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Ijoolee gagaa
Children of wax
Les enfants de cire
Southern African Folktale
Wiehan de Jager
Demoze Degefa
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Yeroo took matii gammachudhan jiratu tokkotu ture.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Il était une fois une famille bien heureuse.
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.
Ils ne se disputaient jamais. Ils aidaient leurs parents à la maison et dans les champs.
Garuu gara ibbiddati siquu dhorgamani turan.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Mais ils n’avaient pas le droit de s’approcher d’un feu.
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!
Ils devaient faire tout leur travail pendant la nuit. Puisqu’ils étaient faits de cire !
Isaan kessaa mucaan tokko garu gara adduti bahuu fedhee ture.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Mais un des garçons désirait se promener au soleil.
Kessaahu gaftokko bayee hawee garu obbolawan isaa isa dhorgan.
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Un jour son désir était trop puissant. Ses frères l’avertirent…
Dhorgam suni bayee ture. Muccichi addu kessati baqee jira.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Mais c’était trop tard ! Il fondit au soleil brûlant.
Ijooleen gaga yeroo obbolessi isani baqu argudhan bayee aaran.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Les enfants de cire étaient si tristes de voir leur frère fondre.
Sagantaa qaban turan. Gagaa baqee sana gara simbrooti gedaran.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
Mais ils firent un plan. Ils façonnèrent le morceau de cire fondue en oiseau.
Obbolessa isaani simbirro kan gara gaara guddaa gessan.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Ils apportèrent leur frère l’oiseau jusqu’au sommet d’une montagne haute.
Akkuma addun bateen sirbaa balali’aa deeman.
And as the sun rose, he
flew away singing into
the morning light.
Et lorsque le soleil se leva, il s’envola vers la lumière du matin en chantant.
Written by: Southern African Folktale
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Translated by: Demoze Degefa
