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Tom the banana seller
Tom the banana seller
ˈtɑm ˈðə bəˈnænə ˈsɛɫɝ
Humphreys Odunga
Zablon Alex Nguku
Darshan Soni
Tom carries a tray of ripe bananas.
Tom carries a tray of ripe bananas.
ˈtɑm ˈkæɹiz ˈeɪ ˈtɹeɪ ˈəv ˈɹaɪp bəˈnænəz
Tom goes to the market to sell bananas.
Tom goes to the market to sell bananas.
ˈtɑm ˈɡoʊz ˈtu ˈðə ˈmɑɹkət ˈtu ˈsɛɫ bəˈnænəz
People at the market are buying fruit.
People at the market are buying fruit.
ˈpipəɫ ˈæt ˈðə ˈmɑɹkət ˈɑɹ ˈbaɪɪŋ ˈfɹut
But no one is buying
Tom’s bananas.
They prefer to buy fruit from women.
But no one is buying
Tom’s bananas.
They prefer to buy fruit from women.
ˈbət ˈnoʊ ˈwən ˈɪz ˈbaɪɪŋ
ˈtɑmz bəˈnænəz
ˈðeɪ pɹəˈfɝ ˈtu ˈbaɪ ˈfɹut ˈfɹəm ˈwɪmən
“In our community, only women sell fruit,” people say. “What kind of a man is this?” people ask.
“In our community, only women sell fruit,” people say. “What kind of a man is this?” people ask.
ˈɪn ˈaʊɝ kəmˈjunəti ˈoʊnɫi ˈwɪmən ˈsɛɫ ˈfɹut ˈpipəɫ ˈseɪ ˈhwət ˈkaɪnd ˈəv ˈeɪ ˈmæn ˈɪz ˈðɪs ˈpipəɫ ˈæsk
But Tom does not give up.
He calls, “Buy my bananas!
Buy my sweet ripe bananas!”
But Tom does not give up.
He calls, “Buy my bananas!
Buy my sweet ripe bananas!”
ˈbət ˈtɑm ˈdəz ˈnɑt ˈɡɪv ˈəp
ˈhi ˈkɔɫz ˈbaɪ ˈmaɪ bəˈnænəz
ˈbaɪ ˈmaɪ ˈswit ˈɹaɪp bəˈnænəz
One woman picks up a bunch of bananas from the tray.
She looks at the bananas carefully.
One woman picks up a bunch of bananas from the tray.
She looks at the bananas carefully.
ˈwən ˈwʊmən ˈpɪks ˈəp ˈeɪ ˈbəntʃ ˈəv bəˈnænəz ˈfɹəm ˈðə ˈtɹeɪ
ˈʃi ˈɫʊks ˈæt ˈðə bəˈnænəz ˈkɛɹfəɫi
The woman buys the bananas.
The woman buys the bananas.
ˈðə ˈwʊmən ˈbaɪz ˈðə bəˈnænəz
More people come to the stall.
They buy Tom’s bananas and eat them.
More people come to the stall.
They buy Tom’s bananas and eat them.
ˈmɔɹ ˈpipəɫ ˈkəm ˈtu ˈðə ˈstɔɫ
ˈðeɪ ˈbaɪ ˈtɑmz bəˈnænəz ˈænd ˈit ˈðɛm
Soon, the tray is empty.
Tom counts the money he earned.
Soon, the tray is empty.
Tom counts the money he earned.
ˈsun ˈðə ˈtɹeɪ ˈɪz ˈɛmpti
ˈtɑm ˈkaʊnts ˈðə ˈməni ˈhi ˈɝnd
Then Tom buys soap, sugar, and bread.
He puts the things in his tray.
Then Tom buys soap, sugar, and bread.
He puts the things in his tray.
ˈðɛn ˈtɑm ˈbaɪz ˈsoʊp ˈʃʊɡɝ ˈænd ˈbɹɛd
ˈhi ˈpʊts ˈðə ˈθɪŋz ˈɪn ˈhɪz ˈtɹeɪ
Tom balances the tray on his head and goes home.
Tom balances the tray on his head and goes home.
ˈtɑm ˈbæɫənsəz ˈðə ˈtɹeɪ ˈɑn ˈhɪz ˈhɛd ˈænd ˈɡoʊz ˈhoʊm
Written by: Humphreys Odunga
Illustrated by: Zablon Alex Nguku
Read by: Darshan Soni
