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Children of wax
Abana b'ibishashara
Les enfants de cire
Southern African Folktale
Wiehan de Jager
Darshan Soni
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
kera, habayeho umuryango wishimye.
Il était une fois une famille bien heureuse.
They never fought with
each other. They helped
their parents at home
and in the fields.
Ntibigeraga barwana hagati yabo. Bafashaga ababyeyi babo murugo no mu imirima.
Ils ne se disputaient jamais. Ils aidaient leurs parents à la maison et dans les champs.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Ariko ntibari bemerewe kwegera hafi umuriro.
Mais ils n’avaient pas le droit de s’approcher d’un feu.
They had to do all their
work during the night.
Because they were made of wax!
Bagombaga gukora imirimo yabo yose mu ijoro. Kuberako bari bakozwe mu ibishashara!
Ils devaient faire tout leur travail pendant la nuit. Puisqu’ils étaient faits de cire !
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Ariko umwe mu bahungu yifuzaga cyane kujya hanze kuzuba.
Mais un des garçons désirait se promener au soleil.
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Umunsi umwe kwifuza byari bikomeye cyane. Basaza be baramuburiye…
Un jour son désir était trop puissant. Ses frères l’avertirent…
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Ariko byari bitinze! Yarayonze mu izuba rishyushye.
Mais c’était trop tard ! Il fondit au soleil brûlant.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Abana b’ibishashara barababaye kubona umuvandimwe wabo ayonga.
Les enfants de cire étaient si tristes de voir leur frère fondre.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
Ariko bakoze umupangu. Bakozemo ibishashara bya yonze mo inyoni.
Mais ils firent un plan. Ils façonnèrent le morceau de cire fondue en oiseau.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Batwaye muzaza wabo w’inyoni hejuru k’umusozi.
Ils apportèrent leur frère l’oiseau jusqu’au sommet d’une montagne haute.
And as the sun rose, he
flew away singing into
the morning light.
Ubwo izuba ryacyaga, yagurutse aririmba mu urumuri rw’igitondo.
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
Read by: Darshan Soni
