Ndi ṅwana wa muvenda – November 2024
(Overview)
Overall, this poem is about expressing pride in oneself. While the overarching theme that runs through the poem is about the poet as an individual, the poem is a deep expression of the Venda culture. We are living during times where the foundations of our being are often forgotten and ridiculed. In the face of a culture mostly dominated by western norms and practices, finding pride in African culture has become part of a journey back to history- a journey back to discovery. Ndi nwana wa muVenda is the voice of pride in the Venda culture. The poet refers to various VhaVenda cultural practices (in the form of traditional food, traditional dances and proverbs) which serves as a reminder to a Venda reader and educational to non-Venda readers about the Venda culture.
Title: Ndi ṅwana wa muvenda
Poet: Brenda Muleya Mkhize
Language: Tshivenda
Location: Tshapfutshe Beitbridge
Ndi ṅwana wa muvenda
Ndi mukololo
Ene ane ari ifa wafa
Asafi u a shakuliswa muvhunduni
Ndi nne tsha u fuka na u adza
Ndi ṅwana wa muvenda
Ndi murunzi hezwo ḓuvha ḽo ṱavha
Tshisima tsha maḓi
Mufhedzi wa ḓora
Ndi ṅwana wa muvenda
Muvenda ve
Mubikwa na ive
Ive laru u vhibva nne sa muvenda nda sala
Ndo aluwa ndi tshi tshina malende,tshifasi na tshigombela
Mashonzha na mukusule
Madzhulu na thongolifha hu zwone zwi sevho zwanga
Ndi ṅwana wa muvenda
Ndila tsha biko
Athi lindeli muthu uri ade a ntshumele
Ndi ṅwana wa muvenda
Ndo aluwa ndi tshirwa dzembe ha vunḓea mufhini
Ndo aluwa ndi tshi fhonḓa mafula
Nda fhemba madzhulu
Ndi ṅwana wa muvenda
Asa ladzi muthu nga nḓala
Muvenda ane ari zwiḽiwa ndi tshikha ya mano
Muvenda ano ṱanganedza vhuyeni
Vhari muvenda hanaki tshifhaṱuwo fhedzi u naka mbilu
Nga u ralo mbilu yanga yo naka
Nne ndi ṅwana wa muvenda
Muvenda ve