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Zama a di bes!
Zama is great!
@zama a di @bes
Michael Oguttu
Vusi Malindi
Georgette McGlashen
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Mi likl breda sliip liet-liet. Mi get op orli kaaz mi a di bes!
My little brother sleeps
very late.
I wake early, because I
am great!
mi likl̩ @bredda sliːp @liet-liet mi @get op @orli kaːz mi a di @bes
A mi mek di son kom iihn.
I am the one who lets in
the sun.
a mi mek di @son kom ĩː
“Yu a fi mi maanin star,” mama se.
“You’re my morning
star,” says Ma.
ju a fi mi maːnin @star @mama se
Mi bied miself, mi no waahn no elp.
I wash myself, I don’t
need any help.
mi bɪɛd @miself mi @no @waa @no elp
Mi kyan stan di kuol waata an di smel bad suop.
I can cope with cold
water and blue smelly
soap.
mi @kyan @stan di kuɔl waːta an di @smel bad suɔp
Mama rimain mi se, “Dohn figet fi brosh yu tiit dem.” Mi ansa se, “Neva, no mii!”
Ma reminds, “Don’t
forget teeth.”
I reply, “Never, not
me!”
@mama @rimain mi se @dohn @figet fi @brosh ju tiːt dem mi ansa se @neva @no @mii
Afta mi bied, mi tel granpaa an anti maanin, an fi av a nais die.
After washing, I greet
Grandpa and Auntie,
and wish them a good
day.
afta mi bɪɛd mi tel @granpaa an @anti maːnin an fi @av a naɪs dɪɛ
Den mi put aan mi kluoz bai miself, “mi big nou mama,” mi se.
Then I dress myself,
“I’m big now Ma,” I say.
@den mi @put @aan mi @kluoz baɪ @miself mi @big @nou @mama mi se
Mi kyan botn mi kluoz an bokl mi shuuz dem.
I can close my buttons
and buckle my shoes.
mi @kyan botn̩ mi @klouz an bokl̩ mi @shuuz dem
An mi mek shuor se likl breda nuo aal di nyuuz fram skuul.
And I make sure little
brother knows all the
school news.
an mi mek ʃuɔɹ se likl̩ @bredda nuɔ aːl di ɲuːz @fram skuːl
Ina klaas mi du mi bes ina evriting.
In class I do my best in
every way.
ina @klaas mi @du mi @bes ina @evriting
Evridie, mi du aal a dem gud tingz ya. Bot di ting mi lov di muos, a fi plie an plie.
I do all these good
things every day.
But the thing I like
most, is to play and
play!
@evridie mi @du aːl a dem gud tiŋz ja bot di @ting mi @lov di muɔs a fi plɪɛ an plɪɛ
Written by: Michael Oguttu
Illustrated by: Vusi Malindi
Translated by: Georgette McGlashen
Jamaican Creole
Level 2
