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Ijoolee gagaa
Children of wax
Watoto wa nta
Southern African Folktale
Wiehan de Jager
Demoze Degefa
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Yeroo took matii gammachudhan jiratu tokkotu ture.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Hapo zamani za kale, paliishi familia yenye furaha.
Wal-lolani hinbekan. Matii isaani manatis ta’e allati nigargaaru.
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.
Garuu gara ibbiddati siquu dhorgamani turan.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Lakini, walikatazwa kwenda karibu na moto.
Hojii isaani halkan hojachuu qaban. Sababin isaas matiin kuni gagaa irra hojataman!
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.
Isaan kessaa mucaan tokko garu gara adduti bahuu fedhee ture.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Lakini, kijana mmoja alitamani kwenda nje wakati wa mchana.
Kessaahu gaftokko bayee hawee garu obbolawan isaa isa dhorgan.
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Siku moja tamaa ya kwenda nje ikazidi. Wenzake wakamwonya asiende juani. Lakini, hakusikia.
Dhorgam suni bayee ture. Muccichi addu kessati baqee jira.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Aliyeyuka kwa sababu joto lilikuwa kali.
Ijooleen gaga yeroo obbolessi isani baqu argudhan bayee aaran.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Watoto wa nta walihuzunika walipoona kaka yao akiyeyuka.
Sagantaa qaban turan. Gagaa baqee sana gara simbrooti gedaran.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
Wakapanga jambo fulani. Walichukua nta iliyoyeyuka wakatengeza ndege.
Obbolessa isaani simbirro kan gara gaara guddaa gessan.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Wakamweka ndege huyo juu ya mlima mrefu.
Akkuma addun bateen sirbaa balali’aa deeman.
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: Demoze Degefa
