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Watoto wa nta
Children of wax
Les enfants de cire
Southern African Folktale
Wiehan de Jager
Mutugi Kamundi
Lauwo George
Hapo zamani za kale, paliishi familia yenye furaha.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Il était une fois une famille bien heureuse.
Hawakugombana hata kidogo. Watoto waliwasaidia wazazi nyumbani na shambani.
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.
Lakini, walikatazwa kwenda karibu na moto.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Mais ils n’avaient pas le droit de s’approcher d’un feu.
Walifanya kazi zao zote usiku. Hii ni kwa sababu walikuwa wameumbwa kwa nta.
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 !
Lakini, kijana mmoja alitamani kwenda nje wakati wa mchana.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Mais un des garçons désirait se promener au soleil.
Siku moja tamaa ya kwenda nje ikazidi. Wenzake wakamwonya asiende juani. Lakini, hakusikia.
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Un jour son désir était trop puissant. Ses frères l’avertirent…
Aliyeyuka kwa sababu joto lilikuwa kali.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Mais c’était trop tard ! Il fondit au soleil brûlant.
Watoto wa nta walihuzunika walipoona kaka yao akiyeyuka.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Les enfants de cire étaient si tristes de voir leur frère fondre.
Wakapanga jambo fulani. Walichukua nta iliyoyeyuka wakatengeza ndege.
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.
Wakamweka ndege huyo juu ya mlima mrefu.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Ils apportèrent leur frère l’oiseau jusqu’au sommet d’une montagne haute.
Jua lilipochomoza asubuhi, akapeperuka akiimba kwa furaha.
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: Mutugi Kamundi
Read by: Lauwo George
