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Murtee
Decision
Ursula Nafula
Vusi Malindi
Demoze Degefa
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Gandii kenya rakko bayee qaba. Bishaan dhugatii argachuudhaf hiriraa dheera dhabachu qabna.
My village had many problems.
We made a long line to fetch water from one tap.
Nyaata harjooman dhufee eggachu qabna.
We waited for food donated by others.
Sabaabaa hattu tif yeeroo dhan mana chufachu qabna.
We locked our houses early because of thieves.
Ijooleen bayeen mana barumsaa kessaa harca’uu.
Many children dropped out of school.
Shaamareen mana namaa biraati aka hojatuti qaxaramanii ganda biraati hojatu.
Young girls worked as maids in other villages.
Dargagonni immo nannoo ganda olgadi demo; kaaneen namaf qotu.
Young boys roamed around the village while others worked on people’s farms.
Yeroo bubben ka’u warqaa fi balfi garagaraa dallaafi mukken irrati tuluma.
When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.
Namooni bayeen biriciqoon muramu.
People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
Gaftokko bishhan ujummo dha cabee bishaan dhabamee ture.
Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.
Abbon ko mana irra gara mana adeeme ummata walgahiig wamee ture.
My father walked from house to house asking people to attend a village meeting.
Nammoni muka jalti walgahanii and waldhagefatan.
People gathered under a big tree and listened.
Abbon ko olka’ee akan jedhe, “Rakko keynaa hikuuf waliwajjiin hajachuu qabna.”
My father stood up and said, “We need to work together to solve our problems.”
Mucaan ganna sadeeti, Jumaan damee mukaa gubba ta’ee akam jedhe, “Ani nanno kenya ququleesun nagummacha jedhe.”
Eight-year-old Juma, sitting on a tree trunk shouted, “I can help with cleaning up.”
Dubartiin tokko akan jete, “Duburatonni kun nawajjiin gamtofeene midhaan facaasuu nidandenyaa.”
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
“Dubartiin biraa olkatee akan jete,” namooni dhiira immo bolla yaqotan.
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
Hundi kenyaa sagalee tokkon iyyinee akan jenne, “Hardha irra jalqabnee waliwajjiin hijachuun rakko keyna hikinee.”
We all shouted with one voice, “We must change our lives.”
From that day we worked together to solve our problems.
Written by: Ursula Nafula
Illustrated by: Vusi Malindi
Translated by: Demoze Degefa
