Odongo and Apiyo lived in the city with their father.
They looked forward to the holidays. Not just because school was closed, but because they went to visit their grandmother. She lived in a fishing village near a large lake.
Odongo and Apiyo were excited because it was time to visit their grandmother again.
The night before, they packed their bags and got ready for the long journey to her village. They could not sleep and talked the whole night about the holiday.
Early the next morning, they left for the village in their father’s car.
They drove past mountains, wild animals and tea plantations. They counted cars and sang songs.
After a while, the children were tired and fell asleep.
Ilyo baafikile kumushi, bawishi bashibwishe Odongo na Apiyo. Baasangile banakulu ba Nyar-Kanyada naabasendama pampaasa mwisamba lya cimuti. Ishina lya Nyar-Kanyada mu ci Luo lipilibula, umwana wabena Kanyanda. Nyar-Kanyada aali umusuma saana kabili uwakosa.
Father woke up Odongo and Apiyo as they arrived in the village.
They found Nyar-Kanyada, their grandmother, resting on a mat under a tree.
Nyar-Kanyada in Luo, means ‘daughter of the people of Kanyada’. She was a strong and beautiful woman.
Nyar-Kanyada welcomed them into the house and danced around the room singing with joy.
Her grandchildren were excited to give her the presents they brought from the city.
“First open my gift,” said Odongo.
“No, my gift first!” said Apiyo.
Odongo and Apiyo helped their grandmother with household chores. They fetched water and firewood. They collected eggs from the chickens and picked greens from the garden.
One morning, Odongo took his grandmother’s cows to graze. They ran onto a neighbour’s farm.
The farmer was angry with Odongo. He threatened to keep the cows for eating his crops. After that day, the boy made sure that the cows did not get into trouble again.
Ubushiku bumbi, abaana baile na Nyar-Kanyada ku maliketi. Akwete icintamba apo aleshitiisha umusaalu, shuga elyo na sopo. Apiyo atemenwe ukweba abantu umutengo wafintu baleshitisha. Odongo atemenwe ukulonga ifintu ifyo abantu baaleeshita.
On another day, the children went to the marketplace with Nyar-Kanyada. She had a stall selling vegetables, sugar and soap.
Apiyo liked to tell customers the price of items. Odongo would pack the items that customers bought.
But too soon the holidays were over and the children had to go back to the city.
Nyar-Kanyada gave Odongo a cap and Apiyo a sweater. She packed food for their journey.
When their father came to fetch them, they did not want to leave. The children begged Nyar-Kanyada to go with them to the city.
She smiled and said, “I am too old for the city. I will be waiting for you to come to my village again.”
Odongo na Apiyo bakumbatiile banakulu nokutila shalenipo.
Odongo and Apiyo both hugged her tightly and said goodbye.
Ilyo Odongo na Apiyo baabweleelemo kusukulu bashimikileko abanaabo pamikalile iyakumushi. Abana bamo bamweene ukuti ubwikalo bwamukalaale bwawamapo ukucila kumushi. Bambi nabo bamwene kwati ubwikalo bwakumushi bwawamapo. Nomba panuma, abaana bonse basumiinishe ukuti Odongo na Apiyo baalikwata nakulu uwa mutima uusuma.
When Odongo and Apiyo went back to school they told their friends about life in the village. Some children felt that life in the city was good. Others felt that the village was better.
But most of all, everyone agreed that Odongo and Apiyo had a wonderful grandmother!
Written by: Violet Otieno
Illustrated by: Catherine Groenewald
Translated by: Margaret Nambao, Agnes Chileshe Chibamba
