Download Options
Change language
isiZulu
isiXhosa
English
Afrikaans
Sepedi / Northern Sotho
Setswana / Tswana
Sesotho / Southern Sotho
Xitsonga / Tsonga
siSwati / Swazi
Tshivenda / Venda
Southern Ndebele
Back to stories list
Ikumkani Ukayanja Nentwazana Yakhe
Inkosi Undabenhle Nendodakazi Yayo
Ikumkani Ukayanja Nentwazana Yakhe
King Kayanja and his daughter
The audio for this story is currently not available.
Regular PDFs (full-page)
Bilingual PDFs
Booklet PDFs (for printing)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
“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.
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
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.
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.
Ngelixa inkosazana u-Apenyo noTrevor bebaleka ukuya emlanjeni, kwaqalisa ukusibekela aze amafu amnyama asigquma isibhakabhaka. Kwakusiza isaqhwithi esikhulukazi.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 YunusIllustrated by: Natalie PropaTranslated by: Xolisa Guzula
