Odongo ndi Apiyo anali kukhala mu tauni ndi atate awo. Amakondwelela masiku acuti. Sikuti Kamba kakuti masukulu anatsekela, koma cifukwa amapita kwa agogo awo. Agogo awo anali kukhala m’mudzi wogwila nsomba pafupi ndi nyanja yaiukulu.
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 ndi Apiyo anali okondwela cifukwa inali nthawi yokayendelanso agogo awo. Usiku wa ulendo usanacitike, analongelato katundu kukonzekela ulendo wautali kupita kumudzi. Usiku uyu, anawa, sanagone ndipo anacezela kulankhula usiku wonse pa za cuti.
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.
M’mamawa kutaca, ulendo unapangika wopita kumudzi mgalimoto ya atate awo. Anayenda kupitilila maphili, nyama zamuthengo ndi minda ikulu-ikulu kwambili. Ana awa, anawelenga magalimoto munjila ndipo anayimba nyimbo.
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.
Patapita nthawi, ana awa analema ndipo anagona.
After a while, the children were tired and fell asleep.
Pamene anafika mu mudzi, atate awo anautsa Odongo ndi Apiyo. Anapeza Nyar-Kanyada, ambuya awo aligone pa mpasa munsi mwa mutengo. Nyar-Kanyada muciluo, atanthauza kuti “mwana wamkazi wa a Kanyada.” Ambuya awo anali muzimai wampamvu, ndipo wokongola kwambili.
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.
After she opened the presents, Nyar-Kanyada blessed her grandchildren in a traditional way.
Ndipo Odongo na Apiyo anayenda panja nayamba kupilikisa ma bulaula na mbalame.
Then Odongo and Apiyo went outside. They chased butterflies and birds.
Ana awa, anakwela mitengo ndipo anasewela m’madzi amnyanja.
They climbed trees and splashed in the water of the lake.
Pamene kunada, ana anabwelela kunyumba kukadya cakudya ca madzulo. Koma akalibe kutsiliza kudya, anayamba kumva tulo!
When it was dark they returned to the house for dinner. Before they could finish eating, they were falling asleep!
M’mawa mwake, atate awo a Odongo ndi Apiyo anabwelela ku tauni ndikuwasiya ndi ambuya awo Nyar-Kanyada.
The next day, the children’s father drove back to the city leaving them with Nyar-Kanyada.
Odongo ndi Apiyo anathandiza ambuya awo nchito za panyumba. Ana awa anatunga madzi ndi kusakila nkhuni. Anatola mazila ankhuku ndi kuthyola ndiyo m’dimba.
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.
Ambuya awo anapunzisa adzukulu awo kuphika nsima, nsomba, ndi ndiyo zina zakumudzi.
Nyar-Kanyada taught her grandchildren to make soft ugali to eat with stew. She showed them how to make coconut rice to eat with roast fish.
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.
Tsiku linanso, ana anapitaa ku musika ndi ambuya awo. Anali ndi stolo yogulitsamo ndiyo za m’munda, shuga ndi sopo. Apiyo anali kukonda kuuza anthu ogula mitengo ya zinthu. Odongo anali kukonda kulongeza zinthu zimene anthu anali kugula.
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.
Pakuthela kwa tsiku anali kumwa tiyi ya chai pamodzi. Anathandiza ambuya awo kuwelenga ndalama zimene analinazo.
At the end of the day they drank chai tea together. They helped grandmother to count the money she earned.
Koma mosacedwa cuti cinali kutha ndipo ana amafunika kubwelela ku tauni. Ambuya anapatsa Odongo kapu ndipo anapatsa Apiyo juzi. Ambuya analonga cakudya capaulendo.
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.
Odongo ndi Apiyo sibanafune kubwelela ku tauni. Anapempha ambuya awo kuti apite nawo ku tauni. Koma ambuya anamwetula nati, “Ndine okalamba kwambili ndipo sindingahkale mu tauni. Ndizayamba kukuyembekeza kubwelanso kwanu kuno kumudzi.”
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 ndi Apiyo anakumbatilana nao ambuya awo nalayilana.
Odongo and Apiyo both hugged her tightly and said goodbye.
Pamene Odongo nda Apiyo anabwelela kusukulu, anauza anzao za umoyo wakumudzi. Ana ena anadziwa kuti umoyo wa mtauni ndi wabwino. Ena anakonda umoyo wakumudzi. Koma ambili a iwo, onse ananena kuti ambuya a Odongo ndi Apiyo anali abwino mtima!
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!
