But king Kayanja demanded a very high bride price for the princess.

Eduze nesgodlo sekosi uMjekejeke kwakuhlala ikosana eyayibizwa ngomhlonitjhwa u Sgonondo. Bekabizwa “ngomhlonitjhwa” ngombana woke umuntu endaweni bekamhlonipha. (Bekayindoda ebethako ebantwini ebebangamhloniphi). Ikosikazi yekosana uSgonondo bekungasikade ibhubhile ngobulwelwe bemalariya, yeke ikosana le besele seyifuna ukuthatha omunye umfazi.

Eduze nesigodlo kwakuhlala induna, uMtungwa omkhulu. Wayebizwa ngo Mtungwa “omkhulu” ngoba wayehlonishwa yisigodi sonkana. Wayebonisa ulaka kulowo muntu owayengamhloniphi. Inkosikazi yenduna uMtungwa yayisanda kushona, ithathwa yisifo soqhuqho. Manje induna yayisifuna ukuthatha enye inkosikazi.

Kufutshane nebhotwe lekumkani uKayanja kwakuhlala inkosi eyayisaziwa ngokuba ngu-Aludah Omkhulu. Kwakusithiwa, ‘Omkhulu’ ngoba bonke abantu belali babemhlonipha. Wayendlongondlongo kakhulu kubantu ababengamhloneli. Inkosikazi yeNkosi u-Aludah yayisandula kubhubha sisifo semalariya, ngoko u-Aludah wayefuna ukuthatha enye inkosikazi.

Near king Kayanja’s palace lived a chief called Aludah the Great. He was called “the Great” because everybody in the neighbourhood obeyed him. (He was very violent to anyone who disobeyed him!) Chief Aludah’s wife had recently died of malaria and he wanted another wife.

Yeke ikosana edala,enonileko le yakhamba yayokubona ikosi uMjekejeke ukuyokunikela ngomnotho ukuze akwazi ukutjhada nekosazana yekosi. Amadoda amabili la athe asabonisana ngendaba yenani lelobolo, kanti isisebenzi uNofanezile siyezwa ikulumo ebayiphetheko. Isisebenzi lesi besitjhidelene khulu nekosazana uSponono.

UMtungwa omkhulu waya enkosini uNdabenhle eyozibika ukuthi yena angakhipha ilobolo elingakanani ngenkosazana yenkosi. Babhunga indaba yelobolo lenkosazana nje, umsizi wasesigodlweni, uNelisiwe, uyezwa ukuthi bathini. UNelisiwe wayemkhonzile unkosazana uNaledi.

Ngoko inkosi endala etyebileyo yaya kukumkani uKayanja iyokunikezela ngelobola yayo enkulu kuze itshate inkosazana encinane. Athi xa amadoda amakhulu exovula umba welobola kwathi kanti uyaweva uKakembo, owayengumsebenzi ebhotwe. Umsebenzi uKakembo wayehlobene kakhulu nenkosazana u-Apenyo.

So the fat old chief went to king Kayanja to offer bride wealth for the young princess. While the two men were discussing the price, the maid Kakembo overheard their conversation. Maid Kakembo was very close to princess Apenyo.

Ikosana uSgonondo yenza isivumelwano sokunikela ngengcenye yomnotho wakhe ekosini uMjekejeke, kufaka hlangana nenalidi eyayihlangana naso isivumelwano selobolo lekosazana. Amalungiselelo womtjhado wekosana uSgonondo nekosazana uSponono enziwa kwabayifihlo. Ikosi le beyazi bona indodakazi yakhe angeze yasithabela isiqunto lesi.

UMtungwa omkhulu wathi yena angathatha uhhafu wengcebo yakhe ayinike inkosi njengelobolobo. Ngasese, kwenziwa amalungiselelo omshado phakathi kwenduna Umtungwa omkhulu nonkosazana uNaledi. Inkosi uNdabenhle wayazi kahle kamhlophe ukuthi indodakazi yakhe ngeke isijabulele lesi sinqumo.

Inkosi yavuma ukunika ihafu yobutyebi bayo kukumkani uKayanja, obuquka inaliti eyayiyinxalenye yelobola. Kwenziwa amalungiselelo abucala omtshato phakathi kwenkosi u-Aludah kunye nenkosazana u-Apenyo. Ikumkani yayisazi ukuba intombi yayo ayisokuze isithande esi sigqibo.

Chief Aludah agreed to give half of his wealth to king Kayanja, including a needle, which was also part of the bride price. Preparations were made in secret for the wedding between chief Aludah and princess Apenyo. The king knew that his daughter would not be happy with this decision.

Iveke yinye yangaphambi kwelanga lomtjhado, isisebenzi uNofanezile saya kuSponono. “Kosazana yami ehle, ubabakho uhlele umtjhado wakho nekosana uSgonondo, begodu uzokwenzeka ngeveke ezako,” kukhuluma uNofanezile.

Sekusele isonto ngaphahambi kosuku lomshado, umsizi uNelisiwe waqonda kunkosazana Naledi. “Nkosazana yami ethandekayo, ubaba wakho uhlela ukukuganisela induna uMtungwa omkhulu. Loku kuzokwenzeka maduze, evikini elizayo.” Kuchaza uNelisiwe.

Kuthe sele kusele iveki enye kuphela phambi kokuba ifike imini yomtshato, uKakembo waya kuthetha noApenyo, wathi, “Nkosazana yami ethandekayo, utata wakho ucwangcisa umtshato wakho nenkosi u-Aludah, kwaye uza kwenzeka kwiveki ezayo.”

One week before the royal wedding day, maid Kakembo approached Apenyo. “My dear princess, your father has organised your wedding with Chief Aludah, and it will take place in one week,” said Kakembo.

Ikosazana uSponono wathukwa khulu ukuzwa indaba le begodu khange azi bona uzokwenzanjani ngalokho. Wafikelwa mkhumbulo, “Angeze ngatjhada nekosana uSgonondo, indoda edala begodu enone nakangaka. Ngeze! Ngifuze ngirhabele kuSipho ngibone bonyana angangirhelebha njani ngaphambi kobana kuphele isikhathi.” USipho bekulisokana elalihlekisana noSponono.

Inkosazana yathuka umhlola, yangazi ukuthi ithini futhi yenzeni. Emva kwesikhashana seyithi, “Mina, ngeke ngiganele induna uMtungwa omkhulu, indoda endala ekhuluphele kanje. Angeke bakubone loko. Kuzomele ngigijimele kuThando abone ukuthi angenzenjani.” Phela uThando kwakuyisoka lika Naledi.

Inkosazana u-Apenyo yothuka kakhulu ingazi ukuba iza kwenza njani. Wacinga, wacinga, wacinga u-Apenyo, waze wathi, “Andisokuze mna nditshate nenkosi u-Aludah, ixhego elibi elityebileyo. Unotshe! Mandiye kuTrevor ndibone ukuba angenza ntoni, lisekhona ixesha.” UTrevor wayelisoka likankosazana u-Apenyo.

Princess Apenyo was shocked and at first didn’t know what to do. Then she thought, “I will never marry chief Aludah, that fat old man. Never! I must hurry to Trevor and see what he can do before it’s too late.” Trevor was princess Apenyo’s boyfriend.

Ngobusukobo uSponono wakhukhutha aphuma esigodlweni. Ingathana uyise bekazi bona ulibangisaphi, bekazokusilingeka khulu. Wagijima hlangana nehlathikazi elinzima elizele amatje nameva, wagijima wabe wafika esokaneni lakhe uSipho. Uthe bona afike ngendlini bekadiniwe,alambile begodu ome khulu.

Ngalobo busuku, uNaledi wanyonyoba weqa esigodlweni. Uma uyise wayengezwa ngaloko wayezothukuthela ngokweqile. Wagijima edlula ihlathi elimnyama, eqa amadwala, imihosha nemihoshana, waze wafika esithandweni sakhe uThando. Wafika ekhathele, elambile, onyiwe.

Ngobo busuku u-Apenyo wanyonyoba waphuma ebhotwe. Ukuba utata wake wayenokwazi ukuba uyaphi wayeza kucaphuka kakhulu. Wabaleka wadlula ehlathini elimnyama thsu, elishinyeneyo. Watsiba amatye nezihlahla de wayokufika kuTrevor wakhe. Wafika kwaTrevor ediniwe, elambile, futhi enxaniwe.

That night Apenyo crept out of the palace. If her father discovered where she was going he would be very angry. She ran through the thick, dark forest over rocks and shrubs, until she finally reached her Trevor. When she arrived at his house she was tired, hungry, and thirsty.

“Sthandwa sami, kubayini ugijime ibangakazi elide begodu ebusuku nakangaka uwedwa?” kubuza uSipho. Wasikima wayomthathela amanzi wokusela ngemvakwalokho wamlisa waphumula. USipho khange ahlaliseke lokha asalinde bona uSponono akhulume ngokumtshwenyako.

“Hhayi-bo gugu lami, kwenzenjani? Ungathini ukuhamba ibanga elide kangaka wedwa, ebusuku lobu?” kubuza uThando. Wabe esemlandela amanzi okuphuza, wamdedela ukuba ake aphumule. UThando, wayengakwazi ukubeka isiqe phansi ngenkathi esalinde uNaledi ukuba alande indaba.

“Sithandwa sam, kungani ukuba ubaleke umgama ongaka wedwa ezinzulwini zobusuku?” kwabuza uTrevor. Wamphathela amanzi okusela waze wamnika ithuba lokuphumla. UTrevor wayengasakwazi ukulinda ngelixa u-Apenyo asaziphumzayo.

“My love, why have you run all this long distance alone and at such a time of night?” asked Trevor. He fetched drinking water for her and allowed her to rest. Trevor could not settle down while he waited for Apenyo to talk.

“Kosazanami, kanti khuyini umraro?” kubuza uSipho. uSponono wadosa umoya kabuhlungu wakhuluma ngokudana wathi, “Ubaba ufuna ukungitjhadisa nekosana uSgonondo umhlonitjhwa. Kodwana angeze ngavuma ukwenda endodeni ethusako begodu ekhohlakele kangaka. Sipho, mina ngifuna ukutjhada nawe nanyana uhlupheka nje. Ngizimisele ukuhlupheka kanye nawe, ngiyakuthanda.”

“Ngitshele, sthandwa sami,” kusho uThando. UNaledi waphefumulela phezulu, wezwakala esethi, “Ubaba ufuna ukungiganisela induna uMtungwa omkhulu. Angikwazi ukugana leya ndoda embi kanjeya. Thando, noma ngabe umpofu kangakanani, mina ngifuna ukugana wena. Ngikulungele ukuhlupheka. Ngithanda wena qha!”

“Nkosazana yam endiyithandayo, ingaba yintoni ingxaki?” wabuza uTrevor. U-Apenyo waphefumlela phezulu kalusizi waze wathi, “Utata ufuna ukunditshatisa nenkosi u-Aludah, omkhulu. Kodwa andisoze nditshate indoda ekhohlakele ngolwahlobo. Trevor, ndifuna ukutshata nawe nokuba awunanto. Ndikulungele ukuhlupheka. Ndiyakuthanda.”

“My dear princess, what is the problem?” asked Trevor. Apenyo breathed heavily and said sadly, “My father wants to marry me off to chief Aludah the Great. But I can’t marry that horrible man. Trevor, I want to marry you even if you are poor. I am ready to suffer. I love you.”

“Kodwana kosazana, anginayo nepeni enzima engingayikhupha ekhenu njengelobolo, uyazi ngilisokana elizihluphekelako,” kulila uSipho. USponono waphendula, “Ngiyazi, kodwana nguwe kwaphela umuntu engingathabela ukutjhada naye.” Wacabanga isikhatjhana wathi, “Asikhambe siye endodeni leya yesikepe uMadzela simbawe bona asiyamisele ngale komlambo. Ngilo kwaphela iqhinga esingalisebenzisa ukobana siphunyurhe begodu ubaba angeze asifumana.”

“Kodwa manje nkosazana, mina anginalutho, ukukhokhela ilobolo lakho. Wazi kahle, ngimpofu,” kuzikhalela uThando. UNaledi wamphendula wathi, “Ngiyakwazi loko, kodwa nguwe kuphela engingakugana.” Wake wathula isikhashana, wabe esethi, “Nginecebo, masigijimele ku Kwanda, indoda le yesikebhe asiweze sibalekele ngale komfula. Ngaleyo ndlela singeqa, ubaba angasitholi.”

“Kodwa nkosazana, andinanto endinokukulobola ngayo, uyazi nawe ukuba ndiyindoda ehluphekayo,” watsho uTrevor. U-Apenyo waphendula wathi, “Ndiyazi Trevor, kodwa ndifuna ukutshata wena kuphela.” Wacinga ixeshana u-Apenyo waze wathi, “Masiye kuKategga indoda yesikhephe asiwelise siye ngaphesheya komlambo. Ngale ndlela, singesaba, utata angaze aphinde asifumane.”

“But princess, I have nothing to pay as your bride price, you know I’m a poor boy.” cried Trevor. Apenyo replied, “I know, but it’s only you I can get married to.” She thought for a while and said, “Let’s go to Kategga the boat man to sail us to the other side of the river. That way we can escape and my father will never find us.”

Emuva esigodlweni, ikosi uMjekejeke sele ilemukile ngokunyamalala kwendodakazi yakhe uSponono, wahlanganisa amabutho wakhe bona bayomfuna kiyo yoke indawo. Abonogada, amajoni, nawo woke umuntu barhelebha ukuzuma, kodwana khange bayifunyane ikosazana uSponono. Babuyela emuva ekosini bayoyibikela bona uSponono akatholakali. “Yeke khambani niyomfuna ngehlathini,” kulayela ikosi. Bekasilingeke khulu.

Emuva esigodlweni, inkosi uNdabenhle usetholile ukuthi uNkosazana Naledi usenyamalele. Usetshele izinhloli, nabantu bayo ukuba baphume bayoyifuna inkosazana. Abaqaphi benkosi, amabutho, wonke umuntu wagcwala isiganga kufunwa inkosazana yenkosi, kodwa do! Abazange bayithole inkosazana yenkosi. Babuyela emuva enkosini beyoyitshela ukuthi uNaledi akatholakali. Inkosi yabaphendula ngokucasuka, “Hambani niyocinga ehlathini.”

Emva ebhotwe, ikumkani uKayanja yayisele ibonile ukuba inkosazana u-Apenyo yayinyamalele. Wathumela abantu bakhe ukuba bayifune kuyo yonke indawo elalini. Amaphakathi eKumkani, amajoni kunye naye wonke umntu bacinga ngendawo awayenokuba uzifihle kuyo, kodwa abazange bamfumane u-Apenyo. Babuyela emva beyokuxelela ikumkani ukuba akafumaneki ndawo u-Apenyo. “Hambani niyokumfuna ehlathini,” wabhavumla ukumkani uKayanja. Wayenomsindo ngeyona ndlela.

Back at the palace, king Kayanja had discovered Princess Apenyo’s disappearance and ordered his subjects to search for her everywhere in the village. The king’s guards, soldiers, and everyone else searched, but they couldn’t find Princess Apenyo. They went back to the King and told him Apenyo was nowhere to be seen. “Then go to the bush and search,” King Kayanja ordered. He was very annoyed.

USponono noSipho bathe basarhabele esizibeni, kwathoma kwahlanga amafu anzima. Isiwuruwuru sasele siza ngamandla.

Ngesikhathi uThando noNaledi begijimela osebeni lomfula, izulu laqala lashintsha, kwaguqubala, kwaba namafu amnyama. Kwakuza isiphepho esikhulu.

Ngelixa inkosazana u-Apenyo noTrevor bebaleka ukuya emlanjeni, kwaqalisa ukusibekela aze amafu amnyama asigquma isibhakabhaka. Kwakusiza isaqhwithi esikhulukazi.

As Princess Apenyo and Trevor hurried to the riverbank, dark clouds began gathering in the sky. A heavy storm was coming.

UMadzela umtjhayeli weskepe besele asijamisile, asibophelela lokha iinthandanezi zimfikela. USipho wabawa uKategga bona abathuthele ngale komlambo. UMadzela khange asamukele isibawo sabo, ngonobangela wesiwuruwuru ebesele siza ngamandla, begodu bekuzoba yingozi ekulu ukukhamba nabo nakunje.

UKwanda, indoda yesikebhe wayesabophela isikebhe sakhe ngesikhathi izithandani zifika. UThando wancenga uKwanda ukuba agwedle isikebhe sakhe, abaweze. UKwanda wenqaba, wabachazela ukuthi isiphepho esinamandla sesifikile, kuzoba yingozi ukubaweza.

UKategga umqhubi wesikhephe wayesabophelela isikhephe sakhe ngelixa aba bathandanayo befika kuye. UTrevor wacela uKategga ukuba abakhwelise kwisikhephe sakhe abawelise umlambo. UKategga akazange avume, wabachazela ukuba isaqhwithi sele sikufutshane, ngoko kwakuza kuba yingozi kakhulu ukuzama ukuwela.

Kategga the boatman was mooring his boat when the young couple approached him. Trevor asked Kategga to row them across the river. Kategga refused to accept, explaining that a heavy storm was fast approaching, and it would be too dangerous.

USipho wakatelela bewahlathulula bonyana kubayini kufanele bakhambe. Wafaka isandla sakhe ngesikhwameni wakhupha icephe lelwandle walinikela uMadzela. UMadzela uthe bona ezwe indaba yabo wabona necephe elihle anikezwa lona, wabazwela ubuhlungu. Wavuma bona abayamise umlambo nanyana isimo sezulu sasinjaya.

UThando waphikelela echazela uKwanda ukuthi kungani kumele bewelele ngaphesheya. Wafaka isandla sakhe ephaketheni wakhipha igobolondo wanika uKwanda. UKwanda, ezwa indaba yabo, esebona negobolondo elibiza kangaka, wabazwela. Wavuma wagwedla isikebhe wabaweza, yize isimo sezulu sasisibi.

UTrevor waqhubekeka wachazela uKategga isizathu sokufuna kwabo ukuwela umlambo. Wasuka wafaka isandla sakhe epokothweni wakhupha imali wayinika uKategga. Wathi akuyiva imeko yabo uKategga, ebona nemali ebengezelayo, wavelana nabo. Wavuma ukubawelisa umlambo nangona izulu lalizongoma.

Trevor insisted and explained to Kategga why they must cross. He then put his hand deep in his pocket and took out a cowrie shell to give to Kategga. When Kategga heard their story and saw the beautiful shell, he felt sorry for them. He agreed to row them across the river in spite of the weather.

UMadzela wadosela iskepe eduse nomlambo wabatjela bona bakhwele. Basuka bakhamba. Kuthe ikosi uMjekejeke nekosana uSgonondo nabafika ngemlanjeni babona abantu abathathu eskepeni. Balimuka bona iinthandanezi ziphunyurhile.

Ngokushesha, uKwanda wadonsa isikebhe, bagibela. Wathatha izigwedlo, waqala umsebenzi wagwedla. Kwathi inkosi nenduna befika ngasosebeni lomfula, babona nabaya abantu abathathu esikebheni. Kwabakhanyela ukuthi izithandani zeqile, yizo leziya. Umoya omkhulu waxukuzisa isikebhe, kwaba uKwanda uyehluleka ukusilawula asiqondise isikebke manje. Kwezwakala inkosi isimemeza, “Ndodakazi yami Naledi, ngicela ubuye! Ngiyakuxolela, ngeke nginijezise, wena no Thando.”

UKategga watsalela isikhephe sakhe ngasenyeleni yomlambo waze wabaxelela ukuba bangene. Waqalisa ukubhexa. Bathe xa ukumkani uKanyanja nenkosi u-Aludah befika enyeleni yomlambo, bababona aba bathathu esikhepheni. Babona ukuba izithandani zesabile.

Kategga pulled the boat near the bank and told them to get in. He then picked his oars and began rowing. When king Kayanja and chief Aludah reached the bank, they saw the three people in the boat. They realised that the young lovers had escaped.

Isiwuruwuru somoya sakhahlumeza iskepe okwenza umtjhayeli angasakgona ukusilawula. Ikosi uMjekejeke warhuwelela wathi: “Sponono, ngibawa bona ubuye! Sengikulibalele begodu angeze ngikujezise wena noSipho.” Kodwana isikepe besele sibaketulele ngemanzini, baqwila boke. Ngemva kwalelolanga woke umuntu watjhaphuluka bonyana atjhade nanyana ngubani amthandako.

Inkosi yasho sekonakele. Isikebhe saketuka, bobathatu baphonseka emanzini ayenamandla. Bonke baminza. Emva kwalesi sehlakalo, wonke umuntu embusweni wenkosi UNdabenhle wakhululeka ukugana noma ukuganwa yilowo amthandayo, ocebile noma ompofu, inqobo uma bethandana.

Umoya omkhulu owawuvuthuza wasisa ngapha nangapha isikhephe waze uKategga wasokola ukusilawula. IKumkani uKayanja yakwaza: “Apenyo, ndicela ubuye! Ndikuxolele, kwaye andisokuze ndinohlwaye wena noTrevor.” Kodwa kwakusele kusemva kwesithonga. Isikhephe saphequka baze abantu ababekuso baphoseka emanzini. Bobathathu barhaxwa ngamanzi. Ukususela loo mini yentlekele, wonke umntu kwisizwe sikaKumkani uKayanja wakhululeka ukuba atshate naye nabani na amfunayo, nokuba usisityebi okanye ulihlwempu na.

Heavy winds rocked the boat and Kategga could no longer control it. King Kayanja shouted: “Apenyo, please come back! I have forgiven you and will never punish you or Trevor.” But it was too late. The boat tipped over and the three people were thrown into the wild water. They all drowned. After that day, everyone in king Kayanja’s kingdom could marry anyone they wanted, rich or poor.

Written by: Amana Yunus

Illustrated by: Natalie Propa

Translated by: Prudence Komane, Zanele Mthombeni

Language: isiNdebele

Level: Level 4

Source: King Kayanja and his daughter from African Storybook

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 International License.

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