Written stories
Xhosa is born
Tip, Tap, Tip, Tap… the rain has come…
men, women, children and the gods have sung
of a culture strong
as ten thousand lions, rich as fields of gold
glorified as kings and queens…
as the kraal full of white, thick cattle nourish the nation
God watching over creation
Xhosa was born…
As queens give birth to princelings who will rule
amongst circles of hungry congress men
quivering and drooling over these treasures
Xhosa was born…
Old mothers sitting around camp fires
recalling folk tales to the young
women ululate to chiefs with drum tongues
Xhosa was born…
As the golden rooster crows for all to wake
And the eagle eyes its prey for the take
Xhosa was born…
The luminous sun as his crown
the powerful and mysterious moon as his gaze
blue black skies are his skin
pure rivers and streams, cracking the earth
with stomping feet
and booming voice,
a thousand warriors witnessed:
Xhosa being born
Vibrating with multi coloured beads,
doeks and umbaqco, honouring his birth
Xhosa is born
Praise songs echoing over fields
Capa capa
Ca-pa
Ca-
pa
ca
It is said on this day
Xhosa was born.