Nyika Yangu

Nyika yaBaba naAmai,

Nyika yemadzisekuru  naanambuya

Nyika yangu.

Moyo wangu unorwadza pose pandinokufunga,

Pandinofunga marwadzo ako,

Pandinofunga kutambura kwako.

Ndiooona musodzi uchierera pamatama ako.

Ndinoona kushupika kwako.

Ndinoona marwadzo awaberekeswa nehupenyu.

Pandinokufunga iwewe.

Nyika yaBaba naAmai,

Nyika yemadzisekuru  naanambuya

Nyika yangu.

Runako rwako runondishamisa.

Mauri ndionoona mufaro,

Mauri ndinoona hupfumi hunopfurikidza amwe maruwa.

Mauri ndinoona kubudirira.

Zvipo zvako zvokudenga zvishamiso

Vana vako vokubereka vanenjere nerudo.

Asi pandinokutarisa iwewe

Runako rwako rwakavanzika.

Nyika yaBaba naAmai,

Nyika yemadzisekuru  naanambuya

Nyika yangu.

Chichemo chemoyo wangu ndechokuti, umwe musi…

Umwe musi uchasimuka.

Umwe musi uchaponeswa.

Umwe musi uchahwaima pararuwa ose.

Umwe musi vose vachaona runako rwako

Vachapa kutenda.

Rufaro rwako ruchazadzikiswa.

Nyika yaBaba naAmai

Nyika yemadzisekuru naanaAmbuya

Nyika yangu,

Ndinokuda.  

XOXO

Chido Dziva Chikwari

‘Nyika Yangu’ is Shona for My Country and this poem is specifically about where I come from/who I am and that is Zimbabwe. I guess in a way it can be extrapolated to Africa in general because that’s the heart of it all but yes in summary it’s a poem to Nyika Yangu (Zimbabwe) and it says, “When I look at you I see your hurt and your scars and the burdens that you carry but then when I look at you closely I also see your beauty and your wealth and your potential." And then it ends up with how I love her and how one day her salvation shall come and she shall also rise among the nations.

For starters I know my Shona isn’t that great (especially when it comes to writing) and I probably misspelt some words there. If anyone spots any errors please do let me know but yes essentially this is just a cry from my heart and it’s based on those words above. Written in Shona because I felt that that’s the best way I could articulate my feelings and also because I’m on a culture-preserve my language tip.

I love my country. My country is full of wealth, rich in natural and human resources and yet in the course of time we have hit what others describe as ‘rock bottom’ and some really trying times. People have been forced to leave Zimbabwe because of the situation there and we've been labelled so many undesirable things by others but the truth is there is so much within Zimbabwe and my prayer is that one day Zimbabwe will rise again. In fact I know that one day Zimbabwe will rise again and the world will see her for who she really is. 

Much Love! 

Biblical Reference

Micah 7:8

Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.

Deuteronomy 31:8

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.

Psalm 30: 5

Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.