Back to stories list
Ng’Ide a Ng’Amonok
Children of wax
Watoto wa nta
Southern African Folktale
Wiehan de Jager
Dennis Lokitare
The audio for this story is currently not available.
Kolong ang’orot, alomit awi na alakara.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Hapo zamani za kale, paliishi familia yenye furaha.
Pe ajienete kesi. Eng’aranakinete ng’ikauriak kech anawi tani alomana.
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.
Na kaneni pe achamunitae kesi irudakinosi nakim.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Lakini, walikatazwa kwenda karibu na moto.
Achamakina esubete etich kech nakwaare.
Kotere asubitae kesi a ng’amonok!
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.
Na kaneni emuit esapat epei alosit nikalapatan nakolong.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Lakini, kijana mmoja alitamani kwenda nje wakati wa mchana.
Apei kwaar abu ekimue tolalaar. Apotu ta lokatokeng kiteng’ero ng’esi.
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Siku moja tamaa ya kwenda nje ikazidi. Wenzake wakamwonya asiende juani. Lakini, hakusikia.
Na kaneni kisidioro ng’una! Abu ng’esi tokeeya anakolong anakariran.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Aliyeyuka kwa sababu joto lilikuwa kali.
Apotu ng’ide a ng’amonok kiyalolong’o aking’olikin lokatokech ekeyari.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Watoto wa nta walihuzunika walipoona kaka yao akiyeyuka.
Na kaneni apotu totiakut arekinet. Apotu tolemut emodol a ng’amonok ana ekeyarito kichaut ikeny.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
Wakapanga jambo fulani. Walichukua nta iliyoyeyuka wakatengeza ndege.
Apotu yasi lokatokech lo arai ikeny kidiama naita emoru.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Wakamweka ndege huyo juu ya mlima mrefu.
Nabo na ajipunia akolong, abu ng’esi toporo eeokinit tooma nakicha na ataparach.
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 Lokitare
