Chieftain Mtikana Poem by Gert Strydom

(after Cullen Gouldsbury)

In the history of days long gone
in my mind a warrior chief stands alone
when Lobengula ruled as the Ndebele king
Mtikana, the cloud, the fearless one

who did not hesitate to face his death
before a whole impi did not loose his breathe
when the Amanxusa came to kill him
and songs do his valor bequeath.

Mtikana did marry Makwa the daughter of the king
but this to him was a very sad kind of thing
as she tainted him, spoke against his honor
conspired with other chiefs to death to him to bring

where they did speak of Mtikana ill
and anger did the heart of Lobengula fill
where in council he decreed to bring Mtikana in,
did summon a witchdoctor and impi captains in his iron will.

Bribed by Makwa the wizard Manega came
to cast the bones, to judge in the king's name
with a ferret-face, gleaming with fat, feathers in his hair
he brought the gallant sincere Mtikana to shame,

proclaimed that the facts of rebellion is plain
that all wizardry against Mtikana is in vain
as the power of the elements and the sun, moon and stars
he did against the king and his kingdom gain.

Mtikana rose and said: "My King slay me now,
do death to me bestow
as in no prison I can live at your scorn"
and to the ground before the king he did bow.

Lobengula spoke as if to be fair:
"Brave Mtikana your life I will spare
as respect to your innocence,
but he who rebels against the king beware! "

They told Mtikana to go
who bowed, with dignity walked out slow.
To the captains: "Muster the whole Amanxusa impi regiment
and do swiftly death to the traitor bring, " the king spoke low.

"Bayete! "They cried with spear stocks smashing down,
made the hunting down of Mtikana their own
and when they came upon him
fearless he faced that whole Ndebele army alone

where they did come to a halt right up against him.
"Do not let my position before you myself exalt, as a whim,
do your bidding as only duty does the soldier lead,
the moon is low and the stars are dim."

Then with the thunder of feet to him they did rush
they leaped with spears to him to meet in a deadly ambush
while they shouted ominously
did him with their spears stab and with their war-clubs crush.

[Reference:"The slaying of Mitikana" by Cullen Gouldsbury.]