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Taam Di Banaana-Man
Tom the banana seller
Taam Di Banaana-Man
Humphreys Odunga
Zablon Alex Nguku
Georgette McGlashen
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Taam a kyari wahn baaskit a raip banaana.
Tom carries a tray of ripe bananas.
Taam a kyari wahn baaskit a raip banaana.
Taam go a maakit fi sel banaana.
Tom goes to the market to sell bananas.
Taam go a maakit fi sel banaana.
Piipl a maakit a bai fruut.
People at the market are buying fruit.
Piipl a maakit a bai fruut.
Bot nobadi naa bai Taam banaana dem. Dem prifa fi bai fruut fram di uman dem.
But no one is buying
Tom’s bananas.
They prefer to buy fruit from women.
Bot nobadi naa bai Taam banaana dem. Dem prifa fi bai fruut fram di uman dem.
“Ina fiwi komyuuniti, onggl uman sel fruut,” piipl se. “Wa kaina man dis?” piipl aks.
“In our community, only women sell fruit,” people say. “What kind of a man is this?” people ask.
“Ina fiwi komyuuniti, onggl uman sel fruut,” piipl se. “Wa kaina man dis?” piipl aks.
Bot Taam no gi op. Im kaal out, “Bai mi swiit raip banaana dem!”
But Tom does not give up.
He calls, “Buy my bananas!
Buy my sweet ripe bananas!”
Bot Taam no gi op. Im kaal out, “Bai mi swiit raip banaana dem!”
Wahn uman pik op a bonch a banaana fram outa di baaskit. Shi luk pan it gud-gud.
One woman picks up a bunch of bananas from the tray.
She looks at the bananas carefully.
Wahn uman pik op a bonch a banaana fram outa di baaskit. Shi luk pan it gud-gud.
Di uman bai di banaana dem.
The woman buys the bananas.
Di uman bai di banaana dem.
Muor piipl kom a di staal. Dem bai Taam banaana dem an nyam dem.
More people come to the stall.
They buy Tom’s bananas and eat them.
Muor piipl kom a di staal. Dem bai Taam banaana dem an nyam dem.
Suuhn, di baaskit emti. Taam kount op di moni we im mek.
Soon, the tray is empty.
Tom counts the money he earned.
Suuhn, di baaskit emti. Taam kount op di moni we im mek.
Den Taam go bai suop, shuga an bred. Im put di tingz dem ina im baaskit.
Then Tom buys soap, sugar, and bread.
He puts the things in his tray.
Den Taam go bai suop, shuga an bred. Im put di tingz dem ina im baaskit.
Taam balans di baaskit pan im ed an go a im yaad.
Tom balances the tray on his head and goes home.
Taam balans di baaskit pan im ed an go a im yaad.
Written by: Humphreys Odunga
Illustrated by: Zablon Alex Nguku
Translated by: Georgette McGlashen
Jamaican Creole
Level 2
