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Ku Famba U Lavana Na Nchumu Lowu Nga Na Khombo Hi Ximun’Wana Silangazelela Ugqozi Lokubungaza Intwasahlobo Ukukhangela Umoya Wentwasahlobo Searching for the spirit of Spring

Written by Mosa Mahlaba

Illustrated by Selina Masego Morulane

Translated by Mkomati John Mongwe

Language Tsonga

Level Level 4

Narrate full story The audio for this story is currently not available.


Ku titimela ka xixika ku hundzile. Ximun’wana xi le ku teniemugangeni wa ka Nkanyeni. Ku nga ri khale vaaki va ta hlengeletana va tlangela nguva leyintshwa. Nkanyezi ri langutela ku yisa emahlweni Nkhuvo wa Ximun’wana ku tlula siku rin’wana elembeni.

Umphakathi wakubo Nkanyezi wawusulindele ukungena kwentwasahlobo. Maduzane nje, izakhamuzi zase zilungisela ukugubha umkhosi wokungena kwesikhathi sonyaka esisha, okwabe kuyintwasahlobo. UNkanyezi, njengomunye wesakhamuzi, naye wayewulangazelela lo mkhosi. Kwakuzoba wusuku oluhlukile kunazo zonke ezinye izinsuku.

Ubusika obuqhaqhazelisa amazinyo babusele budlulile. Kwakusele kuza kungena iNtwasahlobo elalalini kaKhwezi. Kungekudala abahlali babesele belungiselela ukubhiyozela ixesha lokuthwasa konyaka, iNtwasahlobo. UKhwezi wayelulangazelela ngaphezulu kwezinye iintsuku olu suku lokubhiyozelwa kokuthwasa kwehlobo.

The Winter cold had passed. Spring was coming to Nkanyezi’s village. Soon the villagers would gather to celebrate the new season. Nkanyezi looked forward to the Spring festival more than any other day in the year.


Mixo wun’wana nimixo, Nkanyezi u twile vadyuhari vambirhi emugangeni va vulavula hi nkhuvo. “Vanhu va ka Ndlovu va lahlekeriwile hi moya wa ku tlangela,” un’wana a hefemuteka. “Xana hi fanele ku tlangela njhani nkhuvo wa Ximun’wana emugangeni lowu nga rivala hilaha ku tlangeriwaka hakona,” ku vutisa un’wana.

Ngelinye ilanga wathi uNkanyezi ezihlalele nje, wezwa abantu abadala ababili bexoxa ngalo mkhosi. “Abantu balapha esigodini saseNdlovini abasenalo isasasa lokugubha umkhosi wokwethwasa kwehlobo,” kuphawula omunye wabo. “Singawugubha kanjani umkhosi wokwethwasa kwehlobo, endaweni lapho abantu sebakhohlwa nokuthi lugujwa kanjani lolu suku?” kubuza lo omunye.

Ngenye imini wathi uKhwezi ezihlelele nje, weva abantu abadala ababini bexoxa ngalo mbhiyozo. “Abantu balapha eNdlovu abasenawo umdla nomoya wokubhiyozela ukuthwasa kwehlobo,” watsho omnye waba. “Singakubhiyozela njani ukuthwasa kwehlobo njengokuba abantu sele balibalayo ngalo mbhiyozo?” Wabuza omnye.

One warm morning, Nkanyezi overheard two village elders talking about the festival.”The people of Ndlovu have lost their spirit of celebration,” one sighed.”How can we have a Spring festival in a village that has forgotten how to celebrate?” asked another.


Nkanyezi a vilela a ku. “Xana dyambu ri ta endlisa ku yini ku tlhela ri vangama handle ka loko hi nga yimbelela ku ri pfuxa eka vurhongo bya rona bya xixika?” ku vutisa Nkanyezi. Nkanyezi u ehleketile nkarhi wo leha. U tekile xiboho hi ku vula ku, “Ndzi fanele ku kuma leswi swi nga hi lahlekela.” “Ndzi fanele ku famba ndzi lava swilo leswi swi nga ta vuyisa moya wa ku tlangela emugangeni wa mina.”

Yamkhathaza uNkanyezi le nkulumo yabantu abadala. Khona manjalo wezwakala esezibuza, eziphendula. “Singasikhuthaza kanjani isizwe esesiphelelwe umdlandla wokugubha umkhosi wentwasahlobo?” Emva kokucanga ngalesi simo, wabe esethatha isinqumo, wathi, “Kufanele ngithole ukuthi ngabe salahleka kuphi njengesizwe. Kufanele ngiphume, ngiyothola loko okwasilahlekela thina sizwe saseNdlovini, ngibuye nesu lokubuyisa umdlandla nogqozi lokubungaza emphakathini wakithi.”

Kwamkhathaza kakhulu ukuva le nto uKhwezi. “Liza kuphinde libe shushu njani ilanga xa singalivusi ebuthongweni basebusika?” wazibuza. Wahlala wacinga ixesha elide. “Kufuneka ndifumanise ukuba yintoni kanye kanye esingasayaziyo,” wathatha esi sigqibo. “Kufuneka ndihambe ndiyokufuna izinto ezingabuyisa umdla nomoya wokubhiyozela eli xesha lonyaka.”

Nkanyezi was worried.”How will the sun shine again unless we sing to wake it from its winter slumber?” she asked herself. Nkanyezi thought for a long time.”I must find what we have lost,” she decided.”I must go in search of things that will bring back the spirit of celebration to my village.”


Vadyuhari va nyikile Nkanyezi mikateko ya vona ka rendzo. Va n’wi nyikile bege ku rhwala swilo leswi nga ta swi kuma. Nkanyezi a chava, kambe a tshemba leswaku u ta humelela.

Abadala baseNdlovini bamnika zonke izibusiso uNkanyezi ngohambo ayezoluthatha. Bamnika nesikhwama ayezofaka kuso loko ayezokuthola kuwusizo. Wayenakho ukwesaba, kodwa futhi ekholelwa ukuthi uhambo lwakhe luzoba yimpumelelo.

Abantu abadala bamsikelela kuhambo awayeza kuluthatha. Bamnika isingxobo awayeza kufaka kuso izinto awayeza kuzifumana eluhambeni. UKhwezi wayesoyika kodwa ekwakholelwa ekubeni uhambo lwakhe luza kuba yimpumelelo.

The elders gave Nkanyezi their blessing for the journey. They gave her a bag to carry the things she would find. Nkanyezi was afraid, but she believed she would succeed.


Nkanyezi u fambile siku hinkwaro. U khandziyile xintshambyana, na ku rhelela a ya enambyeni. U tlutile a tsemakanya nambu lowukulu, kutani a khandziya exikarhi ka maribye. U fambile exikarhi ka tindhawu to ka ti nga fambeki ku kondza a fika eka ndzhuti wa ribye ra tintshava.

Nempela lwaqala uhambo lwakhe. Wahamba usuku lonke. Wayekhuphuka ehla imimango. Wayewela umfula omkhulu, ecaca eqa amadwala ayingozi. Wahamba njalo edlula amathafa waze wayofika ngaphansi kwezintaba ezibomvu.

UKhwezi wahamba imini yonke. Wayesenyuka aphinde ehle emimangweni. Wawela umlambo omkhulu wenyuka nasemaweni. Wahamba njalo edlula amathafa waze wayokufika phantsi kweentaba ezibomvu.

Nkanyezi walked all day. She hiked up a hill, and down into a valley. She sailed across the great river, and climbed between sharp rocks. She marched across the plains until she reached the shadow of the red mountains.


Loko dyambu ri lava ku pela, Nkanyezi u fikile etikweni ra tipheteni na muhlovo leyi a nga si tshama a yi vona. U byerile vadyuhari va tiko hi rendzo ra yena ra ku tlherisela moya wa ku tlangela eka vanhu va yena. Mana wa rixaka leri u nyikile Nkanyezi nyiko. U te eka nhwanyana, “Hi rirhandzu hi ku nyika pende leyi ku vuyisa xiyimo xa muhlovo eka tiko leri nga phunta.” Nkanyezi u khensile vakulukumba kutani a hoxa pende eka bege ya yena. Hi mixo lowu landzelaka u yile emahlweni na rendzo rakwe nakambe, a tsakile ngopfu hi nyiko leyi ya muhlovo.

Kwathi kuhlwa, uNkanyezi wayefika kwesinye sezigodi esakhelene nesaseNdlovini. Imizi yakhona ihlotshiswe ngemibala angakaze ayibone ngaphambilini. Wacazela abadala bendawo ngohambo lwakhe. Omunye wabesifazane walesi sigodi wanika uNkanyezi isipho, wathi kuye, “Sikunika lo pende ngothando ukuze ubuyise ukukhanya nokubukeka emphakathini wakini.” UNkanyezi wathatha lesi sipho, wabonga, wasifaka esikhwameni sakhe. Ekuseni ngakusasa, waqhubeka nohambo lwakhe, enokujabula.

Ngokuhlwa, uKhwezi wafika elalini eyayinezindlu ezipeyintwe ngeephatheni ezimibalabala awayengazange ayibone ngaphambili. Waxelela abantu abadala bakule lali ngohambo lwakhe nezicwangciso zakhe zokubuyisela ukubhiyozelwa kwentwasahlobo. Umama wesi sizwe afikele kuso wapha uKhwezi isipho. Wathi kuye, “Sikupha le peyinti ngothando olukhulu, yeyona eza kubuyisa umbala elalini yakho esele ikhangeleka imthuqwasi ngebala.” UKhwezi wabulela kakhulu kubantu abadala waze wafaka ipeyinti esingxotyeni sakhe. Ekuseni ngemini elandelayo, waqhubeka nohambo lwakhe. Wayonwabe kakhulu sisipho sakhe sombala.

As night was closing in, Nkanyezi arrived at a village of patterns and colours as she had never seen before. She told the village elders about her journey to bring back the spirit of celebration to her people. The mother of this tribe gave Nkanyezi a gift. She told the girl, “With love we give to you this paint to restore colour to a village that has gone dull.” Nkanyezi thanked the elders and put the paint in her bag. Early the next morning she went on her way, excited with this gift of colour.


Nkanyezi u fambile dyambu hinkwaro, a hundza hi le ka swihlahla swa misinya leyikulu. Loko mapapa ma sungula ku va munyama ku va a kota ku vona, u twile mpfumawulo wa ku chayiwa ka swingomana. U fambe hi ku hatlisa a ya laha a ku biwa swingomana, a va na moya wa ku cinca wu ta eka milenge ya yena leyi a yi karhele.

Kwasa okungaliyo, waqhubeka nohambo lwakhe, ehamba ethubeleza phakathi kwamahlathi. Kwaqala ukuhlwa futhi, akabe esabona kahle ngenxa yobumnyama. Yize wayengasaboni kahle, izindlebe zakhe zona zayizwa yonke imisindo. Wezwa umsindo wokukhala kwezigubhu. “Kwamnandi loku engikuzwayo, mangiphakamise izinyawo.” Ngempela wahambela phezulu, eya ngalapho kukhala ngakhona izigubhu. Ubumnandi balo msindo babuletha umfutho ezinyaweni zakhe ezikhathele.

UKhwezi wahamba imini yonke ethubeleza phakathi kwemithi emikhulu yasehlathini. Kuthe xa kuqalisa ukuhlwa, apho wayengasaboni kakuhle weva isandi segubu elikhalayo. Waxhabashela apho lalikhala ngakhona igubu eziva elangazelela ukuxhentsa nangona iinyawo zakhe zazidiniwe nje.

Nkanyezi walked all day, through a vast forest of giant trees. As the sky became too dark for her to see, she heard the sound of beating drums. She hurried towards the drumming, feeling the spirit of dance coming to her tired feet.


Nkanyezi u tikumile a ri etikweni ra Bhubezi. Vanhu a va tshamile va orha ndzilo, va chaya swingomana na ku yimbelela. A a nga si tshama a twa vuyimbeleri lebyi byo hlamarisa. U hlamusele vakulukumba va tiko hi rendzo ra yena ra ku tlherisela moya wa ku tlangela eka vanhu va yena. Vanhu va Bhubezi va n’wi rhambile ku ya wisa na ku tshama na vona vusiku byebyo.

Wahamba wazibona esefikile esigodini saseBhubesini, lapho isizwe sakhona sasihleli sizungeze umlilo, sishaya iszigubhu, sicula. Wayengakaze ezwe umculo omnandi ngaleya ndlela. Nakhona wafike walwethula udaba lwakhe kubantu abadala bendawo. Wabatshela ngenhloso yohambo lwakhe efuna ukubuyisa ugqozi lokugubha imikhosi yendalo emphakathini wakubo.

UKhwezi wabona sele efikile elalini yakwaBhubesi. Wafika abantu behleli berhangqe umlilo bebetha amagubu becula nokucula. Wayengazange awuve umculo omnandi ngolwa hlobo. Wafika wabachazela ngehambo yakhe abantu abadala bale lali. Wabaxelela ngohambo lwakhe olunjongo zikukubuyisa ukubhiyozelwa kwentwasahlobo kwilali yakokwabo. Abantu bakwaBhubesi bamcela ukuba alale ngobo busuku ukuze aphumle.

Nkanyezi found herself in the village of the Bhubezi. People were sitting around a fire, drumming and singing. She had never before heard such wonderful music. She told the village elders about her journey to bring back the spirit of celebration to her people. The Bhubezi invited her to rest and stay the night.


Nimixo hosi yi vitanile Nkanyezi. “N’wananga,” ku vula hosi. “Hi lexi xingomana xo hlawuleka. Xi chaya Risimu leri nkarhi wun’wana na wun’wana loko u xi chaya.” Nkanyezi u khensile vakulukumba kutani a hoax xingomana a xi hoax ebegeni ya yena. U yile emahlweni ni rendzo ra yena nakambe, a tsakile ngopfu hi nyiko leyi ya vuyimbeleri na ku cina.

Ekuseni, induna yaseBhubesini yambiza uNkanyezi. Yabe seyithi kuye, “Mtanami, nasi isigubhu sekhethelo esikupha sona. Lesi sigubhu sikunika iculo elisha lapho usishaya.” UNkanyezi wabonga wanconcoza. Wasithatha wasifaka esikhwameni sakhe. Waqhubeka nohambo lwakhe ejabulele lesi sipho esikhipha umculo abantu badanse.

Ekuseni inkosi yabiza uKhwezi. “Mntwan’am’ yatsho inkosi, “Nali igubu elingafaniyo namanye. Lidlala ingoma entsha ngalo lonke ixesha uqalisa ukulidlala.” UKhwezi wabulela kakhulu. Wathatha igubu walifaka esingxotyeni sakhe. Waqhubeka nohambo lwakhe esivuyela kakhulu isipho sakhe sokudlala iingoma ezinesingqisho eziza kwenza ukuba abantu bavakalelwe baxhentse.”

In the morning the chief called on Nkanyezi.”My child,” he said, “here is a special drum. It plays a new song every time you beat it.” Nkanyezi thanked the elders and put the drum in her bag. She went on her way again, delighted with this gift of music and dance.


Hi siku ra vunharhu ra rendzo ra yena, loko a karhi a hundza nsimu ya tintswele to nona, nhompfu ya yena yi sungurile ku nwayisa. Nuhelo wa kahle wu hlamarisile nantswo wa yena kutani nomu wa yena wu sungule ku phoma marha. U landzelerile nuhelo wa kahle, kutani a fika eka tiko leri a nga kuma vanhu va yimile henhla ka nkahelo wa mapoto ya xiculu. Rixaka leri a ri tiveka hi mikhuvo ya rona kasi Nkanyezi a nga si tshama a twa hi vunandzi bya muxaka lowu. Endzhaku ka loko a dyile a ringanela, u byerile vakulukumba va tiko hi rendzo ra yena ro tlherisela moya wa ku tlangela ka yena vanhu.

Ngosuku lwesithathu lohambo lwakhe, iphunga elimnandi lenyama lwaconsisa amathe. Lamdonsa leli phunga laye lamfikisa la liphuma ngakhona. “Kuyabuswa lapha, abantu bemi eduze kogalaza bamabhodwe, inyama iyaphuphuma, iphunga lithi lunga mphimbo, uzogwinya.” Wayeqala ngqa uNkanyezi ukuzwa ukudla okumnandi ngale ndlela. Emva kokuba ephiwe naye ukudla wazenelisa, wabe esebatshela abadala ngenhloso yohambo lwakhe. Wayefuna izindlela angabuyisa ngazo ugqozi lokugubha imikhosi kubantu bakubo.

Ngosuku lwesithathu lohambo lwakhe wathi uKhwezi xa egqitha kumadlelo eenkomo ezityebileyo zale lali, waqala warhogola ivumba elithile. Yayilivumba lenyama. Wathi akuva eli vumba wavuza izinkcwe. Wahamba walandela umkhondo oya kwicala apho laliphuma ngakhona ivumba elimnandi de wayokufika. Wafika abantu belali bemile bejikeleze iimbiza ezazipheke unqweme. Esi sizwe sasidume kakhulu ngokupheka kwaye uKhwezi wayengazange akungcamle okunjalo ukuba mnandi ukutya ngaphambili. Emveni kokuba etyile, waqala wachazela abantu ngohambo lwakhe. Wabaxelela ngeenjongo zakhe zokubuyisela umbhiyozo wentwansahlobo kubantu belali yakhe.

On the third day of her journey, as she a passed a field of fat cows, her nose started to tingle. An aroma tickled her taste buds and her mouth started to water. She followed the scent, and arrived in a village to find people standing over steaming pots of stew. This tribe was famous for its feasts and Nkanyezi had never before tasted such flavours. After she had eaten her fill, she told the village elders about her journey to bring back the spirit of celebration to her people.


Hi siku leri landzelaka, ntlawa wa vasweswi va n’wi nyikile xihundla xa xipayisisi xo twananisa. “Nhwanyana wa hina,” ku vula vasweski. “Hi swipayisisi leswi, ntsako wa makhwiri wa tiyisisiwa! Hi ku nyika nyiko ya ku sweka swakudya swo nandziha.” Nkanyezi u khensile vakulukumba kutani a hoax swipayisisi eka bege ya yena. A a swi tiva leswaku u na xin’wana na xin’wana lexi a xi lavaka. Hi matimba lamantshwa lama a nga sungula hi wona rendzo lero leha ro tlhelela etikweni ra ka Ndlovu.

Ngakusasa abapheki bendawo bamnika inhlanganisela yabo yezithako eziyimfihlo. Bamnika bethi kuye, “Uyabona ndodakazi, ngalezi zithako, bayodla basuthe, beneliseke kwelakini. Ngalesi sipho, uyopheka ukudla okumnandi.” UNkanyezi wabonga wanconcoza, wathatha isipho sakhe, wasifaka esikhwameni sakhe. Manje kwase kumcacela ukuthi usenako konke ayekudinga. Wayesethole amandla nomfutho ukuphindela ekhaya, esizweni saseNdlovini.

Ngentseni elandelayo, iqela labapheki lamnika iziqholo zokutya ezazingaziwa mntu. “Ntwazana,” batsho abapheki, “Xa usebenzisa ezi ziqholo zokutya, abantu abaza kutya ukutya kwakho baza kwaneliseka nakanjani! Sikupha isipho esiza kukwenza ukuba upheke ukutya okunambithekayo.” UKhwezi wabulela waphaphatha, wathatha iziqholo wazifaka kwisingxobo sakhe. Wayesazi ukuba wayezifumene zonke izinto awayezidinga. Waziva esemandleni waza waqalisa uhambo lwakhe olubuyela elalini yakwaNdlovu.

The next day, the council of cooks gave her a secret spice blend.”Our daughter,” they said, “with these spices, happy tummies are guaranteed! We give you the gift of good food.” Nkanyezi thanked the elders and put the spices in her bag. She knew she had everything she needed. With new energy she started the long journey back to the village of Ndlovu.


Loko a fika ekaya vaakitiko va hlengeletanile hinkwavo na yena ku twa mivalango ya yena. U va byerile mitsheketo ya hi leswi a swi voneke, tweke naswona a swi dyeke. Endzhaku ka sweswo u pfurile bege ya yena ku avelana na vona tinyiko leti a nga nyikiwa. Vaakitiko va hoyozerile ku kuma switsundzuxo leswi swa nkoka. Malwandla ya van’wana na xivindzi xa Nkanyezi xo vuyisa muhlovo, vuyimbeleri na ncino eka vanhu. Hi ndlela yaleyo moya wa ku tlangela wu vuyisiwile eka tiko ra ka Ndlovu.

Wathi efika ekhaya, izakhamuzi zaqoqana, zamzungeza zifuna ukuzwa ngohambo lwakhe. Wabe esevula isikhwama sakhe, wabakhombisa izipho ayephiwe zona ngezinye izizwe. Umphakathi waseNdlovini wazijabulela zonke lezi zipho. Izipho ayephiwe zona ngezinye izizwe kanye nesibindi sakhe uNkanyezi, kwaletha inguquko esizweni saseNdlovini. Isizwe sabona ngamanye amehlo, sabuyelwa umdlandla, sacula sajabula. Ngaleyo ndlela ugqozi lokubungaza imikhosi lwabuya esigodini saseNdlovini.

Wathi xa efika ekhaya babe abahlali bemvuyela, bemjikeleza befuna ukuva konke ngohambo lwakhe. Waqala wababalisela ngayo yonke into ayibonileyo, ayivileyo nayityileyo. Emva koko wavula isingxobo sakhe wababonisa izinto awayeziphiwe. Abantu belali bavuya kakhulu baze bazamkela ezi zipho. Ububele nesisa sabanye abantu kunye nobugorha bukaKhwezi babuyisela umbala, umculo kunye nomxhentso kubantu belali. Le, yaba yindlela owabuyiswa ngayo umoya wokubhiyozela intwasahlobo kubantu belali yakwaNdlovu.

When she arrived home the villagersgathered around her to hear of heradventures. She told them the talesof what she had seen, heard, andeaten. Then she opened her bag toshare the gifts given. The villagersrejoiced to receive these treasures. The generosity of others and the courage of Nkanyezi brought back colour,song and dance to the people. And so the spirit of celebration was restored to the village of Ndlovu.


Written by: Mosa Mahlaba
Illustrated by: Selina Masego Morulane
Translated by: Mkomati John Mongwe
Language: Tsonga
Level: Level 4
Source: Searching for the spirit of spring from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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