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Abana b’enimba
Children of wax
Les enfants de cire
Southern African Folktale
Wiehan de Jager
Amos Mubunga Kambere
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Kera kera habya omuyi mughuma owabya ikere n’obutseme.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Il était une fois une famille bien heureuse.
Isibalilhwa kutse eritsumangana. Abana ibakawathikaya ababuthi babo eka kandi n’omwirima.
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.
Aliryo isibalikiriribawa erighenda hakuhi nomuliro.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Mais ils n’avaient pas le droit de s’approcher d’un feu.
Ibakakolha emibiri yabo yomwakiro. Kusangwa babya bakolire omw’animba eyikanyegha.
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 !
Neryo omughuma okwabalhwana abya inyanzire erighenda okwamwisi.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Mais un des garçons désirait se promener au soleil.
Nimwanabya anzire erighenda okwamwisi, baghalha babu mubamuhabulha ambu sikiwene, kusangwa omwisi akanyeghaya enimba.
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Un jour son désir était trop puissant. Ses frères l’avertirent…
Obuthuku buthebwabya buli, neryo mw’anyegha okwamwisi.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Mais c’était trop tard ! Il fondit au soleil brûlant.
Ikwa abana abenimba mubahunerera bakalhangira mughalha wabubo akany’enga neribbumbutuka.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Les enfants de cire étaient si tristes de voir leur frère fondre.
Abasighalha mubathwa obwenge. Enimba eyabbumbutukira ahisi mubathwamu erikolha ekinyonyi.
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.
Mubathwalha ekinyonyi kighalhakyabubo okw’akithwa.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Ils apportèrent leur frère l’oiseau jusqu’au sommet d’une montagne haute.
Neryo eryuba mulyalenga, ekinyonyi nakyo mukyaghulhuka neryimba kuhikya omwangyakya.
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: Amos Mubunga Kambere
