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Sakima’s song Sakima's song @sakima's ˈsɔŋ

Written by Ursula Nafula

Illustrated by Peris Wachuka

Read by Darshan Soni

Language English

Level Level 3

Narrate full story

Autoplay story

Sakima lived with his parents and his four year old sister. They lived on a rich man’s land. Their grass-thatched hut was at the end of a row of trees.

Sakima lived with his parents and his four year old sister. They lived on a rich man’s land. Their grass-thatched hut was at the end of a row of trees.

@sakima ˈɫaɪvd ˈwɪð ˈhɪz ˈpɛɹənts ˈænd ˈhɪz ˈfɔɹ ˈjɪɹ ˈoʊɫd ˈsɪstɝ ˈðeɪ ˈɫaɪvd ˈɑn ˈeɪ ˈɹɪtʃ ˈmænz ˈɫænd ˈðɛɹ ˈɡɹæsˌθætʃt ˈhət ˈwɑz ˈæt ˈðə ˈɛnd ˈəv ˈeɪ ˈɹoʊ ˈəv ˈtɹiz

When Sakima was three years old, he fell sick and lost his sight. Sakima was a talented boy.

When Sakima was three years old, he fell sick and lost his sight. Sakima was a talented boy.

ˈhwɛn @sakima ˈwɑz ˈθɹi ˈjɪɹz ˈoʊɫd ˈhi ˈfɛɫ ˈsɪk ˈænd ˈɫɔst ˈhɪz ˈsaɪt @sakima ˈwɑz ˈeɪ ˈtæɫəntɪd ˈbɔɪ

Sakima did many things that other six year old boys did not do. For example, he could sit with older members of the village and discuss important matters.

Sakima did many things that other six year old boys did not do. For example, he could sit with older members of the village and discuss important matters.

@sakima ˈdɪd ˈmɛni ˈθɪŋz ˈðæt ˈəðɝ ˈsɪks ˈjɪɹ ˈoʊɫd ˈbɔɪz ˈdɪd ˈnɑt ˈdu ˈfɔɹ ɪɡˈzæmpəɫ ˈhi ˈkʊd ˈsɪt ˈwɪð ˈoʊɫdɝ ˈmɛmbɝz ˈəv ˈðə ˈvɪɫədʒ ˈænd dɪˈskəs ˌɪmˈpɔɹtənt ˈmætɝz

The parents of Sakima worked at the rich man’s house. They left home early in the morning and returned late in the evening. Sakima was left with his little sister.

The parents of Sakima worked at the rich man’s house. They left home early in the morning and returned late in the evening. Sakima was left with his little sister.

ˈðə ˈpɛɹənts ˈəv @sakima ˈwɝkt ˈæt ˈðə ˈɹɪtʃ ˈmænz ˈhaʊs ˈðeɪ ˈɫɛft ˈhoʊm ˈɝɫi ˈɪn ˈðə ˈmɔɹnɪŋ ˈænd ɹiˈtɝnd ˈɫeɪt ˈɪn ˈðə ˈivnɪŋ @sakima ˈwɑz ˈɫɛft ˈwɪð ˈhɪz ˈɫɪtəɫ ˈsɪstɝ

Sakima loved to sing songs. One day his mother asked him, “Where do you learn these songs from, Sakima?”

Sakima loved to sing songs. One day his mother asked him, “Where do you learn these songs from, Sakima?”

@sakima ˈɫəvd ˈtu ˈsɪŋ ˈsɔŋz ˈwən ˈdeɪ ˈhɪz ˈməðɝ ˈæskt ˈhɪm ˈhwɛɹ ˈdu ˈju ˈɫɝn ˈðiz ˈsɔŋz ˈfɹəm @sakima

Sakima answered, “They just come, mother. I hear them in my head and then I sing.”

Sakima answered, “They just come, mother. I hear them in my head and then I sing.”

@sakima ˈænsɝd ˈðeɪ ˈdʒəst ˈkəm ˈməðɝ ˈaɪ ˈhiɹ ˈðɛm ˈɪn ˈmaɪ ˈhɛd ˈænd ˈðɛn ˈaɪ ˈsɪŋ

Sakima liked to sing for his little sister, especially, if she felt hungry. His sister would listen to him singing his favourite song. She would sway to the soothing tune.

Sakima liked to sing for his little sister, especially, if she felt hungry. His sister would listen to him singing his favourite song. She would sway to the soothing tune.

@sakima ˈɫaɪkt ˈtu ˈsɪŋ ˈfɔɹ ˈhɪz ˈɫɪtəɫ ˈsɪstɝ əˈspɛʃəɫi ˈɪf ˈʃi ˈfɛɫt ˈhəŋɡɹi ˈhɪz ˈsɪstɝ ˈwʊd ˈɫɪsən ˈtu ˈhɪm ˈsɪŋɪŋ ˈhɪz ˈfeɪvɝɪt ˈsɔŋ ˈʃi ˈwʊd ˈsweɪ ˈtu ˈðə ˈsuðɪŋ ˈtun

“Can you sing it again and again, Sakima,” his sister would beg him. Sakima would accept and sing it over and over again.

“Can you sing it again and again, Sakima,” his sister would beg him. Sakima would accept and sing it over and over again.

ˈkæn ˈju ˈsɪŋ ˈɪt əˈɡeɪn ˈænd əˈɡeɪn @sakima ˈhɪz ˈsɪstɝ ˈwʊd ˈbɛɡ ˈhɪm @sakima ˈwʊd ækˈsɛpt ˈænd ˈsɪŋ ˈɪt ˈoʊvɝ ˈænd ˈoʊvɝ əˈɡeɪn

One evening when his parents returned home, they were very quiet. Sakima knew that there was something wrong.

One evening when his parents returned home, they were very quiet. Sakima knew that there was something wrong.

ˈwən ˈivnɪŋ ˈhwɛn ˈhɪz ˈpɛɹənts ɹiˈtɝnd ˈhoʊm ˈðeɪ ˈwɝ ˈvɛɹi ˈkwaɪət @sakima ˈnju ˈðæt ˈðɛɹ ˈwɑz ˈsəmθɪŋ ˈɹɔŋ

“What is wrong, mother, father?” Sakima asked. Sakima learned that the rich man’s son was missing. The man was very sad and lonely.

“What is wrong, mother, father?” Sakima asked. Sakima learned that the rich man’s son was missing. The man was very sad and lonely.

ˈhwət ˈɪz ˈɹɔŋ ˈməðɝ ˈfɑðɝ @sakima ˈæskt @sakima ˈɫɝnd ˈðæt ˈðə ˈɹɪtʃ ˈmænz ˈsən ˈwɑz ˈmɪsɪŋ ˈðə ˈmæn ˈwɑz ˈvɛɹi ˈsæd ˈænd ˈɫoʊnɫi

“I can sing for him. He might be happy again,” Sakima told his parents. But his parents dismissed him. “He is very rich. You are only a blind boy. Do you think your song will help him?”

“I can sing for him. He might be happy again,” Sakima told his parents. But his parents dismissed him. “He is very rich. You are only a blind boy. Do you think your song will help him?”

ˈaɪ ˈkæn ˈsɪŋ ˈfɔɹ ˈhɪm ˈhi ˈmaɪt ˈbi ˈhæpi əˈɡeɪn @sakima ˈtoʊɫd ˈhɪz ˈpɛɹənts ˈbət ˈhɪz ˈpɛɹənts dɪsˈmɪst ˈhɪm ˈhi ˈɪz ˈvɛɹi ˈɹɪtʃ ˈju ˈɑɹ ˈoʊnɫi ˈeɪ ˈbɫaɪnd ˈbɔɪ ˈdu ˈju ˈθɪŋk ˈjɔɹ ˈsɔŋ ˈwɪɫ ˈhɛɫp ˈhɪm

However, Sakima did not give up. His little sister supported him. She said, “Sakima’s songs soothe me when I am hungry. They will soothe the rich man too.”

However, Sakima did not give up. His little sister supported him. She said, “Sakima’s songs soothe me when I am hungry. They will soothe the rich man too.”

ˌhaʊˈɛvɝ @sakima ˈdɪd ˈnɑt ˈɡɪv ˈəp ˈhɪz ˈɫɪtəɫ ˈsɪstɝ səˈpɔɹtɪd ˈhɪm ˈʃi ˈsɛd @sakima’s ˈsɔŋz ˈsuð ˈmi ˈhwɛn ˈaɪ ˈæm ˈhəŋɡɹi ˈðeɪ ˈwɪɫ ˈsuð ˈðə ˈɹɪtʃ ˈmæn ˈtu

The following day, Sakima asked his little sister to lead him to the rich man’s house.

The following day, Sakima asked his little sister to lead him to the rich man’s house.

ˈðə ˈfɑɫoʊɪŋ ˈdeɪ @sakima ˈæskt ˈhɪz ˈɫɪtəɫ ˈsɪstɝ ˈtu ˈɫɛd ˈhɪm ˈtu ˈðə ˈɹɪtʃ ˈmænz ˈhaʊs

He stood below one big window and began to sing his favourite song. Slowly, the head of the rich man began to show through the big window.

He stood below one big window and began to sing his favourite song. Slowly, the head of the rich man began to show through the big window.

ˈhi ˈstʊd biˈɫoʊ ˈwən ˈbɪɡ ˈwɪndoʊ ˈænd biˈɡæn ˈtu ˈsɪŋ ˈhɪz ˈfeɪvɝɪt ˈsɔŋ ˈsɫoʊɫi ˈðə ˈhɛd ˈəv ˈðə ˈɹɪtʃ ˈmæn biˈɡæn ˈtu ˈʃoʊ ˈθɹu ˈðə ˈbɪɡ ˈwɪndoʊ

The workers stopped what they were doing. They listened to Sakima’s beautiful song. But one man said, “Nobody has been able to console the boss. Does this blind boy think he will console him?”

The workers stopped what they were doing. They listened to Sakima’s beautiful song. But one man said, “Nobody has been able to console the boss. Does this blind boy think he will console him?”

ˈðə ˈwɝkɝz ˈstɑpt ˈhwət ˈðeɪ ˈwɝ ˈduɪŋ ˈðeɪ ˈɫɪsənd ˈtu @sakima’s ˈbjutəfəɫ ˈsɔŋ ˈbət ˈwən ˈmæn ˈsɛd ˈnoʊˌbɑˌdi ˈhæz ˈbɪn ˈeɪbəɫ ˈtu ˈkɑnsoʊɫ ˈðə ˈbɑs ˈdəz ˈðɪs ˈbɫaɪnd ˈbɔɪ ˈθɪŋk ˈhi ˈwɪɫ ˈkɑnsoʊɫ ˈhɪm

Sakima finished singing his song and turned to leave. But the rich man rushed out and said, “Please sing again.”

Sakima finished singing his song and turned to leave. But the rich man rushed out and said, “Please sing again.”

@sakima ˈfɪnɪʃt ˈsɪŋɪŋ ˈhɪz ˈsɔŋ ˈænd ˈtɝnd ˈtu ˈɫiv ˈbət ˈðə ˈɹɪtʃ ˈmæn ˈɹəʃt ˈaʊt ˈænd ˈsɛd ˈpɫiz ˈsɪŋ əˈɡeɪn

At that very moment, two men came carrying someone on a stretcher. They had found the rich man’s son beaten up and left on the side of the road.

At that very moment, two men came carrying someone on a stretcher. They had found the rich man’s son beaten up and left on the side of the road.

ˈæt ˈðæt ˈvɛɹi ˈmoʊmənt ˈtu ˈmɛn ˈkeɪm ˈkæɹiɪŋ ˈsəmˌwən ˈɑn ˈeɪ ˈstɹɛtʃɝ ˈðeɪ ˈhæd ˈfaʊnd ˈðə ˈɹɪtʃ ˈmænz ˈsən ˈbitən ˈəp ˈænd ˈɫɛft ˈɑn ˈðə ˈsaɪd ˈəv ˈðə ˈɹoʊd

The rich man was so happy to see his son again. He rewarded Sakima for consoling him. He took his son and Sakima to hospital so Sakima could regain his sight.

The rich man was so happy to see his son again. He rewarded Sakima for consoling him. He took his son and Sakima to hospital so Sakima could regain his sight.

ˈðə ˈɹɪtʃ ˈmæn ˈwɑz ˈsoʊ ˈhæpi ˈtu ˈsi ˈhɪz ˈsən əˈɡeɪn ˈhi ɹiˈwɔɹdəd @sakima ˈfɔɹ kənˈsoʊɫɪŋ ˈhɪm ˈhi ˈtʊk ˈhɪz ˈsən ˈænd @sakima ˈtu ˈhɑˌspɪtəɫ ˈsoʊ @sakima ˈkʊd ɹɪˈɡeɪn ˈhɪz ˈsaɪt

Written by: Ursula Nafula
Illustrated by: Peris Wachuka
Read by: Darshan Soni
Language: English
Level 3
Source: Sakima's song from African Storybook
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