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Ana achikonga
Children of wax
Les enfants de cire
Southern African Folktale
Wiehan de Jager
Sitwe Benson Mkandawire
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Tsiku lina, kunali banja lina lokondwera.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Il était une fois une famille bien heureuse.
Sanali kuyambana. Anali kuthandizila makolo ao panyumba ndi kumunda.
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.
Koma sanaloledwe kuyenda pafupi ndi moto.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Mais ils n’avaient pas le droit de s’approcher d’un feu.
Anali kucita nchito iliyonse usiku. Cifukwa anapandidwa ndi chikonga (wax).
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 !
Koma munyamata umodzi anali kufunisitsa kuyenda muzuwa.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Mais un des garçons désirait se promener au soleil.
Tsiku lina, kufunisitsa kwake kunayenda pasogolo. Abale ace anamucenjeza…
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Un jour son désir était trop puissant. Ses frères l’avertirent…
Koma anacedwa! Anasungunuka muzuwa lakupya kwambiri.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Mais c’était trop tard ! Il fondit au soleil brûlant.
Ana achikonga sanakondwele poona m’bale wao asungunika.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Les enfants de cire étaient si tristes de voir leur frère fondre.
Koma anapangana zocita. Anapanga kanyoni kucoka ku cikonga ca m’bale wao.
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.
Anapeleka kanyoni m’bale wao pamwamba pa phiri.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Ils apportèrent leur frère l’oiseau jusqu’au sommet d’une montagne haute.
Pamene zuwa linacoka, kanyoni kanambululuka nakuimba m’mamawa mu zuwa.
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: Sitwe Benson Mkandawire
