NginguGciwane Indodana kaNgculaza. I am Germ, son of AIDS.

Iningi lenu liyangazi. There are many of you

who know me.

Kepha laba abangaziyo Yet those who know me do not agree

abavumi ukuthi ngaziwe njengelunga that I be known as one

lomndeni wabo. among their relatives.

Kunalokho bayateketisa. Bathi ubaba There are those who waver. They say my

wami uyindoda yale, father is a man from over there,

phesheya kwelase – Melika. across [the seas] from America.

Kanti qha! Akunjalo. But no! It is not like that.

Ngingu Gciwane, indodana kaNgculaza. I am Germ, son of AIDS.

Kubobonke laba abasho There are those who always say,

Njalo, akulutho. it is nothing.

Mina, Ngiyafika kubona. Yet, I arrive among them.

Abanye baze bateketise ngayo. Others waver.

Yonke indlela abuze ukuthi ngabe They ask in every way how it is

ngiqhamuka kuliphi. that I have suddenly appeared.

Ngithi nginendawo yokuhlala. I say I have a place to stay.

Ngihlala emzimbeni womuntu. I stay in the body of a person.

Nginethezeke ehotela lami, okuyigazi. I am at ease at my hotel, the blood of a

person.

Ingani ngibangisana It is because I contend

nomakhelwane wami with my neighbour

abambiza uMasotsha oMzimba. whom they call, Soldiers-of-the-Body

[the immune system].

Phela, nginobhuti wami omcane. Indeed, I have my younger brother.

Abambiza uZifo zoCansi. They call him Disease-of-the-Mat [of sex].

Ingani uyena ongisizayo It is because he is the one who helps me

ukuba ngibhebhetheke. so that I flare up.***

Ngigcwale izwe lonke I have filled all the land

Ngomzuz’ owodwa. in a single moment.

Ngihlasela ikhulu labantu I attack hundreds of people

ikakhulukazi laba abazonda with a vengeance, especially those who

umalume wami uKhondomi. hate my maternal uncle, Condom.

Kubona ngifika It is amongst them that I arrive

sengiphindaphindeka to return and return again

okwezinwele zomuntu. like the hairs [on the head] of a person.

Phela! NginguGciwane, indodana kaNgculaza. Truly! I am Germ, son of AIDS.