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Abanaba’mana
Children of wax
Watoto wa nta
Southern African Folktale
Wiehan de Jager
Dennis Ogaro Ondieki
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Abwo kare efamili
yarengoo yamenyete
nomogoko sana.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Hapo zamani za kale, paliishi familia yenye furaha.
Tibarenge korwana
nonde bwensi. Nigo
barenge gokonya
abaibori babo nka sobo
amo nase emegondo.
They never fought with
each other. They helped
their parents at home
and in the fields.
Hawakugombana hata kidogo. Watoto waliwasaidia wazazi nyumbani na shambani.
Rakini mbaganeirie
kogenda ang’e
nomorero.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Lakini, walikatazwa kwenda karibu na moto.
Nigo baganeirie gokora
chigasi chiabo botuko
rioka.
Ekiagera nigo barosirie namana!
They had to do all their
work during the night.
Because they were made of wax!
Walifanya kazi zao zote usiku. Hii ni kwa sababu walikuwa wameumbwa kwa nta.
Rakini oyomo
bwa’bamura nigo
aganetie sana kogenda
ase omogaso.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Lakini, kijana mmoja alitamani kwenda nje wakati wa mchana.
Rituko erimo okagania
kwaye gokaba okonene.
Bamura bamwabo
bagachi komoonya …
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Siku moja tamaa ya kwenda nje ikazidi. Wenzake wakamwonya asiende juani. Lakini, hakusikia.
Rakini tibanyareti,
bagaika gochererwa!
Akabera akaera ase
omogaso omororo.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Aliyeyuka kwa sababu joto lilikuwa kali.
Abana baria ba amana
bakaigwa bobe korora
oyomwabo gakobera
nakoera igo.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Watoto wa nta walihuzunika walipoona kaka yao akiyeyuka.
Nonya nigo begekong’ia
bakarosia omoreberio.
Bakarenta amana aria
aberete bayarosia
akaba enyoni.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
Wakapanga jambo fulani. Walichukua nta iliyoyeyuka wakatengeza ndege.
Bakaira enyoni eri
yarenge momura
omwabo baka ase
egetunwa ekenene.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Wakamweka ndege huyo juu ya mlima mrefu.
Nomogaso buna
okiamogete, ekairuruka
gekonyagotera na
gosirera ime yoborabu
boria bwomogaso
omambia.
And as the sun rose, he
flew away singing into
the morning light.
Jua lilipochomoza asubuhi, akapeperuka akiimba kwa furaha.
Written by: Southern African Folktale
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Translated by: Dennis Ogaro Ondieki
