Sakima aliishi na wazazi wake na dada yake wa miaka minne. Waliishi katika shamba la mtu tajiri. Nyumba yao ya nyasi ilikuwa mwisho wa safu ya miti iliyopendeza.
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 alipokuwa na umri wa miaka mitatu, aliugua na kupoteza uwezo wa kuona. Hata hivyo, Sakima alikuwa mvulana mwenye kipaji.
When Sakima was three years old, he fell sick and lost his sight.
Sakima was a talented boy.
Sakima alitenda mambo mengi ambayo wavulana wengine wa umri wake hawakufanya. Kwa mfano, aliketi na watu wazima na kujadili mambo muhimu.
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.
Wazazi wa Sakima walifanya kazi katika nyumba ya yule tajiri. Walitoka nyumbani asubuhi na mapema na kurudi jioni. Sakima aliachwa na dada yake.
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.
Sakima alipenda kuimba nyimbo. Siku moja mama yake alimuuliza, “Sakima, unajifunza nyimbo hizi kutoka wapi?”
Sakima loved to sing songs.
One day his mother asked him, “Where do you learn these songs from, Sakima?”
Sakima answered, “They just come, mother. I hear them in my head and then I sing.”
Sakima alipenda kumwimbia mdogo wake hasa akihisi njaa. Dada yake alimsikiliza na kucheza.
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.
“Naomba uimbe tena na tena, Sakima,” mdogo wake alimsihi. Sakima alikubali na kuimba mara nyingine.
“Can you sing it again and again, Sakima,” his sister would beg him.
Sakima would accept and sing it over and over again.
Jioni moja, wazazi wake waliporudi nyumbani, walikuwa kimya sana. Sakima alijua kwamba lazima kulikuwa na jambo baya.
One evening when his parents returned home, they were very quiet.
Sakima knew that there was something wrong.
“Kuna shida gani, mama, baba?” Sakima aliuliza. Sakima aligundua kwamba mwana wa tajiri wao alikuwa amepotea. Tajiri alihuzunika na kuwa na upweke mkubwa.
“What is wrong, mother, father?” Sakima asked.
Sakima learned that the rich man’s son was missing.
The man was very sad and lonely.
“Labda atafurahi tena nikimwimbia,” Sakima aliwaambia wazazi wake. Wazazi wake walidharau wazo lake. “Yeye ni tajiri sana. Wewe ni mvulana asiyeona. Unadhani wimbo wako utamsaidia?”
“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?”
Hata hivyo, Sakima hakukata tamaa. Mdogo wake alimpa moyo. Alisema, “Nyimbo za Sakima hunituliza mimi nikiwa na njaa. Zitamtuliza tajiri vile vile.”
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.”
Siku iliyofuata, Sakima alimwomba mdogo wake amwongoze hadi kwenye nyumba ya tajiri.
The following day, Sakima asked his little sister to lead him to the rich man’s house.
Alisimama chini ya dirisha moja kubwa na kuanza kuimba wimbo wake alioupenda. Pole pole, kichwa cha tajiri kilionekana dirishani.
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.
Wafanyakazi waliacha kazi zao. Wakasikiliza wimbo mzuri wa Sakima. Hata hivyo, mwanamume mmoja alisema, “Hakuna aliyefaulu kumtuliza bwana. Je, huyu mvulana asiyeona anafikiri atamtuliza?”
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?”
Sakima alipomaliza kuimba wimbo wake alianza kuondoka. Tajiri alitoka nje kwa haraka na kusema, “Tafadhali, imba tena.”
Sakima finished singing his song and turned to leave.
But the rich man rushed out and said, “Please sing again.”
Wakati huo huo, watu wawili walikuja wakiwa wamembeba mtu kwenye machela. Walimkuta mwana wa tajiri akiwa amechapwa na kuachwa kando ya barabara.
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.
Tajiri alifurahi sana kumwona mwana wake tena. Alimzawadia Sakima kwa kumliwaza. Aliwapeleka mwanawe na Sakima hosipitali ili Sakima aweze kusaidiwa kuona tena.
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.
