Chaka by Thomas Mofolo

Author:Thomas Mofolo
Language: afr
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Africa, Fiction, Lesotho, Cultural, Historical, Classics
ISBN: 9780795707155
Publisher: Kwela
Published: 2015-08-03T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 14

Chaka Is Installed as his Father’s Successor

THE SUN rose on the day of Chaka’s installation. Shortly after the cattle were taken to the pastures Noliwa arrived with her group, since she had been unable to come with Dingiswayo. When the throng had settled down, Chaka came out of the house where he had cloistered himself ever since his return from his father’s grave in the night. Dingiswayo conducted the affairs of that day, and in all matters, he spoke the truth that was in his chest, not aiming at pleasing anyone but speaking as only his conscience permitted; after all, he had known the pain of a biting conscience, and did not wish to act again in a way that would give him a feeling of guilt. The councillors also spoke. At last Chaka was given his opportunity to address the crowd.

He stood up, the son of Senzangakhona, and he was dark brown in complexion, and was ripe and smooth, rousing admiration in all who saw him. The assembled nation, when they looked at him, saw in him a child of true royal blood born to rule and to reign over other people; and the people of his home felt moved as they remembered how they had rejected him without knowing the true worth of the one they were rejecting, and they saw that they nearly spited themselves by throwing away their king. The armies and the young men, when they looked at him, saw in him a beautiful young man with piercing eyes, with a powerful arm, ready to lift up the spear and the shield; and when they remembered that he was, in truth, the way he appeared, they loved him all the more. The kings, when they looked at him, saw in him a young king, a young shoot of great promise. The young women, when they looked at him, saw in him a gallant young man, more handsome by far than all other young men, one who was without blemish, a true brave, unquestionably superior to all his peers. All who saw him had no doubt this was a young man from a royal house, one accustomed to standing before large assemblies; they saw in him a commander born to lead large armies.

In stature Chaka stood tall, his shoulders higher than those of other people, but he was not lanky because he had a heavy-set body; his shoulders were broad. And yet even though to the eye he seemed so heavy, there was none to equal him in swiftness in running, in jumping, and turning sharply, and in dodging his adversary.

Chaka stood up in the midst of that multitude staring at him as if mesmerised, and then he spoke. He spoke briefly to the people of his home, asking them to receive him honestly with all their hearts, and let bygones be bygones which must be forgotten, so that they might all make a fresh start. He refrained from speaking too long, for fear that

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