Grey headed myna is almost similar Blyth’s myna (Blyth’s myna happens to be its sub specie, a website though claims Bl yth ’s mayna to be separate specie. That really is the problem with Net, you have to crosscheck with different sources to authenticate. A website is much true as its url!!) difference being the latter has head and underpart white also that it is much rarer and found only in Western Ghats . Upper plumage, head and neck of Grey headed myna is dark grey giving it a silvery look; underpart is rufous getting pale towards the chin that has white streaks. The bill is blue at base, green in the middle and light yellow at the tip. They are quite widely distributed and found in light forest and wooded countryside, extremely active and mostly arboreal they move in flocks from one tree to another. It is much smaller in size compared to ubiquitous common myna and is extremely shy and quite difficult to observe, it took me sometime to get these pictures. They feed on nectar and therefore can be noticed during blossoming of flowering trees. Figs, fruits as also insects are part of menu.
Mazisi Kunene (1930-2006) was a Zulu poet who actively participated against apartheid in South Africa. His books were banned by apartheid regime and he lived in exile most part of his life. He played a pivotal role in anti apartheid move
ment in Europe and was a member of ANC. Later he took up teaching career in USA. Kunene’s literary output in exile included the published epics: Anthem of the Decades and Emperor Shaka the Great as well as two further poetry anthologies The Ancestors and the Sacred Mountain and Zulu Poems. Upon his return to South Africa in 1993, UNESCO honored him with the title of Africa’s Poet Laureate. He published books in Zulu includes Isibusiso sikamhawu (1994), Indida yamancasakazi (1995), Umzwilili wama-Afrika (1996) and Igudu likaSomcabeko (1997). Kunene strongly held the view that African literature should be in the African languages. Mazisi Kunene Project has been started recently to educate and conscientising the younger generation about the value of indigenous literary work.
Respecting the ambition of Kunene’s to promote African languages I am first quoting the poem in original and then translation. I would love to have the script too. With technological advances I would be glad if it is possible to have the poem in original script and then translation in English; it is amazing to look at different scripts of languages around the world even though one may not be able to read.
IQABUNGA LOMLINGO
Ngenziwa nguwe ukuba ngingaphezi
Wena okhulumela kimi
Wena ongihlaba ngophawu olubi
Uthi, “Sigqili sami culela abantabami”
Usho usunginike eyakho intonga
Intonga eyesabekayo athi angayithinta umuntu
Avevezele njengamahlamvu andninde kude nakude
Aze ayokufuna iqabunga, iqabunga elihlumayo
Athi ngalo ngithenga imifanekiso emikhulu
Ngithenga amalanga alandela ubunkanyezi
Ngithenga eyami inkululeko nobubanzi bayo
MAGIC LEAF
How will I ever forget you, magic leaf
Tormented as I am by your taunts
The prodding jeers and the branding iron
You command, “Slave, sing for my offspring!”
Burdening me with codes of torture that
Sow dread and paralysis to victims
Who tremble like forlorn leaves in the storm
I yearn for a budding leaf
Whose promise conjure possibility
As it scans a canopy of stars
Biding freedom, contemplating liberation
Will I ever forget encountering you
Magic leaf
IMBONO YASEKUDINGISWENI
Sabe sesihlala ezihlabathini ogwini lolwandle
Sabe sesibuka ukuwa nokuphakama kwamagagasi
Sabe sesilalela ukudlalisana kwezinyoni
Kona kwasekunjengako okwemimoya yethu
Yona inyoni’enkulu sayibona isiyikhwela intambama
Isikhwel’emafini amnyama isigoduka
Nathi laba sase sithubeleza ebusuku
Sesifumbethe imicabango ngekhaya lethu
Lona lase lisibiza lisibiza njalo kude eNingizimu
RETURN OF THE BIRD OF EXILE
Our regiment haunched heavily on the pure sands of the sea
Watching without a murmur waves and spray on the banks
Inert and silent as the albatrosses gambolled on the dunes
United in spirit, in anxiety to strike the blow for freedom
Our sunset eyes espied a giant honey bird charting the route
Meandering along a silver line of those ominous clouds
An evident cue to resume our nocturnal march
Each man longing for the warm hearth of home
The silhoutte of the bird of liberty taking us South
NABO BANGABALO MHLABA
Akayena umuntu lowo onganananelani nabantu
Yena ogodle lokho akugodlileyo
Yena osenqohe phakathi kwemikhulu imithangala
Esenguye ngokubalisa izimoto zakhe
Umuntu ngumuntu ngoba ebusebenzele ubuntu bakhe
Ngokuba ebubekele imihla ngemihla
Waze wabenzela nalabo ababusweleyo
Ngokuba nabo bangabomhlaba
Nabo bangabafazi namadoda alelizwe
THEY ALSO ARE CHILDREN OF THE EARTH
Cursed shall be the one whose passage in this world
Evades humaneness, engenders greed and hoarding
Cursed is he wallowing alone in caskets of wealth and
Counting rosary beads of accumulated cars
To be human is to humbly cherish the sweat of your toil
In measured style of decency and appreciation
To be human is to consider the plight of the needy
As they also are children of the earth
Yes, men and women of this blessed land
ment in Europe and was a member of ANC. Later he took up teaching career in USA. Kunene’s literary output in exile included the published epics: Anthem of the Decades and Emperor Shaka the Great as well as two further poetry anthologies The Ancestors and the Sacred Mountain and Zulu Poems. Upon his return to South Africa in 1993, UNESCO honored him with the title of Africa’s Poet Laureate. He published books in Zulu includes Isibusiso sikamhawu (1994), Indida yamancasakazi (1995), Umzwilili wama-Afrika (1996) and Igudu likaSomcabeko (1997). Kunene strongly held the view that African literature should be in the African languages. Mazisi Kunene Project has been started recently to educate and conscientising the younger generation about the value of indigenous literary work.Respecting the ambition of Kunene’s to promote African languages I am first quoting the poem in original and then translation. I would love to have the script too. With technological advances I would be glad if it is possible to have the poem in original script and then translation in English; it is amazing to look at different scripts of languages around the world even though one may not be able to read.
IQABUNGA LOMLINGO
Ngenziwa nguwe ukuba ngingaphezi
Wena okhulumela kimi
Wena ongihlaba ngophawu olubi
Uthi, “Sigqili sami culela abantabami”
Usho usunginike eyakho intonga
Intonga eyesabekayo athi angayithinta umuntu
Avevezele njengamahlamvu andninde kude nakude
Aze ayokufuna iqabunga, iqabunga elihlumayo
Athi ngalo ngithenga imifanekiso emikhulu
Ngithenga amalanga alandela ubunkanyezi
Ngithenga eyami inkululeko nobubanzi bayo
MAGIC LEAF
How will I ever forget you, magic leaf
Tormented as I am by your taunts
The prodding jeers and the branding iron
You command, “Slave, sing for my offspring!”
Burdening me with codes of torture that
Sow dread and paralysis to victims
Who tremble like forlorn leaves in the storm
I yearn for a budding leaf
Whose promise conjure possibility
As it scans a canopy of stars
Biding freedom, contemplating liberation
Will I ever forget encountering you
Magic leaf
IMBONO YASEKUDINGISWENI
Sabe sesihlala ezihlabathini ogwini lolwandle
Sabe sesibuka ukuwa nokuphakama kwamagagasi
Sabe sesilalela ukudlalisana kwezinyoni
Kona kwasekunjengako okwemimoya yethu
Yona inyoni’enkulu sayibona isiyikhwela intambama
Isikhwel’emafini amnyama isigoduka
Nathi laba sase sithubeleza ebusuku
Sesifumbethe imicabango ngekhaya lethu
Lona lase lisibiza lisibiza njalo kude eNingizimu
RETURN OF THE BIRD OF EXILE
Our regiment haunched heavily on the pure sands of the sea
Watching without a murmur waves and spray on the banks
Inert and silent as the albatrosses gambolled on the dunes
United in spirit, in anxiety to strike the blow for freedom
Our sunset eyes espied a giant honey bird charting the route
Meandering along a silver line of those ominous clouds
An evident cue to resume our nocturnal march
Each man longing for the warm hearth of home
The silhoutte of the bird of liberty taking us South
NABO BANGABALO MHLABA
Akayena umuntu lowo onganananelani nabantu
Yena ogodle lokho akugodlileyo
Yena osenqohe phakathi kwemikhulu imithangala
Esenguye ngokubalisa izimoto zakhe
Umuntu ngumuntu ngoba ebusebenzele ubuntu bakhe
Ngokuba ebubekele imihla ngemihla
Waze wabenzela nalabo ababusweleyo
Ngokuba nabo bangabomhlaba
Nabo bangabafazi namadoda alelizwe
THEY ALSO ARE CHILDREN OF THE EARTH
Cursed shall be the one whose passage in this world
Evades humaneness, engenders greed and hoarding
Cursed is he wallowing alone in caskets of wealth and
Counting rosary beads of accumulated cars
To be human is to humbly cherish the sweat of your toil
In measured style of decency and appreciation
To be human is to consider the plight of the needy
As they also are children of the earth
Yes, men and women of this blessed land
