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Abanaba’mana
Children of wax
Les enfants de cire
Southern African Folktale
Wiehan de Jager
Dennis Ogaro Ondieki
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Abwo kare efamili
yarengoo yamenyete
nomogoko sana.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Il était une fois une famille bien heureuse.
Tibarenge korwana
nonde bwensi. Nigo
barenge gokonya
abaibori babo nka sobo
amo nase emegondo.
They never fought with
each other. They helped
their parents at home
and in the fields.
Ils ne se disputaient jamais. Ils aidaient leurs parents à la maison et dans les champs.
Rakini mbaganeirie
kogenda ang’e
nomorero.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Mais ils n’avaient pas le droit de s’approcher d’un feu.
Nigo baganeirie gokora
chigasi chiabo botuko
rioka.
Ekiagera nigo barosirie namana!
They had to do all their
work during the night.
Because they were made of wax!
Ils devaient faire tout leur travail pendant la nuit. Puisqu’ils étaient faits de cire !
Rakini oyomo
bwa’bamura nigo
aganetie sana kogenda
ase omogaso.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Mais un des garçons désirait se promener au soleil.
Rituko erimo okagania
kwaye gokaba okonene.
Bamura bamwabo
bagachi komoonya …
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Un jour son désir était trop puissant. Ses frères l’avertirent…
Rakini tibanyareti,
bagaika gochererwa!
Akabera akaera ase
omogaso omororo.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Mais c’était trop tard ! Il fondit au soleil brûlant.
Abana baria ba amana
bakaigwa bobe korora
oyomwabo gakobera
nakoera igo.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Les enfants de cire étaient si tristes de voir leur frère fondre.
Nonya nigo begekong’ia
bakarosia omoreberio.
Bakarenta amana aria
aberete bayarosia
akaba enyoni.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
Mais ils firent un plan. Ils façonnèrent le morceau de cire fondue en oiseau.
Bakaira enyoni eri
yarenge momura
omwabo baka ase
egetunwa ekenene.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Ils apportèrent leur frère l’oiseau jusqu’au sommet d’une montagne haute.
Nomogaso buna
okiamogete, ekairuruka
gekonyagotera na
gosirera ime yoborabu
boria bwomogaso
omambia.
And as the sun rose, he
flew away singing into
the morning light.
Et lorsque le soleil se leva, il s’envola vers la lumière du matin en chantant.
Written by: Southern African Folktale
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Translated by: Dennis Ogaro Ondieki
