Mabutho kaZulu vukani nonke,

Nibuth’ izihlangu nilalelise!

Akuvuk’ amabuth’ oSuthu,

Kuvuke nakaMandlakazi.

Buthongo bun’ enibulele?

Kanizwa yini wonk’ uZulu

Uyanyamfuz’ okwezimpethu,

Ubik’ indlal’ ezweni lonke,

Uphundlwa nayimikhuhlane,

Ubik’ ubhememe lwelanga?

Seniyakhohlwa yin’ ukuthi

Nathi nibhixana bukhomo,

Nichithan’ eNdondakusuka,

Nafa ningashiye miphako,

Nibon’ ukuth’ amankonyane

Osapho lukaMlungukazana

Asencel’ izinkomazana

Ezazimiselw’ abantwana

Benzalo kaSenzangakhona

Kwehle kufike kuCetshwayo?

Seniyakhohlwa yin’ ukuthi

Kuyinhlawulo yenu nathi

Ukuba mihla nayizolo

Sikhumbul’ iNdondakusuka

Maqede sijuluk’ uvalo

Nxa sikhumbul’ izinyembezi

Zawonina bamaqhawe

Agingqika omela phansi?

Uban’ owabon’ oMbuyazi

Nongas’ akheth’ ithambo lakhe

Phakathi kwamathambo enu?

Ingani nivuk’ ebusuku,

Sizwe nibhixana futhi

Ngemikhont’ egcwel’ igazi.

Sizw’ amawis’ eshay’ inkumba,

Omunye ethi nakomunye,

“Ashila, washa Kuthikuthi!”

Siyezwa silalelise –

Nabanye abadlula khona

Bayezwa balalelise.

Akubanga minyak’ emingaki

Nidabulene ngemikhonto,

Wazizwel’ amandl’ uCetshwayo.

Edudw’ umnumzan’ uSihayo,

Wazizwel’ amandl’ eSandlwana.

Wezw’ igazi lakhe lixhwatha,

Wathath’ umkhonto wawuphonsa

Wawubhekis’ eBalungwini.

Inhlendla yawo yawa phansi,

Yangena phansi yadabula

Yagxila yathi ngxi kwaMhlaba.

Izanusi zathula zathi:

“Wen’ ovimb’ indlela kaZulu

Uzithembis’ umbuso wakhe!

Uyoqhekezwa yimikhonto:

Ubhubhe, ufe, ungabonwa.”

Kwakhethwa iSandlwana saba

Isigcawu sezinsizwa

ZikaZulu noMlungazana.

Zaphela bhuq’ ezikaZulu.

Kwaf’ inyon’ enkulu kwabola

Ngish’ amaqand’ ezikaQwabe.

Kwehla kwafik’ uDinuzulu

Obehlala eSikhwebezi

Emzin’ omkhulu wasoSuthu,

Waqamba futh’ eMahhashini

Phezu kwegquma kwaNongoma.

Kuze kube namhlanje

Siyezwa noma singazange

Silubek’ unyawo qatha

Ukuth’ ukhon’ uMadlokovu

Obizw’ ePitoli wavuma,

Wakhothuluz’ ukwazi kwabo

Echathazelwa uSobantu;

Waphuz’ umlaza wabelungu

Ngameva eshob’ elimhlophe

Elid’ elifik’ ogabeni;

Wakhombis’ amadloz’ okwazi

Namandl’ okuthand’ ukuthula,

Wathob’ amanxeba kaZulu.

Iminyak’ emashumi ntathu

Nesikhombis’ uSolomona

Ephic’ ekhand’ eboph’ isizwe,

Esingenis’ ezindleleni

Zokulahl’ imikhonto phansi,

Siphath’ izikhali zokwazi.

Uye lon’ omis’ isikole

La kufund’ iziphakanyiswa

Ezizosekel’ i-Afrika.

Uye lon’ odl’ abasokoco

BeNtwalizindaba zeTheku.

Ezihlekela waphindela

EMahhashin’ akwaZulu,

Entabeni ehlal’ ingonyama

Ngob’ isab’ izul’ ukuduma.

Konje kwake kwenzeka yini

Ukuba inkos’ esebenze

Imisebenzi emingaka

Ihlale futhi isikhathi

Sokuficwa nawukuguga?

Yebo, Nkayishana enkulu,

Langa lisahlul’ amadoda –

Ulibekil’ itsh’ elikhulu

Emzin’ omkhulu kwaDukuza,

Wavus’ amathambo kaShaka

Odabul’ uMdima noMgovu.

Namhla silind’ ukub’ uvule

Lezo zimfihl’ eziphezu

Nezicindezelw’ etsheni.

Selimisiwe leli gumbi

Ngawo lo nyaka ngqa uqala,

Ulwandle lusukume phansi

Lwakhothamel’ idwala lelo,

Kwazamazam’ umhlaba wonke.

Sonke sezwa lokho sathula,

Kwayilowo wathath’ unyawo,

Wakhohlwa nawukubiza

Amadlozi ukub’ amsize.

Ngiya ngesaba Mqwalajuba!

Lo nyak’ ufika nani Zulu?