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Ng’Ide a Ng’Amonok
Children of wax
Les enfants de cire
Southern African Folktale
Wiehan de Jager
Dennis Lokitare
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Kolong ang’orot, alomit awi na alakara.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Il était une fois une famille bien heureuse.
Pe ajienete kesi. Eng’aranakinete ng’ikauriak kech anawi tani alomana.
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.
Na kaneni pe achamunitae kesi irudakinosi nakim.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Mais ils n’avaient pas le droit de s’approcher d’un feu.
Achamakina esubete etich kech nakwaare.
Kotere asubitae kesi a ng’amonok!
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 !
Na kaneni emuit esapat epei alosit nikalapatan nakolong.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Mais un des garçons désirait se promener au soleil.
Apei kwaar abu ekimue tolalaar. Apotu ta lokatokeng kiteng’ero ng’esi.
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Un jour son désir était trop puissant. Ses frères l’avertirent…
Na kaneni kisidioro ng’una! Abu ng’esi tokeeya anakolong anakariran.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Mais c’était trop tard ! Il fondit au soleil brûlant.
Apotu ng’ide a ng’amonok kiyalolong’o aking’olikin lokatokech ekeyari.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Les enfants de cire étaient si tristes de voir leur frère fondre.
Na kaneni apotu totiakut arekinet. Apotu tolemut emodol a ng’amonok ana ekeyarito kichaut ikeny.
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.
Apotu yasi lokatokech lo arai ikeny kidiama naita emoru.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Ils apportèrent leur frère l’oiseau jusqu’au sommet d’une montagne haute.
Nabo na ajipunia akolong, abu ng’esi toporo eeokinit tooma nakicha na ataparach.
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: Dennis Lokitare
