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Olwimbo lwa Sakima Sakima's song La chanson de Sakima

Written by Ursula Nafula

Illustrated by Peris Wachuka

Translated by Amos Mubunga Kambere

Language Lukhonzo

Level Level 3

Narrate full story The audio for this story is currently not available.


Sakima aby’ikere nababuthi biwe haima n’amwali wabu oyuwabya inyawithe myaka ini. Babya bikere okwirima ly’omugaga. Akanyumba kabo akobunyatsi kabya okwamuheryo werilima lyemithi.

Sakima lived with his parents and his four year old sister. They lived on a rich man’s land. Their grass-thatched hut was at the end of a row of trees.

Sakima vivait avec ses parents et sa petite sœur, qui avait quatre ans. Ils vivaient sur la terre d’un homme riche. Leur hutte à toit de chaume était située au bout d’un rang d’arbres.


Sakima abere akabya emyaka isathu, mwabya ndimithime. Sakima abyamulhwana w’obwenge bunene.

When Sakima was three years old, he fell sick and lost his sight. Sakima was a talented boy.

Quand Sakima avait trois ans, il est tombé malade et a perdu la vue. Sakima était un garçon avec beaucoup de talent.


Sakima inyakakolha bindu binene ebyabandi bana abemyaka mukagha batebangakolha. Ekyerileberyako, inyakikalha nabalhume bakulhu omwabulambo nayo inyahanulha okwamyatsi yabalhume bakulhu.

Sakima did many things that other six year old boys did not do. For example, he could sit with older members of the village and discuss important matters.

Sakima faisait beaucoup de choses que d’autres garçons de six ans ne faisaient pas. Par exemple, il pouvait se tenir avec les membres plus âgés du village et discuter de questions importantes.


Ababuthi ba Sakima babya bakakolera omulhume omugaga. Ibakalhwa eka y’omwangyakya kutsibu. Sakima inyakasighalha eka namwaliwabo.

The parents of Sakima worked at the rich man’s house. They left home early in the morning and returned late in the evening. Sakima was left with his little sister.

Les parents de Sakima travaillaient chez l’homme riche. Ils quittaient leur maison tôt le matin et revenaient tard le soir. Sakima restait seul chez eux avec sa petite sœur.


Sakima inyanzire eryimba esyanyimbo. Kiro kighuma mama wiwe mwamubulya athi, “esyanyimbo esi ukasyighirahayi, Sakima?”

Sakima loved to sing songs. One day his mother asked him, “Where do you learn these songs from, Sakima?”

Sakima adorait chanter des chansons. Un jour sa mère lui demanda, « Où apprends-tu à chanter ces chansons, Sakima? »


Sakima mwasubamu, “Sikakwama kyayasira mama. Ngasyowa omwamuthwe neryo inatsuka eryimba”.

Sakima answered, “They just come, mother. I hear them in my head and then I sing.”

Sakima répondit, « Elles me viennent tout simplement, maman. Je les entends dans ma tête et ensuite je chante. »


Sakima inyanzire erimbira mwaliwabu, kulhabirirya obuthuku akabya inyakwire enzalha. Mwaliwabu inyakahulikirira esyanyimbo siwe kulhabirirya olhuwene. Neryo inyakahothola kulho.

Sakima liked to sing for his little sister, especially, if she felt hungry. His sister would listen to him singing his favourite song. She would sway to the soothing tune.

Sakima aimait chanter pour sa petite sœur, surtout si elle avait faim. Sa sœur l’écoutait chanter sa chanson préférée. Elle se balançait en écoutant la chanson apaisante.


“Wanganasubamu, kyiisi mwanithu Sakima,” mwaliwabu inyakamusaba. Sakima neryo inyakaligha erisubamu.

“Can you sing it again and again, Sakima,” his sister would beg him. Sakima would accept and sing it over and over again.

« Peux-tu la chanter encore et encore, Sakima? » le suppliait sa sœur. Sakima acceptait et la chantait encore et encore.


Kiro kighume omwigholhogholho, ababuthi babere bakakulhuka mubayihunira, neryo Sakima mwaminya athi hali ekyabereho.

One evening when his parents returned home, they were very quiet. Sakima knew that there was something wrong.

Un soir quand ses parents sont revenus chez eux, ils étaient très tranquilles. Sakima savait qu’il y avait un problème.


“Ibwa kuthi mama, na Thatha, yabereki eyo?” Sakima mwabulyabo. Mubamusubirya bathi omulhwana womusyakulhu omugaga abulire. Omusyakulhu omugaga aly’omwabulighe bunene.

“What is wrong, mother, father?” Sakima asked. Sakima learned that the rich man’s son was missing. The man was very sad and lonely.

« Qu’est-ce qu’il y a, maman et papa? » Sakima demanda. Sakima apprit que le fils de l’homme riche avait disparu. L’homme était très triste et seul.


“Nanganayamwimbira, neryo aniatsanga tsanga.” Sakima mwabwire ababuthi biwe. Aliriryo mubathamuhira mwa maha. “Omulhume nimugaga, iwe wuli mulhwana ndimethime, ukalengekanaya olhwimbo lhwaghu lwanganayira ekyalhwangakolha okwa mugaga?’

“I can sing for him. He might be happy again,” Sakima told his parents. But his parents dismissed him. “He is very rich. You are only a blind boy. Do you think your song will help him?”

« Je peux chanter pour lui. Il redeviendra peut-être heureux, » dit Sakima à ses parents. Mais ses parents rejetèrent l’idée. « Il est très riche. Tu es seulement un garçon aveugle. Penses-tu vraiment que ta chanson l’aidera? »


Sakima mwathalekeraho, mwaliwabo nayo mwamuwathikya neribugha athi, “esyanyimbo sya Sakima sikanyiwathikaya omughulhu ngabya omwanzalha, neryo sindibya netseme?” Omulhume omugaga nayo sianganatsangatsanga.

However, Sakima did not give up. His little sister supported him. She said, “Sakima’s songs soothe me when I am hungry. They will soothe the rich man too.”

Toutefois, Sakima ne démissionna pas. Sa petite sœur l’appuyait. Elle disait, « Les chansons de Sakima me calment quand j’ai faim. Elles calmeront l’homme riche aussi. »


Ekindi kiro, neryo Sakima mwabwira mwaliwabo athi amwembembethaye erimuhikya okwa w’omugaga.

The following day, Sakima asked his little sister to lead him to the rich man’s house.

Le lendemain, Sakima demanda à sa petite sœur de le mener chez l’homme riche.


Sakima mwimana hakuhi neridirisa erinene, neryo amatsuka eryimba olhwimbo lhwiwe olhubuya, neryo omuthwe w’omulhume omugaga amatsuka erihulhukirirya omw’idirisa.

He stood below one big window and began to sing his favourite song. Slowly, the head of the rich man began to show through the big window.

Il se tint sous une grande fenêtre et commença à chanter sa chanson préférée. Lentement, la tête de l’homme riche apparu à la grande fenêtre.


Abakoli abosi neryo mubaleka erikolha bakathahulikirira olhwimbo lhwa Sakima. Neryo omulhume mughuma mwabugha, “Sihali mundu namughuma oyuwamathalembalemba omugaga, nibughaambu omulhwana endimetime eyi yeyikendimulembalemba?

The workers stopped what they were doing. They listened to Sakima’s beautiful song. But one man said, “Nobody has been able to console the boss. Does this blind boy think he will console him?”

Les ouvriers arrêtèrent ce qu’ils faisaient. Ils écoutèrent la belle chanson de Sakima. Mais un homme dit, « Personne n’a été capable de consoler le patron. Est-ce que ce garçon aveugle pense qu’il pourra le consoler ? »


Sakima mwawunza eryimba neryo amabinduka akanza erisuba ewabu. Neryo omulhume omugaga mwalhwa omwanyumba neritibitha athi, “kyisi kyisi thasyanzubirayamo olhwimbo”.

Sakima finished singing his song and turned to leave. But the rich man rushed out and said, “Please sing again.”

Sakima termina de chanter sa chanson et s’apprêtait à partir. Mais l’homme riche sortit en vitesse et dit, « S’il te plaît, chante encore. »


Omwakatambi ako neryo abalhume babiri mubakabukalha ibanahekire omwana y’okwamuthi. Omwana w’omugaga abya inyabiriswiribwa, nerimusigha okw’anzira.

At that very moment, two men came carrying someone on a stretcher. They had found the rich man’s son beaten up and left on the side of the road.

À ce moment, deux hommes sont arrivés en portant quelqu’un sur une civière. Ils avaient trouvé le fils de l’homme riche tabassé et abandonné sur le bord de la route.


Omulhume omugaga mwasima kutsibu akalhangira omwanawiwe. Mwasima Sakima erimutsangyatsangya. Neryo eriha Sakima y’ewasingya mwathwalha omwana wiwe haima na Sakima b’omwasipatara. Sakima mwathambirwa ameso neryo mwatsuka erilhangira.

The rich man was so happy to see his son again. He rewarded Sakima for consoling him. He took his son and Sakima to hospital so Sakima could regain his sight.

L’homme riche fut tellement content de revoir son fils. Il récompensa Sakima de l’avoir consolé. Il emmena les deux garçons à l’hôpital pour que Sakima puisse retrouver la vue.


Written by: Ursula Nafula
Illustrated by: Peris Wachuka
Translated by: Amos Mubunga Kambere
Language: Lukhonzo
Level: Level 3
Source: Sakima's song from African Storybook
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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