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Ijoolee gagaa Children of wax

Written by Southern African Folktale

Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager

Translated by Demoze Degefa

Language Oromo

Level Level 2

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Yeroo took matii gammachudhan jiratu tokkotu ture.

Once upon a time, there lived a happy family.


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.


Garuu gara ibbiddati siquu dhorgamani turan.

But they were not allowed to go near a fire.


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!


Isaan kessaa mucaan tokko garu gara adduti bahuu fedhee ture.

But one of the boys longed to go out in the sunlight.


Kessaahu gaftokko bayee hawee garu obbolawan isaa isa dhorgan.

One day the longing was too strong. His brothers warned him…


Dhorgam suni bayee ture. Muccichi addu kessati baqee jira.

But it was too late! He melted in the hot sun.


Ijooleen gaga yeroo obbolessi isani baqu argudhan bayee aaran.

The wax children were so sad to see their brother melting away.


Sagantaa qaban turan. Gagaa baqee sana gara simbrooti gedaran.

But they made a plan. They shaped the lump of melted wax into a bird.


Obbolessa isaani simbirro kan gara gaara guddaa gessan.

They took their bird brother up to a high mountain.


Akkuma addun bateen sirbaa balali’aa deeman.

And as the sun rose, he flew away singing into the morning light.


Written by: Southern African Folktale
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Translated by: Demoze Degefa
Language: Oromo
Level: Level 2
Source: Children of wax from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 International License.
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