Back to stories list

Zama a di bes! Zama is great! Zama a di bes!

Written by Michael Oguttu

Illustrated by Vusi Malindi

Translated by Georgette McGlashen

Language Jamaican Creole

Level Level 2

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


Mi likl breda sliip liet-liet. Mi get op orli kaaz mi a di bes!

My little brother sleeps very late. I wake early, because I am great!

Mi likl breda sliip liet-liet. Mi get op orli kaaz mi a di bes!


A mi mek di son kom iihn.

I am the one who lets in the sun.

A mi mek di son kom iihn.


“Yu a fi mi maanin star,” mama se.

“You’re my morning star,” says Ma.

“Yu a fi mi maanin star,” mama se.


Mi bied miself, mi no waahn no elp.

I wash myself, I don’t need any help.

Mi bied miself, mi no waahn no elp.


Mi kyan stan di kuol waata an di smel bad suop.

I can cope with cold water and blue smelly soap.

Mi kyan stan di kuol waata an di smel bad suop.


Mama rimain mi se, “Dohn figet fi brosh yu tiit dem.” Mi ansa se, “Neva, no mii!”

Ma reminds, “Don’t forget teeth.” I reply, “Never, not me!”

Mama rimain mi se, “Dohn figet fi brosh yu tiit dem.” Mi ansa se, “Neva, no mii!”


Afta mi bied, mi tel granpaa an anti maanin, an fi av a nais die.

After washing, I greet Grandpa and Auntie, and wish them a good day.

Afta mi bied, mi tel granpaa an anti maanin, an fi av a nais die.


Den mi put aan mi kluoz bai miself, “mi big nou mama,” mi se.

Then I dress myself, “I’m big now Ma,” I say.

Den mi put aan mi kluoz bai miself, “mi big nou mama,” mi se.


Mi kyan botn mi kluoz an bokl mi shuuz dem.

I can close my buttons and buckle my shoes.

Mi kyan botn mi kluoz an bokl mi shuuz dem.


An mi mek shuor se likl breda nuo aal di nyuuz fram skuul.

And I make sure little brother knows all the school news.

An mi mek shuor se likl breda nuo aal di nyuuz fram skuul.


Ina klaas mi du mi bes ina evriting.

In class I do my best in every way.

Ina klaas mi du mi bes ina evriting.


Evridie, mi du aal a dem gud tingz ya. Bot di ting mi lov di muos, a fi plie an plie.

I do all these good things every day. But the thing I like most, is to play and play!

Evridie, mi du aal a dem gud tingz ya. Bot di ting mi lov di muos, a fi plie an plie.


Written by: Michael Oguttu
Illustrated by: Vusi Malindi
Translated by: Georgette McGlashen
Language: Jamaican Creole
Level: Level 2
Source: Zama is great! from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 International License.
Options
Back to stories list Download PDF