Back to stories list

U Pembelele Luṱavule Silangazelela Ugqozi Lokubungaza Intwasahlobo Ukukhangela Umoya Wentwasahlobo Searching for the spirit of Spring

Written by Mosa Mahlaba

Illustrated by Selina Masego Morulane

Translated by Maphaha Tshimangadzo Nelson

Language Venda

Level Level 4

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


Vhuria vhu rotholaho ho fhira. Lutabvula lu khou swika hafha muvhunḓuni wa Nkanyezi. Hu si kale vhadzulapo vha ḓo kuvhangana vha takalela khalaṅwaha ntswa u fhirisa maṅwe maḓuvha a ṅwaha. Nkanyezi o takalela ḓuvha ḽa u pembelela luṱabvula u fhira zwithu zwoṱhe.

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.


Matsheloni maṅwe a dudelaho, Nkanyezi o pfa vhadzulapo vha vhili vha tshi amba nga u pembela uho. “Vhathu vha Ndlovu vho lata fulufhelo ḽa u pembela.” Muṅwe u a sea. “Ri ngavha hani na vhutambo ha u pembelela lutabvula muvhunḓuni une vhadzulapo a vha tsha ṱoḓa u pembela?” Muṅwe u a vhudzisa.

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 o vha a khou vhilaela. “Ḓuvha ḽi ḓo dovha hani ḽa tavha ra sa imba ra ḽi karusa kha u kumedza ha vhuria?” U a vhudzisa. Nkanyezi u a elekanya lwa tshifhinga tshilapfu. “Ndi fanela u wana zwe nda xedza.” “Ndi fanela u ya nda ṱoḓa zwithu zwine zwa ḓo vhuisa fhulufhelo ḽa u pembela hafha muvhunḓuni wanga.”

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.”


Vhahulwane vha fhululedza Nkanyezi uri a tshimbile zwavhuḓi. Vha mufha bege ya u fara zwine a ḓo zwi wana. Nkanyezi o vha a khou ofha fhedzi a vha na fhulufhelo urii u ḓo bvelela.

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 a tshimbila ḓuvha ḽoṱhe a gonya tshikwara a dovha a wela govha. A tala a wela mulambo muhulwane, u swika a tshi swika kha dunzi ḽa thavha tswuku.

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.


Sa izwi ho vha hu khou vha madekwana, Nkanyezi a swika muvhunḓuni wa maitele na mivhala zwine o vha a sathu u zwi vhona. A vhudza vhahulwane vha henefho nga ha lwendo lwawe lwa u vhuisa u pembela vhathuni. Mme a lushaka lwonolwo a fha Nkanyezi mpho. A vhudza musidzana, “Nga lufuno ri u fha pennde hei ya vusulusa mivhala yo sudufhalaho ngei muvhundu wa hanu.” Nkanyezi a livhuwa vhahulwane a longa pennde begeni. Nga ḽi tevhelaho a bvela phanḓa na lwendo hu tshe matsheloni o takalela tshifhiwa tsha muvhala.

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 a tshimbila ḓuvha ḽoṱhe vhukati ha ḓaka ḽo pinzanaho ḽa miri milapfu lapfu. Musi ḽi tshi kovhela a sa tsha kona u vhona nga swiswi, a pfa muungo wa ngoma i lidzwaho. A ṱavhanya a livha hune ngoma ya khou lila hone a tshi vho pfa muya wa u tshina u tshi da milenzheni yawe yo netaho.

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 a diwana o swika shangoni ḽa Bhubezi. Vhathu vho vha vho dzula mullion vha tshi khou vhuya a pfa nyambo dza vhuḓi nga u ralo. A vhudza vhahulwane vha henefho nga lwendo lwawe lwa u ṱoḓa u vhuisa muya wa u pembela kha vhathu vha hawe. Vho mbo mu ramba uri a awele a edele navho honovho vhusiku.

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.


Nga matsheloni khosi ya vhidza Nkanyezi. “Ṅwanaga,” ya ralo, “ngoma yo khetheaho khei, i bveledzaho luimbo luswa tshifhinga tshothe ni tshi i lidza.” Nkanyezi a livhuwa vhahulwane a longa ngoma begeni. A bvela phanḓa na lwendo o takadzwa nga ngoma ya u pembela na u tshina.

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.


Nga ḓuvha ḽa vhuraru ḽa lwendo lwawe a tshi fhira muvhundu wa kholomo dzo nonaho, ningo ya thoma u fembedza. Munukhelelo wa vhuḓi wa pfala u tshi ḓa a thoma u rothisa nthe nga mulomo. A tevhela munukhelelo a mbo bvelela muvhunḓuni a wana vhathu vho ima vha tshi khou bika ṋama. Lushaka holu lwo vha lu tshi ḓivhelwa u pembelela vhuṱambo. Nkanyezi o vha a sa athu vhuya a tangana na zwiḽiwa zwo raloho. O no ḽa a fura a vhudza vhahuwane nga ha lwendo lwawe lwa u vhuisa muya wa u pembela kha vhadzulapo vha hawe.

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.


Nga ḽi tevhelaho khoro ya henefho ya mufha tshipaisi tsha muvango wavhuḓi. “Ṅwana washu,” vha ralo, “nga hetshi tshipaisi thumbu dzo takalaho ndi muga! Ri ni ṋea mpho ya zwiḽiwa zwavhuḓi.” Nkanyezi a livhuwa vhahulwane a longa tshipaisi begeni. A ḓivha uri u na zwoṱhe zwi ṱoḓeaho u fha muthu wa nungo. A thoma lwendo lulapfu lwa u humela hayani.

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.


A tshi swika vhathu vha mu kuvhanganela uri vha pfe uri o tshimbila hani. A vula bege uri a kovhe zwifhiwa kha havha vhathu. Vhathu vha takalela zwifhiwa izwo. Vhuthu ha vhaṅwe na ṱhuṱhuwedzo ya Nkanyezi zwa ḓisa muvhala, dzinyimbo na mitshino kha vhathu. Zwenezwo zwa amba uri muya wa u pembela wo vhuyedzedzwa kha vhathu vha muvhunḓuni wa 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: Maphaha Tshimangadzo Nelson
Language: Venda
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.
Options
Back to stories list Download PDF