Poem For Dr Esther Nikwambi 'NoStokana' Mahlangu by Khehla Chepape Makgato

Gogo NoStokana, 

Though you have heard 

The doors of Western Art bang 

In the wind of global art scene, 

Nudging to corrupt or influence creatives

At large, your soul and conviction 

Felt unanchored 

From yourself, 

From your mother's language, 

From the wisdom of your ancestors 

From the land of your forebears, 

From your Humanism, 

Through it all, you maintained your stay 

In Mpumalanga, where the sun rise

I feel the patterns and colors 

Of masterpieces from your primal being

Many a times, 

I watched you travel the world

Tons of television interviews 

You bring voices of your ancestors 

Through your language of Ndebele alive

You inspired me to secure my door of creativity with a strand of wire

To stop it from banging about in the wind 

Emerging in the arts, mine door has been 

Banging so long I ceased to care 

Until like now, I wanted to calm 

So I could listen and learn 

To be true to my conviction and 

Authentic to my craft 

All the time on the land of my ancestors, 

I shall bask in your greatness 

No doubt I shall strive to become 

The best in my craft 

Your works, to this day, whilst 

You still walk amongst us, 

Grace countless varied collections 

Wide and afar 

Your work has been reproduced

On automobiles, 

On flight tales and wings, 

On household brands, 

On murals and canvases 

The greatness and geniusness of your matriarchs is felt directly or indirectly 

I know that you can, 

With the power and means at your command

Aid the African generations of artists

Towards the greater freedom of mind and commerce 

The nursery of the truest economic and artistic emancipation 

Koko Esther Nikwambi 'Stokana' Mahlangu 

The Honorable Doctor of Philosophy 

In your line of work, Master and Griot of Ndebele Painting Tradition, 

I greet you and hope you'll accept my humble tribute, on the occasion of your 85th birthday anniversary 

I am happy that you have your culture 

Not dying under your supervision 

Many girls you've taught this tradition

And they will continue to take it to the world 

Thank you master, thank you Griot, 

May you live long. 

DORHODERA GOGO ESTHER NOSTOKANA Mahlangu - Translation by Dr. Sponono Mahlangu

Nalokha uzwe iminyango yobukghwari bangaphetjheya ivala,

Emehlweni weentjhabatjhaba kwezobukghwari,

Ayikho into ethikameze yaba nomthelela ezintweni zobukghwari ephasini mazombe,

Ubuwena bakho nemithethwakho isakakarele emirabhinakho!

Ukusuka elimini nelwazini labokhokho bakho ngitjho nenarhenabo imbala!

Ngesimanga sobuntu bakho wakhetha ukuhlala eMpumalanga,

Wakhetha ukuhlala lapha ilanga liphuma khona…

 Ngibona imigwalo nemibala yemisebenzakho ukusukela lapha ithoma khona,

Esikhathini esinengi bengikubukela nawehla wenyuka ngeemphaphamtjhini, Wehla wenyuka utjhinga eenarheni zakosobantu nenarhakazini imbala!

 Ngokuhlungwa kwakho amahlandlakazi amanengi kibomabonakude,

Uletha bunqopha amezwi wabokhokho ngelimi lakho lesiKhethu okusiNdebele! Wangikhuthaza ukobana ngibe netjisakalo kwezobukghwari,

Ngiphosele ilitje esivivaneni ukobana ngithuthukise ikghono lami.

Bekube nje ngazinikela isikhathi, ngabona, ngafunda,

Ngafunda ukuba neqiniso kilokho engikholelwa kikho, Ngafunda nokobana ngijamele izinto okungezami.

Ngizakuthatha izeluleko zakho ngizifumbathe ngezandla zombili! Angizazi ukobana nakanjani ngizakukhamba eenyathelweni zakho, Imisebenzakho bekube nje iseseseqophelweni eliphezulu!

Ngitjho ekhaya, ephasini mazombe neentjhabatjhabeni.

Umsebenzakho ubonakele eensetjenzisweni zangendlini,

Umsebenzakho ubonakele emigwalweni, emithangaleni neenthombeni, Eenkoloyini, emisileni nemaphikweni weemphaphamtjhini imbala! Ubukhulu bakho nokuhlakanipha kwakho njengomma bubonakala bunqopha, Ngiyazi bona ngamandlakho nangekghono lakho ungasiza iintjhaba.

Ungasiza iintjhaba zesizukulwana sama-Afrika ukobana zitjhaphuluke,

Zitjhaphuluke zirorobhe, zizinuke amakhwapha zizenzele amarhwebo.

Zisikime zikwazi ukuzijamela, zithuthukise umnotho ngobukghwari,

Mhlonitjhwa Gogo Esther Nikwambi Nostokana Mahlangu

Dorhodera ohloniphekileko emsebenzinakho wobukghwari

Sitjho wena Ngorho! Kutani yemigwalo yesiNdebele…

Siyazikhakhazisa ngawe Dorhodera, Gogo wesitjhaba!

Sithi langa elihle lokugidinga iminyaka ema-85 yamabeletho!

UZimu akutjhudubaze! Akwande Dima!