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Watoto wa nta
Children of wax
watoto wa nta
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.
hapo zamani za @kale @paliishi familia jeɲe fuɾaha
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.
@hawakugombana hata kiɗoɠo watoto @waliwasaidia wazazi ɲuᵐɓani na ʃaᵐɓani
Lakini, walikatazwa kwenda karibu na moto.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
lakini @walikatazwa kweⁿɗa kaɾiɓu na moto
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!
walifaɲa kazi zao zote usiku hii ni kwa saɓaɓu walikuwa wameuᵐɓwa kwa nta
Lakini, kijana mmoja alitamani kwenda nje wakati wa mchana.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
lakini kiʄana mmoʄa alitamani kweⁿɗa ⁿɗʒe wakati wa mtʃana
Siku moja tamaa ya kwenda nje ikazidi. Wenzake wakamwonya asiende juani. Lakini, hakusikia.
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
siku moʄa tamaa ja kweⁿɗa ⁿɗʒe ikaziɗi weⁿzake @wakamwonya asieⁿɗe ʄuani lakini @hakusikia
Aliyeyuka kwa sababu joto lilikuwa kali.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
@aliyeyuka kwa saɓaɓu ʄoto lilikuwa kali
Watoto wa nta walihuzunika walipoona kaka yao akiyeyuka.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
watoto wa nta @walihuzunika walipoona kaka jao @akiyeyuka
Wakapanga jambo fulani. Walichukua nta iliyoyeyuka wakatengeza ndege.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
@wakapanga ʄaᵐɓo fulani walitʃukua nta ilijojejuka @wakatengeza ⁿɗeɠe
Wakamweka ndege huyo juu ya mlima mrefu.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
wakamweka ⁿɗeɠe hujo ʄuu ja mlima mɾefu
Jua lilipochomoza asubuhi, akapeperuka akiimba kwa furaha.
And as the sun rose, he
flew away singing into
the morning light.
ʄua lilipotʃomoza asuɓuhi @akapeperuka akiiᵐɓa kwa fuɾaha
Written by: Southern African Folktale
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Translated by: Mutugi Kamundi
Read by: Lauwo George
