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Abaana be iula
Children of wax
Les enfants de cire
Southern African Folktale
Wiehan de Jager
Catherine Were
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Khale lialikho litaala
elala eliabandu bali
nibamwenya
mubusangafu.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Il était une fois une famille bien heureuse.
Shibakhupanangakho
tawe. Bakhonyanga
abebusi babu hango
nende mumukunda.
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.
Ne shibafuchirirungwa
okhusuta hambi no
muliro tawe.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Mais ils n’avaient pas le droit de s’approcher d’un feu.
Bakholanga mirimo
chiabu chiosi mushiro.
Okhubera bali nibalongwa okhurula khu iula!
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 !
Ne mulala khu basiani
yekomba okhutsia
okhwora omubasu.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Mais un des garçons désirait se promener au soleil.
Inyanga ndala,
yekomba muno muno
okhukhola ario.
Abasiani babu
nibamukaya.
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Un jour son désir était trop puissant. Ses frères l’avertirent…
Ne bachelewa!
Yasalulukha mumubasu.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Mais c’était trop tard ! Il fondit au soleil brûlant.
Abaana be iula
baberera muno muno,
olwabalola owashiabwe
nasalulukha mulimba.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Les enfants de cire étaient si tristes de voir leur frère fondre.
Nibakasia liparo.
Nibalonga liyoni
okhurula khu iula yali
niyisalulushe.
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.
Nibabukula omusiani
wabu weliyoni,
nibamuira khu shikulu
eshirambi.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Ils apportèrent leur frère l’oiseau jusqu’au sommet d’une montagne haute.
Ne olwa elimba liarula,
napurukha hekulu
niyemba mubulafu bwe
itsuli.
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: Catherine Were
