Killarney resident writes praise song for Madiba
KILLARNEY – Stalson said that the poem, entitled Praise song, referenced an ancient tradition in African culture in which the king or chief retained a praise singer who composed songs in praise of the attributes and achievements of the ruler.
Killarney resident Lynn Stalson has nominated herself as Nelson Mandela’s praise singer, writing a poem in honour of him, which has been translated into isiZulu by Knowledge Petros.
Stalson said that the poem, entitled Praise song, referenced an ancient tradition in African culture in which the king or chief retained a praise singer who composed songs in praise of the attributes and achievements of the ruler.
“Although he was born into the royal Thembu Clan of the Xhosa, Mandela was never a king or a chief. However, there was something unequivocally royal about him. He possessed a regality of spirit that went way beyond the literal notion of tribal or national ruler,” said Stalson.
She explained that despite this, Mandela did become a ruler in the political arena as the first democratically elected president.
“Nelson Mandela did not need a ‘court praise singer’ to draw attention to his accomplishments. He stood on the stage of history as a natural king: his accomplishments sang for themselves and rightly carried the praise of the world.”
Stalson described Mandela as one prepared to die for the cause he believed in, who triumphed over adversity, hoping that he would hear her song.
Petros, who translated the poem into isiZulu, says it was a way of paying tribute to the man who he regards as having opened the doors of freedom and opportunity.
Read the poem in English and isiZulu below:
FOR NELSON MANDELA: A PRAISE SONG
Bayede, Mandela!
They saw you as the Enemy, you showed them Friendship.
They saw you as a threat to Peace, you showed them the meaning of Brotherhood.
They feared your Vengeance, you showed them Forgiveness.
They thought they could break your spirit, you showed them how Courage and Strength sustain a man.
They confined you to a prison cell, you showed them that bars can jail the body, but not the heart.
They were trapped in their own prison of hatred and fear, you released them and let them join you on your Long Walk to Freedom.
We weep for your loss, But we celebrate your life. Though our eyes cannot see you, We still hear your voice –The sound of Ubuntu! For this we rejoice!
Bayede, Mandela!
By Lynn Stalson
KAMANDELA: INGOMA YENDUMISO
Bayede, Mandela!
Bakubone njengesitha,Wabakhombisa ubungani.
Bakubone njengosongo ekuphuleni ukuthula, Ubakhombisile okushiwo ngabobuzalwane.
Besaba ukuphindisela kwakho, Ubakhombisile intethelelo.
Babecabanga ukuthi bangaphula umoya wakho, ubakhombisile ukuthi isibindi namandla kuyameqinisa umuntu.
Bakufaka ejele, Ubakhombisile ukuthi imigoqo ingawuvalela umzimba, hhayi inhliziyo.
Babhajwe ejele labolenzondo nokwesaba, Ubakhiphile futhi wabayeka bakujoyina. Uneyakho indlela ende eya enkululekweni.
Sikhala ngokulahleka kwakho, Khepha sigubha impilo yakho. Noma amehlo ethu engakuboni, Sisezwa izwi lakho-Umsindo wobuntu! Ngoba lokhu kujabulisa!
Bayede, Mandela!
Translated by Knowledge Petros
