“Uteku lwabafazi bakwaNomgabi,

Betekula behlezi emlovini,

Bath’ uShaka kakubusa, kakubaNkosi,

Kant’ ilaph’ ezakunethezeka.”

Mina we mlisa wansondo!

Ngaze ngonda ngamicondo

Ungilibazise ngeze.

Ngiboshw’ ukuba ngifeze

Inkondlo yethole lika –

Phunga noXab’ elafika

Ngokubelethwa yilanga,

Lanceliswa inyanga,

Khona liyofun’ umkhondo

KaZulu liye kwaMpondo.

Mina wena mlisa ndini!

Ngaze ngancipha yinsini

Ngiphethwe yimicabango

Engibangela iphango.

Nginikez’ ibheshu lami

Namasakabula ami.

Unginike nank’ umkhonto

Ngiqal’ ukubong’ imikhonto

Egwaz’ ezinhlangothini

Zamaz’ olwandl’ ogwini.

Ngangingalibonga njani

Ichib’ elikhany’ umbani,

Uma ngangingazalwanga

Ngihuqwe ngalezi zinhlanga

Zohlanga lwemxel’ emnyama,

Ezaboph’ inkos’ uJama,

Zaphonseka nakuShaka

Odl’ isikhulu nesichaka,

Washis’ ihlathi nekhwani

Nenkomo? Kaz’ uyodlani?

Wena Shaka obufana

Nezazi zanamhlanjena,

Ulwa noqhekeko lwezwe;

Ovimb’ endlelen’ ekhwezwe

Phezu kweklwa namawisa.

Waw’ uZwide eziwisa

Ngokuziqhayisa phezu

Kwakho. Wawa izingcezu,

Namalandel’ axabana

Kuhle kukaMatiwana.

Wakh’ umuz’ iDlayangubo.

Wakh’ amabutho ngehubo,

Nezomndlunkulu wakhetha,

Ukheth’ intomb’ uyiletha.

Kakhulu kangakanani

Lokh’ unyoko eyinkani

Ngobuhle nokuzazisa,

Ngonwele insizw’ eyidlisa.

Kwakukhon’ ezinonwele

Lulude njengolwamawele.

Uban’ owakh’ umndlunkulu

Wawuphendul’ isisulu

Sokuhlobis’ inxuluma

Nokubongel’ imp’ iphuma?

Ingani wawubuthela,

Waqoqa ngokunqwabela

Izigaba ngezigaba

Zokwakh’ umuzi nenqaba

KaDukuz’ umuz’ omkhulu

Laph’ ulele khona, Zulu.

Kwakuthi ma uqhamuka

Laph’ uMfolozi wahluka

Uphothan’ emahlathini,

Ubon’ if’ ezigcakini

Ezimhlophe zenhlabathi

Lapho amabuth’ abethi

Dlangalal’ ezigiyela,

Enz’ indlamu yokweshela,

Ewa kungath’ ayephuka

Nendingi yokuguquka.

Laph’ uzibon’ izintombi

Zihamba zingasakhombi,

Zibhincele ngasokhalo,

Zibukela isiqalo

Sendlela yazo yothando

Lolu olungenamlando,

Ngoba wena Thol’ eleqa

Phezu kwamany’ uwaheqa,

Kukhul’ okwazi ngentombi

Ungayilumbi ngekhambi!

Zazibuka ngonyembezi

Olupheth’ izinkanyezi

Lapho sekusa sezidweba

Ngemishoshonon’ eqhweba

Iso kodwa lingebambe

Nendlela yay’ ingehambe.

Zazigcob’ amakh’ amnandi

Noseng’ olungenamkhandi,

Zimbuke kwehl’ unyembezi

UShaka phakath’ ehlezi.

Um’ intombi zahluleka,

Izinsizwa zithandeka,

Wawuyiphaka-ke Shaka,

Ishay’ uphond’ iyokaka

Amadlambi asolwandle,

Eqaphaz’ iklay’ amanzi

Izehlukanisa banzi.

Babegiya bephonseka

Bagwaze kuye kofeka.

Obabamkhulu baphela

Ngobuqhawe bokufela

Wena Manqindi kaZulu.

Nathi namhla sizithulu,

Sikhombisan’ amaxoxo

Ezinsizwa zezicoco

Ezagwinywa imikhomo.

Zaf’ imizi nezinkomo

Zidl’ insinde kaMavela,

Zalandel’ oMalandela.

Sezivile lezi nsizwa.

Zith’ izindab’ uma sizwa:

Zachith’ umuzi kaKhumalo

Wadwengula izinkalo

Eqondis’ entshonalanga

Lapho amaBhun’ amkhanga;

Wawaqhwag’ izinkabi,

Zalandw’ engakazihlabi.

KwaBulawayo wabizwa;

Way’ ungenakuchithizwa.

Kwachithek’ oSoshangana

KwaGasa, bayohlangana

Nezwe lamaPutukezi,

Laph’ izizwe zazihlezi

Zingahlushwa ubusuku;

Laph’ izigi zezixuku

Nokukhala kwamahawu

Kuxubene nobuhawu,

Kuhawuz’ abagwazana

Nabalwa bebulalana.