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Aparan apei, epasae Apoo alokwaas ang’olol.
One day, Rabbit was walking by the riverside.
Siku moja, Sungura alikuwa akitembea pembeni ya mto.
Ayei dae neni epasae esaki ng’inya lukalibak.
Hippo was there too, going for a stroll and eating some nice green grass.
Kiboko alikuwepo pia, akitembea huku akila majani mazuri ya kijani.
Pe ayeni Epir atamar ayei Apoo neni nabo kicanyu amuro keng kicak. Abu Apoo kirema tawanik tama, iyong Epir! “Nyite iyong atamar kiciakit iyong ayong namuro a?”
Hippo didn’t see that Rabbit was there and she accidentally stepped on Rabbit’s foot.
Rabbit started screaming at Hippo, “You Hippo! Can’t you see that you’re stepping on my foot?”
Kiboko hakumwona Sungura na kwa bahati mbaya akaukanyaga mguu wa Sungura. Sungura akaanza kumpigia Kiboko kelele. “We Kiboko huoni kama umeukanyaga mguu wangu?”
Abu Epir kilip ng’esi atamar katorimak, “Ariang’akina ayong lopae. Nying’olikina ayong iyong. Torimakinae ayong!” Na kakeni pe asaki Apoo nakitana akiirar ng’una sodi nabo kiburak ebala, “Isubakini iyong ng’una iyacakinit! Akolong ing’olokini iyong! Itaci iyong ng’una!”
Hippo apologised to Rabbit, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you. Please forgive me!”
But Rabbit wouldn’t listen and he shouted at Hippo, “You did that on purpose! Someday, you’ll see! You’re going to pay!”
Kiboko akamwomba Sungura msamaha, “Samahani, sikukuona, tafadhali nisamehe!” Lakini Sungura hakukubali na akaendelea kumbwatukia Kiboko, “Umefanya makusudi! Kuna siku utakiona, na nitakulipizia!”
Rabbit went to find Fire and said, “Go, burn Hippo when she comes out of the water to eat grass. She stepped on me!”
Fire answered, “No problem, Rabbit, my friend. I’ll do just what you ask.”
Ekisidi kang’una abu Epir tolot adaka ng’inya anikalonon ang’olol nabo torirau akim noi sodi tonomia ng’itim keng.
Later, Hippo was eating grass far from the river when, “Whoosh!” Fire burst into flame. The flames began to burn Hippo’s hair.
Baadaye, Kiboko alikuwa akila majani mbali na mto, aliposhtuka moto umelipuka. Miale ya moto ikaanza kuzichoma nywele za Kiboko.
Abu Eputir kigalou nabo tomatar nakipi. Aminyara nabo ng’itim keng daang. Abu nabo Eputir tamamak igoro, “Amunya akim ng’itim kang daang! Inomiari iyong ng’itim kang daang!” Adaunosi ng’itim kang daang! Ng’itim kang lukebuseak nabo kibuseak noi!
Hippo started to cry and ran for the water. All her hair was burned off by the fire.
Hippo kept crying, “My hair has burned in the fire! My hair is all gone! My beautiful hair!”
Kiboko akaanza kulia na kukimbilia kwenye maji. Nywele zake zote zilikuwa zimeungua na moto. Kiboko aliendelea kulia, “Nywele zangu zimeungua na moto! Nywele zangu zote zimeisha! Nywele zangu nzuri!”
Kang’una daang nyecadanar Epir anakipi kotere eemit ng’esi atamar nyekanom Akim. Abu Apoo tolakar kona anomia epir akim, sodi tama, “Abu nabo erum ng’esi!”
Rabbit was happy that Hippo’s hair was burned.
And to this day, for fear of fire, the hippo never goes far from the water.
Sungura alikuwa na furaha kwa kuwa nywele za Kiboko ziliungua. Hadi leo kwa kuogopa moto, Kiboko hawezi kwenda mbali na maji.
Written by: Basilio Gimo, David Ker
Illustrated by: Little Zebra Books, Carol Liddiment
