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Nyimbo ya Sakima Sakima's song La chanson de Sakima

Written by Ursula Nafula

Illustrated by Peris Wachuka

Translated by Tapiwa k. Sibanda

Language ChiTonga

Level Level 3

Narrate full story The audio for this story is currently not available.


Sakima wakali kukkala a bazyali bakwe a munyina musimbi wakali a myaka ili yone. Bakali kukkala munyika yamuvwubi. Nganda yabo yabwizyu yakali kumamanino a zyisamu.

Sakima lived with his parents and his four year old sister. They lived on a rich man’s land. Their grass-thatched hut was at the end of a row of trees.

Sakima vivait avec ses parents et sa petite sœur, qui avait quatre ans. Ils vivaient sur la terre d’un homme riche. Leur hutte à toit de chaume était située au bout d’un rang d’arbres.


Naakali a myaka yotatwe, Sakima wakaciswa akuleka kubona. Sikama wakali musakwa wakajisi cipego.

When Sakima was three years old, he fell sick and lost his sight. Sakima was a talented boy.

Quand Sakima avait trois ans, il est tombé malade et a perdu la vue. Sakima était un garçon avec beaucoup de talent.


Sakima wakalikucita zyintu zyinji, balo beenzyina zyobakali kwaalilwa kucita. Mbuli kukkala abapati-pati bamumizyi akulanganya twaambo atumbi twaambo twabapati.

Sakima did many things that other six year old boys did not do. For example, he could sit with older members of the village and discuss important matters.

Sakima faisait beaucoup de choses que d’autres garçons de six ans ne faisaient pas. Par exemple, il pouvait se tenir avec les membres plus âgés du village et discuter de questions importantes.


Bazyali ba Sakima bakali kubeleka mu nganda yamuvwubi. Bakali kufyuma kuzwa a nganda a kupiluka kumangolezya manigi. Sakima waksli kucaala a nganda a musyooto waakwe musimbi.

The parents of Sakima worked at the rich man’s house. They left home early in the morning and returned late in the evening. Sakima was left with his little sister.

Les parents de Sakima travaillaient chez l’homme riche. Ils quittaient leur maison tôt le matin et revenaient tard le soir. Sakima restait seul chez eux avec sa petite sœur.


Sakima wakali, kukuyanda kwiimba nyimbo. Buzuba bumwi banyina bakamubuzya ati, “hene uzyiila kuli nyimbo ezyi, Sakima?”

Sakima loved to sing songs. One day his mother asked him, “Where do you learn these songs from, Sakima?”

Sakima adorait chanter des chansons. Un jour sa mère lui demanda, « Où apprends-tu à chanter ces chansons, Sakima? »


Sakima wakaingula, “ndizyi buyo baama. Ndizyinvwa buyo mumutwe, kwamana ndatalika kwiimba”.

Sakima answered, “They just come, mother. I hear them in my head and then I sing.”

Sakima répondit, « Elles me viennent tout simplement, maman. Je les entends dans ma tête et ensuite je chante. »


Sakima wakali kuyanda kwiimbila musyoonto wakwe musimbi, kapati kuti kanvwide nzala. Musyoonto wakwe wakali kuswiilila kaimba lwiimbo ndwaa kali kuyandisya. Wakali kuvwa kabotu lwiimbo.

Sakima liked to sing for his little sister, especially, if she felt hungry. His sister would listen to him singing his favourite song. She would sway to the soothing tune.

Sakima aimait chanter pour sa petite sœur, surtout si elle avait faim. Sa sœur l’écoutait chanter sa chanson préférée. Elle se balançait en écoutant la chanson apaisante.


“Koimba alimwi, Sakima” musyoonto wakwe musimbi wakali kulomba Sakima wakali kuzumina Sakima wakali kuzumina akwiinduluka kwiimda.

“Can you sing it again and again, Sakima,” his sister would beg him. Sakima would accept and sing it over and over again.

« Peux-tu la chanter encore et encore, Sakima? » le suppliait sa sœur. Sakima acceptait et la chantait encore et encore.


Mzngolezya aamwi bazyali bakwe noba kapiluka kunganda bakali kumwinye maningi. Sakima wakazyiba kuti kuli cilubide.

One evening when his parents returned home, they were very quiet. Sakima knew that there was something wrong.

Un soir quand ses parents sont revenus chez eux, ils étaient très tranquilles. Sakima savait qu’il y avait un problème.


“Ino ncizi calubila baama a bataata?” wakabuzya Sakima. Sakima wakazyiba kuti kuti mwaana wamuvwubi wakasweeka. Aboobo muvwubi wakalendelelwa akuusa.

“What is wrong, mother, father?” Sakima asked. Sakima learned that the rich man’s son was missing. The man was very sad and lonely.

« Qu’est-ce qu’il y a, maman et papa? » Sakima demanda. Sakima apprit que le fils de l’homme riche avait disparu. L’homme était très triste et seul.


“Inga ndamwiimbila mebo. Ndiza inga wakomana alimwi,”Sakima wakabaambila bazyali bakwe. Pesi bazyali bakwe bakamukasya. “ulya ulivubinde aboobo yebo ulimusakwa ubayinde. Uyeea kuti nyimbo zyako inga zyangwasya zi kulinguwe?”

“I can sing for him. He might be happy again,” Sakima told his parents. But his parents dismissed him. “He is very rich. You are only a blind boy. Do you think your song will help him?”

« Je peux chanter pour lui. Il redeviendra peut-être heureux, » dit Sakima à ses parents. Mais ses parents rejetèrent l’idée. « Il est très riche. Tu es seulement un garçon aveugle. Penses-tu vraiment que ta chanson l’aidera? »


Nokuba boobo, Sakima taakaleka pe. Musyoonto wakwe wakamugwasilizya. Wakati, “nyimbo zyaSakima zyilauumbulizya kuti ndila anzala. Aboobo amuvwibi zyilakonzya kumuumbuli.

However, Sakima did not give up. His little sister supported him. She said, “Sakima’s songs soothe me when I am hungry. They will soothe the rich man too.”

Toutefois, Sakima ne démissionna pas. Sa petite sœur l’appuyait. Elle disait, « Les chansons de Sakima me calment quand j’ai faim. Elles calmeront l’homme riche aussi. »


Buzuba bwakatobela, Sakima wakaambila musyoonto wakwe kuti amusindikile kunganda ya muvwubi.

The following day, Sakima asked his little sister to lead him to the rich man’s house.

Le lendemain, Sakima demanda à sa petite sœur de le mener chez l’homme riche.


Wakaima ansi ampulungwido akutalika kwiimba lwiimbo ndwaakali kuyandisya. Asyooto-soonto, mutwe wamuvwubi wakatalika kulibonya a mpulungwido.

He stood below one big window and began to sing his favourite song. Slowly, the head of the rich man began to show through the big window.

Il se tint sous une grande fenêtre et commença à chanter sa chanson préférée. Lentement, la tête de l’homme riche apparu à la grande fenêtre.


Bamabelesyi bakaleka zyobakali kucita. Bakatalika kuswiilila lwiimbo lwa Sakima lubotu. Umwi musakwa wakati, “kunyina waakonzya kumuumbulizya uutulela. Ino mwana ooyu uubayide uyeeya kuti inga wacikonzya?”

The workers stopped what they were doing. They listened to Sakima’s beautiful song. But one man said, “Nobody has been able to console the boss. Does this blind boy think he will console him?”

Les ouvriers arrêtèrent ce qu’ils faisaient. Ils écoutèrent la belle chanson de Sakima. Mais un homme dit, « Personne n’a été capable de consoler le patron. Est-ce que ce garçon aveugle pense qu’il pourra le consoler ? »


Sakima wakamanizya kwiimba nyimbo yakwe akunyo na kuti aunke. Pesi muvwubi wakabalikila anze akwaaamba kuti “ndakomba, koyimba alimwi”.

Sakima finished singing his song and turned to leave. But the rich man rushed out and said, “Please sing again.”

Sakima termina de chanter sa chanson et s’apprêtait à partir. Mais l’homme riche sortit en vitesse et dit, « S’il te plaît, chante encore. »


Acindi nchemunya ciya, kwakayinda basankwa bobilo kabanyamwunde muntu. Bakamunjana mwana wamuvwubi kulumwesyi kwanzila kaumidwe.

At that very moment, two men came carrying someone on a stretcher. They had found the rich man’s son beaten up and left on the side of the road.

À ce moment, deux hommes sont arrivés en portant quelqu’un sur une civière. Ils avaient trouvé le fils de l’homme riche tabassé et abandonné sur le bord de la route.


Muvwubi wakakomana kubona bwana wakwe musankwa. Wakalumbula Sakima nkambo wakamuumbulizya. Wakabwezya mwana wakwe musankwa alimwi a Sakima, akuunka kuciibbadela, kuya unziba na Sakima inga waboona alimwi.

The rich man was so happy to see his son again. He rewarded Sakima for consoling him. He took his son and Sakima to hospital so Sakima could regain his sight.

L’homme riche fut tellement content de revoir son fils. Il récompensa Sakima de l’avoir consolé. Il emmena les deux garçons à l’hôpital pour que Sakima puisse retrouver la vue.


Written by: Ursula Nafula
Illustrated by: Peris Wachuka
Translated by: Tapiwa k. Sibanda
Language: ChiTonga
Level: Level 3
Source: Sakima's song from African Storybook
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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