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Anji afa Akazavile ri Children of wax Les enfants de cire

Written by Southern African Folktale

Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager

Translated by Saidi Omar Dramani

Language Lugbarati

Level Level 2

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O’du alu ndra drio, aku ayikoruni ovu ‘dale

Once upon a time, there lived a happy family.

Il était une fois une famille bien heureuse.


Eyi ndra ayikoru. Fuuni afu eyi ma eselea ku. Eyi ndra eyi ma ti’ba ma azako aku alea dika amvua.

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.


Te eyi ma ati le ndra eyi ma si aci ma ageia enyi ku.

But they were not allowed to go near a fire.

Mais ils n’avaient pas le droit de s’approcher d’un feu.


Eyi ndra azi eyini ‘dii nga inisi. A’dusiku ‘ba ede eyi afa akaapi acisi akaaka ri si. Ka gonne ba ne ba bopilwe ka kerese!

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 !


Te mva alu agupi anzi ‘diyi ma eseleari le ndra mu acisi etu alia.

But one of the boys longed to go out in the sunlight.

Mais un des garçons désirait se promener au soleil.


O’du alu, mva aluri ma asi muzu etu aliari nde eri ra. Eri ma adrii iri ‘dii oga eri si.

One day the longing was too strong. His brothers warned him…

Un jour son désir était trop puissant. Ses frères l’avertirent…


‘Ba oga eri ti. ‘Da koni eri ma aza ku. E’do aka etu drizasi.

But it was too late! He melted in the hot sun.

Mais c’était trop tard ! Il fondit au soleil brûlant.


Anzi nde bani edele afa akaza si ‘dii ovu chandisi tu yini yi ma adrii nezu akaria etusi ri si.

The wax children were so sad to see their brother melting away.

Les enfants de cire étaient si tristes de voir leur frère fondre.


Anzi ‘dii ega ondoa alu. Asi eyi ma adri ma odri akazari ede aria ru.

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.


Anzi ‘dii ‘du yi ma adrii ariaruri ‘be uruni ma dria.

They took their bird brother up to a high mountain.

Ils apportèrent leur frère l’oiseau jusqu’au sommet d’une montagne haute.


Etuni e’do agaria, yima adri ariaruri nga oli alia, ongo be etu o’bitiniri ma alia.

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: Saidi Omar Dramani
Language: Lugbarati
Level: Level 2
Source: Children of wax from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 International License.
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