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Tom, nama muzii gurguru Tom the banana seller

Written by Humphreys Odunga

Illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku

Translated by Demoze Degefa

Language Oromo

Level Level 2

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Tom muzii safaa gutuu baate deema.

Tom carries a tray of ripe bananas.


Tom muzii gurguruuf gara magaala deema.

Tom goes to the market to sell bananas.


Namonni gabyaa kessa jiran fuduraa bitan.

People at the market are buying fruit.


Garuu namani tokkoyu muzii Tom hinbinne. Dubarti irraa bitu barbadan.

But no one is buying Tom’s bananas. They prefer to buy fruit from women.


Namonni akkan jedhu, “Ganda kenyyati dubartoota qofatu fudura gurgura.” “Kuni nama akkamiti,” jedhan gafatu.

“In our community, only women sell fruit,” people say. “What kind of a man is this?” people ask.


Hata’u malee Tom abdi hinkunne. Akkan jedhe, “Muzii kiyyaa bitaa! Muziin kiyyaa bayee mi’awadha!”

But Tom does not give up. He calls, “Buy my bananas! Buy my sweet ripe bananas!”


Dubarti tokko dhufte muzii abazza tokko olkafte sirriti xinxaltee.

One woman picks up a bunch of bananas from the tray. She looks at the bananas carefully.


Dubartitin muzii sana bitee.

The woman buys the bananas.


Namonni bayee ishee argani dhufan. Muzii Tom bitani nyaatan.

More people come to the stall. They buy Tom’s bananas and eat them.


Yeroodhuma sana safaan isaa duwaa ta’e. Tomis qarshi argate lakka’u calqabe.

Soon, the tray is empty. Tom counts the money he earned.


Sana booda, Tom samuuna, sukkara fi dabboo bitate. Waantota kana safaa isaa kessa kayyate.

Then Tom buys soap, sugar, and bread. He puts the things in his tray.


Tom safaa mataa isaa gubbati baate gara mana deeme.

Tom balances the tray on his head and goes home.


Written by: Humphreys Odunga
Illustrated by: Zablon Alex Nguku
Translated by: Demoze Degefa
Language: Oromo
Level: Level 2
Source: Tom the banana seller from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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