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 na Apiyo waliishi mjini na baba yao. Walisubiri likizo kwa hamu. Siyo tu kwa shule kufungwa, bali ni kwa sababu walienda kumtembelea bibi yao. Aliishi katika kijiji cha uvuvi karibu na ziwa kubwa.
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.
Odongo na Apiyo walichangamka kwani ulikuwa wakati wa kumtembelea bibi kwa mara nyingine. Usiku huo, walipanga mizigo yao na kujiandaa kwa safari ndefu ya kwenda kijijini. Hawakuweza kulala ila waliongea usiku kucha juu ya likizo yao.
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.
Mapema asubuhi iliyofuata, waliondoka katika gari la baba yao kuelekea kijijini. Walipita milima, wanyama pori na mashamba ya majani ya chai. Walihesabu magari na kuimba nyimbo.
ከጊዜ በኋላ ልጆቹ ደከማቸውና ተኙ።
After a while, the children were tired and fell asleep.
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.
Baba aliwaamsha Odongo na Apiyo walipofika kijijini. Walimkuta bibi yao, Nyar-Kanyada, akipumzika kwenye mkeka chini ya mti. Kwa Dholuo, Nyar-Kanyada maana yake ni ‘binti wa watu wa Kanyada’. Alikuwa ni mwanamke mrembo na imara.
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.
Nyar-Kanyada aliwakaribisha ndani kwa kucheza na kuimba kwa furaha. Wajukuu wake walikuwa na shauku ya kumpa zawadi walizomletea kutoka mjini. “Fungua yangu kwanza,” Odongo alisema. “Hapana, yangu kwanza!” Apiyo akasema.
ስጦታዎችን ከከፈተች በኋላ አያትዬው የልጅ ልጆቿን መረቀቻቸው።
After she opened the presents, Nyar-Kanyada blessed her grandchildren in a traditional way.
Baada ya kufungua zawadi, Nyar-Kanyada aliwabariki wajukuu wake kitamaduni.
ከዚያም አዱኛና አፒዮ ወደ ውጪ ወጡ። ቢራቢሮዎችንና ወፎችን ማባረር ያዙ።
Then Odongo and Apiyo went outside. They chased butterflies and birds.
Kisha Odongo na Apiyo wakaenda nje. Waliwakimbiza vipepeo na ndege.
ዛፍ ላይ ይወጣሉ፤ ሐይቁ ውስጥም ይንቦጫረቁ ነበር።
They climbed trees and splashed in the water of the lake.
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.
Odongo na Apiyo walimsaidia bibi yao na kazi za nyumbani. Walichota maji na kuokota kuni. Walikusanya mayai ya kuku na kuchuma mboga za majani kutoka kwenye bustani.
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.
Nyar-Kanyada aliwafundisha wajukuu wake jinsi ya kupika ugali mwepesi wa kula na mchuzi. Aliwaonesha namna ya kupika wali wa nazi wa kuliwa na samaki wa kukaanga.
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.
Asubuhi moja, Odongo aliwapeleka ng’ombe wa bibi yake malishoni. Wakakimbilia ndani ya shamba la jirani. Mwenye shamba alikasirishwa sana na Odongo. Akatishia kuwazuia ng’ombe kula mimea yake. Tangu siku hiyo, Odongo alihakikisha kwamba ng’ombe hawaingii matatani tena.
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.
Siku nyingine watoto walikwenda sokoni pamoja na Nyar-Kanyada. Nyar-Kanyada alikuwa na kibanda cha kuuza mboga, sukari na sabuni. Apiyo alipenda kuwatajia wateja bei za bidhaa. Odongo aliwafungia wateja bidhaa walizonunua.
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.
Likizo ilikaribia kuisha na watoto walitakiwa kurudi mjini. Nyar-Kanyada alimpa Odongo kofia na Apiyo sweta. Aliwafungia chakula cha kula safarini.
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.”
Baba yao alipokuja kuwachukua, hawakutaka kuondoka. Walimuomba Nyar-Kanyada aende nao mjini. Alitabasamu na kusema, “Nimezeeka, siyawezi ya mjini. Nitasubiri mje kijijini kwangu tena.”
ኦዶንጎ እና አፒዮ ጥብቅ አድርገው አቀፏቸውና ተሰናበቷቸው።
Odongo and Apiyo both hugged her tightly and said goodbye.
Odongo na Apiyo walimkumbatia kwa pamoja na kumuaga.
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!
Odongo na Apiyo waliporudi shuleni, waliwasimulia marafiki zao kuhusu maisha ya kijijini. Baadhi ya watoto waliamini kuwa maisha ya mjini ni mazuri. Wengine waliamini kijijini ni bora zaidi. Lakini zaidi ya yote, kila mmoja alikubali kwamba Odongo na Apiyo walikuwa na bibi wa kipekee.
