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Abana b’ibishashara
Children of wax
Les enfants de cire
Southern African Folktale
Wiehan de Jager
Patrick Munyurangabo
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kera, habayeho umuryango wishimye.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Il était une fois une famille bien heureuse.
Ntibigeraga barwana hagati yabo. Bafashaga ababyeyi babo murugo no mu imirima.
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.
Ariko ntibari bemerewe kwegera hafi umuriro.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Mais ils n’avaient pas le droit de s’approcher d’un feu.
Bagombaga gukora imirimo yabo yose mu ijoro. Kuberako bari bakozwe mu ibishashara!
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 !
Ariko umwe mu bahungu yifuzaga cyane kujya hanze kuzuba.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Mais un des garçons désirait se promener au soleil.
Umunsi umwe kwifuza byari bikomeye cyane. Basaza be baramuburiye…
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Un jour son désir était trop puissant. Ses frères l’avertirent…
Ariko byari bitinze! Yarayonze mu izuba rishyushye.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Mais c’était trop tard ! Il fondit au soleil brûlant.
Abana b’ibishashara barababaye kubona umuvandimwe wabo ayonga.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Les enfants de cire étaient si tristes de voir leur frère fondre.
Ariko bakoze umupangu. Bakozemo ibishashara bya yonze mo inyoni.
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.
Batwaye muzaza wabo w’inyoni hejuru k’umusozi.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Ils apportèrent leur frère l’oiseau jusqu’au sommet d’une montagne haute.
Ubwo izuba ryacyaga, yagurutse aririmba mu urumuri rw’igitondo.
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: Patrick Munyurangabo
Kinyarwanda
Level 2
