Ku Famba U Lavana Na Nchumu Lowu Nga Na Khombo Hi Ximun’WanaSilangazelela Ugqozi Lokubungaza IntwasahloboUkukhangela Umoya WentwasahloboSearching for the spirit of Spring
Ku titimela ka xixika ku hundzile. Ximun’wana xi le ku teniemugangeni wa ka Nkanyeni. Ku nga ri khale vaaki va ta hlengeletana va tlangela nguva leyintshwa. Nkanyezi ri langutela ku yisa emahlweni Nkhuvo wa Ximun’wana ku tlula siku rin’wana elembeni.
The Winter cold had passed.
Spring was coming to Nkanyezi’s village.
Soon the villagers would gather to celebrate the new season. Nkanyezi looked forward to the Spring festival more than any other day in the year.
Mixo wun’wana nimixo, Nkanyezi u twile vadyuhari vambirhi emugangeni va vulavula hi nkhuvo. “Vanhu va ka Ndlovu va lahlekeriwile hi moya wa ku tlangela,” un’wana a hefemuteka. “Xana hi fanele ku tlangela njhani nkhuvo wa Ximun’wana emugangeni lowu nga rivala hilaha ku tlangeriwaka hakona,” ku vutisa un’wana.
One warm morning, Nkanyezi overheard two village elders talking about the festival.”The people of Ndlovu have lost their spirit of celebration,” one sighed.”How can we have a Spring festival in a village that has forgotten how to celebrate?” asked another.
Nkanyezi a vilela a ku. “Xana dyambu ri ta endlisa ku yini ku tlhela ri vangama handle ka loko hi nga yimbelela ku ri pfuxa eka vurhongo bya rona bya xixika?” ku vutisa Nkanyezi. Nkanyezi u ehleketile nkarhi wo leha. U tekile xiboho hi ku vula ku, “Ndzi fanele ku kuma leswi swi nga hi lahlekela.” “Ndzi fanele ku famba ndzi lava swilo leswi swi nga ta vuyisa moya wa ku tlangela emugangeni wa mina.”
Nkanyezi was worried.”How will the sun shine again unless we sing to wake it from its winter slumber?” she asked herself.
Nkanyezi thought for a long time.”I must find what we have lost,” she decided.”I must go in search of things that will bring back the spirit of celebration to my village.”
Vadyuhari va nyikile Nkanyezi mikateko ya vona ka rendzo. Va n’wi nyikile bege ku rhwala swilo leswi nga ta swi kuma. Nkanyezi a chava, kambe a tshemba leswaku u ta humelela.
The elders gave Nkanyezi their blessing for the journey. They gave her a bag to carry the things she would find.
Nkanyezi was afraid, but she believed she would succeed.
Nkanyezi u fambile siku hinkwaro. U khandziyile xintshambyana, na ku rhelela a ya enambyeni. U tlutile a tsemakanya nambu lowukulu, kutani a khandziya exikarhi ka maribye. U fambile exikarhi ka tindhawu to ka ti nga fambeki ku kondza a fika eka ndzhuti wa ribye ra tintshava.
Nkanyezi walked all day. She hiked up a hill, and down into a valley. She sailed across the great river, and climbed between sharp rocks. She marched across the plains until she reached the shadow of the red mountains.
Loko dyambu ri lava ku pela, Nkanyezi u fikile etikweni ra tipheteni na muhlovo leyi a nga si tshama a yi vona. U byerile vadyuhari va tiko hi rendzo ra yena ra ku tlherisela moya wa ku tlangela eka vanhu va yena. Mana wa rixaka leri u nyikile Nkanyezi nyiko. U te eka nhwanyana, “Hi rirhandzu hi ku nyika pende leyi ku vuyisa xiyimo xa muhlovo eka tiko leri nga phunta.” Nkanyezi u khensile vakulukumba kutani a hoxa pende eka bege ya yena. Hi mixo lowu landzelaka u yile emahlweni na rendzo rakwe nakambe, a tsakile ngopfu hi nyiko leyi ya muhlovo.
As night was closing in, Nkanyezi arrived at a village of patterns and colours as she had never seen before. She told the village elders about her journey to bring back the spirit of celebration to her people.
The mother of this tribe gave Nkanyezi a gift. She told the girl, “With love we give to you this paint to restore colour to a village that has gone dull.”
Nkanyezi thanked the elders and put the paint in her bag.
Early the next morning she went on her way, excited with this gift of colour.
Nkanyezi u fambile dyambu hinkwaro, a hundza hi le ka swihlahla swa misinya leyikulu. Loko mapapa ma sungula ku va munyama ku va a kota ku vona, u twile mpfumawulo wa ku chayiwa ka swingomana. U fambe hi ku hatlisa a ya laha a ku biwa swingomana, a va na moya wa ku cinca wu ta eka milenge ya yena leyi a yi karhele.
Nkanyezi walked all day, through a vast forest of giant trees. As the sky became too dark for her to see, she heard the sound of beating drums. She hurried towards the drumming, feeling the spirit of dance coming to her tired feet.
Nkanyezi u tikumile a ri etikweni ra Bhubezi. Vanhu a va tshamile va orha ndzilo, va chaya swingomana na ku yimbelela. A a nga si tshama a twa vuyimbeleri lebyi byo hlamarisa. U hlamusele vakulukumba va tiko hi rendzo ra yena ra ku tlherisela moya wa ku tlangela eka vanhu va yena. Vanhu va Bhubezi va n’wi rhambile ku ya wisa na ku tshama na vona vusiku byebyo.
Nkanyezi found herself in the village of the Bhubezi. People were sitting around a fire, drumming and singing. She had never before heard such wonderful music.
She told the village elders about her journey to bring back the spirit of celebration to her people. The Bhubezi invited her to rest and stay the night.
Nimixo hosi yi vitanile Nkanyezi. “N’wananga,” ku vula hosi. “Hi lexi xingomana xo hlawuleka. Xi chaya Risimu leri nkarhi wun’wana na wun’wana loko u xi chaya.” Nkanyezi u khensile vakulukumba kutani a hoax xingomana a xi hoax ebegeni ya yena. U yile emahlweni ni rendzo ra yena nakambe, a tsakile ngopfu hi nyiko leyi ya vuyimbeleri na ku cina.
In the morning the chief called on Nkanyezi.”My child,” he said, “here is a special drum. It plays a new song every time you beat it.”
Nkanyezi thanked the elders and put the drum in her bag. She went on her way again, delighted with this gift of music and dance.
Hi siku ra vunharhu ra rendzo ra yena, loko a karhi a hundza nsimu ya tintswele to nona, nhompfu ya yena yi sungurile ku nwayisa. Nuhelo wa kahle wu hlamarisile nantswo wa yena kutani nomu wa yena wu sungule ku phoma marha. U landzelerile nuhelo wa kahle, kutani a fika eka tiko leri a nga kuma vanhu va yimile henhla ka nkahelo wa mapoto ya xiculu. Rixaka leri a ri tiveka hi mikhuvo ya rona kasi Nkanyezi a nga si tshama a twa hi vunandzi bya muxaka lowu. Endzhaku ka loko a dyile a ringanela, u byerile vakulukumba va tiko hi rendzo ra yena ro tlherisela moya wa ku tlangela ka yena vanhu.
On the third day of her journey, as she a passed a field of fat cows, her nose started to tingle. An aroma tickled her taste buds and her mouth started to water. She followed the scent, and arrived in a village to find people standing over steaming pots of stew.
This tribe was famous for its feasts and Nkanyezi had never before tasted such flavours. After she had eaten her fill, she told the village elders about her journey to bring back the spirit of celebration to her people.
Hi siku leri landzelaka, ntlawa wa vasweswi va n’wi nyikile xihundla xa xipayisisi xo twananisa. “Nhwanyana wa hina,” ku vula vasweski. “Hi swipayisisi leswi, ntsako wa makhwiri wa tiyisisiwa! Hi ku nyika nyiko ya ku sweka swakudya swo nandziha.” Nkanyezi u khensile vakulukumba kutani a hoax swipayisisi eka bege ya yena. A a swi tiva leswaku u na xin’wana na xin’wana lexi a xi lavaka. Hi matimba lamantshwa lama a nga sungula hi wona rendzo lero leha ro tlhelela etikweni ra ka Ndlovu.
The next day, the council of cooks gave her a secret spice blend.”Our daughter,” they said, “with these spices, happy tummies are guaranteed! We give you the gift of good food.”
Nkanyezi thanked the elders and put the spices in her bag.
She knew she had everything she needed. With new energy she started the long journey back to the village of Ndlovu.
Loko a fika ekaya vaakitiko va hlengeletanile hinkwavo na yena ku twa mivalango ya yena. U va byerile mitsheketo ya hi leswi a swi voneke, tweke naswona a swi dyeke. Endzhaku ka sweswo u pfurile bege ya yena ku avelana na vona tinyiko leti a nga nyikiwa. Vaakitiko va hoyozerile ku kuma switsundzuxo leswi swa nkoka. Malwandla ya van’wana na xivindzi xa Nkanyezi xo vuyisa muhlovo, vuyimbeleri na ncino eka vanhu. Hi ndlela yaleyo moya wa ku tlangela wu vuyisiwile eka tiko ra ka Ndlovu.
When she arrived home the villagersgathered around her to hear of heradventures. She told them the talesof what she had seen, heard, andeaten.
Then she opened her bag toshare the gifts given. The villagersrejoiced to receive these treasures.
The generosity of others and the courage of Nkanyezi brought back colour,song and dance to the people.
And so the spirit of celebration was restored to the village of Ndlovu.
