Home
About
How to use this website Contact us
Back to stories list

UMagozwe UMagozwe UMagozwe Magozwe

Written by Lesley Koyi

Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager

Translated by Margaret Nokuthula Zondi

Read by Beauty Ngwenya

Language Zulu

Level Level 4

Narrate full story

Reading speed

Autoplay story

Edolobheni elinyamfukayo iNairobi, kude le nempilo yekhaya enokunakekela, kwakuhlala iqembu labafana abangenamakhaya. Kubona usuku lwalufana nolunye. Ekuseni ngelinye ilanga abafana babeqoqa amacansi abo kade belele onqenqemeni olubandayo lomgwaqo. Babasa umlilo ngemfucuza ukuze baxoshe amakhaza. Phakathi kwaleli qembu kwakunomncane kubo bonke uMagozwe.

Edolobheni elinyamfukayo iNairobi, kude le nempilo yekhaya enokunakekela, kwakuhlala iqembu labafana abangenamakhaya. Kubona usuku lwalufana nolunye. Ekuseni ngelinye ilanga abafana babeqoqa amacansi abo kade belele onqenqemeni olubandayo lomgwaqo. Babasa umlilo ngemfucuza ukuze baxoshe amakhaza. Phakathi kwaleli qembu kwakunomncane kubo bonke uMagozwe.

Kwidolophukazi exakekileyo yaseNairobi, kude le nekhaya elinenkathalo, kwakuhlala iqela lamakhwenkwe angenakhaya. Babejongana nosuku ngalunye ngendlela oluze ngayo. Ngantsasa ithile la makhwenkwe ayesonga iingutyana zawo zokulala emva kokulala kwipavumente ebandayo. Babebasa umlilo ngenkukuma ukugxotha ingqele. Phakathi kwala makhwenkwe kwakukho inkwenkwe egama linguMagozwe. Wayengoyena umncinane kubo bonke.

In the busy city of Nairobi, far away from a caring life at home, lived a group of homeless boys. They welcomed each day just as it came. On one morning, the boys were packing their mats after sleeping on cold pavements. To chase away the cold they lit a fire with rubbish. Among the group of boys was Magozwe. He was the youngest.

Wayeneminyaka emihlanu kuphela, khathi abazali bakhe beshona.Waya kohlala nomalume wakhe. Indoda le ayizange iyinakelele ingane. Wayemncisha ukudla. Wayemenzisa umsebenzi omningi olukhuni.

Wayeneminyaka emihlanu kuphela, khathi abazali bakhe beshona.Waya kohlala nomalume wakhe. Indoda le ayizange iyinakelele ingane. Wayemncisha ukudla. Wayemenzisa umsebenzi omningi olukhuni.

Abazali bakaMagozwe basweleka eneminyaka emihlanu kuphela. Waya kuhlala nomalume wakhe. Le ndoda yayingayikhathalelanga le nkwenkwana. Wayengamniki nditsho nokutya okwaneleyo. Wayemsebenzisa okwekhoboka.

When Magozwe’s parents died, he was only five years old. He went to live with his uncle. This man did not care about the child. He did not give Magozwe enough food. He made the boy do a lot of hard work.

Uma ngabe uMagozwe ekhononda noma efuna incazelo, umalume wakhe wayemshaya. Uma uMagozwe ebuza ukuthi angaya yini esikoleni, umalume wayemshaya athi, “Uyisiduphunga kakhulu ukuthi kukhona ongakufunda.” Emva kweminyaka emithathu yokuphatheka kabi, uMagozwe wabaleka kwamalume wakhe. Waqala ukuhlala ezitaladini.

Uma ngabe uMagozwe ekhononda noma efuna incazelo, umalume wakhe wayemshaya. Uma uMagozwe ebuza ukuthi angaya yini esikoleni, umalume wayemshaya athi, “Uyisiduphunga kakhulu ukuthi kukhona ongakufunda.” Emva kweminyaka emithathu yokuphatheka kabi, uMagozwe wabaleka kwamalume wakhe. Waqala ukuhlala ezitaladini.

Umalume kaMagozwe wayembetha xa ekhalaza okanye ebuza imibuzo. Xa uMagozwe ebuza ukuba angaya na esikolweni, umalume wakhe wayembetha athi, “Usisidenge esingenakufunda nto.” Emva kweminyaka emithathu yalempatho uMagozwe wabaleka wamshiya umalume wakhe. Waya kuhlala esitalatweni.

If Magozwe complained or questioned, his uncle beat him. When Magozwe asked if he could go to school, his uncle beat him and said, “You’re too stupid to learn anything.” After three years of this treatment Magozwe ran away from his uncle. He started living on the street.

Kwakunzima ukuhlala ezitaladini kanti abafana babezabalaza nsukuzonke ukuthola ngisho ukudla. Kokunye babeboshwa, bashaywe. Kwakungenamuntu wokubanakekela uma begula. Leli qembu lalisimamiswa imadlana elaliyithola uma liyicela kwabedlulayo, noma uma lithengisa ocwazi nokunye okungabuye kusebenziseke. Impilo yayibanzima kakhulu ngenxa yezimpi namanye amaqembu abangayo ayefuna ukuphatha izindawo ezithile edolobheni.

Kwakunzima ukuhlala ezitaladini kanti abafana babezabalaza nsukuzonke ukuthola ngisho ukudla. Kokunye babeboshwa, bashaywe. Kwakungenamuntu wokubanakekela uma begula. Leli qembu lalisimamiswa imadlana elaliyithola uma liyicela kwabedlulayo, noma uma lithengisa ocwazi nokunye okungabuye kusebenziseke. Impilo yayibanzima kakhulu ngenxa yezimpi namanye amaqembu abangayo ayefuna ukuphatha izindawo ezithile edolobheni.

Babunzima ubomi basesitalatweni kwaye la makhwenkwe etsala nzima imihla ngemihla ukufumana ukutya. Maxa wambi babebanjwa, maxa wambi bebethwa. Xa begula kwakungekho mntu wokubanceda. Babexhomekeke kwimalana ababeyifumana ngokungqiba, bethengisa neeplastiki nenkukuma ephinda isetyenziswe kwakhona. Ubomi babubanzima kakhulu ngenxa yemilo namanye amaqela awayefuna ukulawula iingingqi ezithile kulodolophukazi.

Street life was difficult and most of the boys struggled daily just to get food. Sometimes they were arrested, sometimes they were beaten. When they were sick, there was no one to help. The group depended on the little money they got from begging, and from selling plastics and other recycling. Life was even more difficult because of fights with rival groups who wanted control of parts of the city.

Ngelinye ilanga uMagozwe ecinga emgqonyeni kadoti,wathola incwadi endala negugile. Wayithintitha eyisusa ukungcola waseyifaka esikhwameni sakhe. Nsukuzonke emva kwalokhu wayeyikhipha incwadi abuke izithombe. Wayengakakwazi ukufunda amagama.

Ngelinye ilanga uMagozwe ecinga emgqonyeni kadoti,wathola incwadi endala negugile. Wayithintitha eyisusa ukungcola waseyifaka esikhwameni sakhe. Nsukuzonke emva kwalokhu wayeyikhipha incwadi abuke izithombe. Wayengakakwazi ukufunda amagama.

Ngenye imini uMagozwe wathi ekhangela emigqomeni wafumana incwadi endala yamabali. Wayivuthulula wayifaka kwingxowana yakhe. Wayeyikhupha mihla le abukele imifanekiso ekuloo ncwadi. Wayengakwazi ukufunda amagama.

One day while Magozwe was looking through the dustbins, he found an old tattered storybook. He cleaned the dirt from it and put it in his sack. Every day after that he would take out the book and look at the pictures. He did not know how to read the words.

Izithombe zazixoxa indaba yomfana owakhula waba umqhubi wezindiza. UMagozwe wayehlala ephupha ngokuba umqhubi wezindiza. Kokunye, wayezibona eyilo mfana okuxoxwa ngaye endabeni.

Izithombe zazixoxa indaba yomfana owakhula waba umqhubi wezindiza. UMagozwe wayehlala ephupha ngokuba umqhubi wezindiza. Kokunye, wayezibona eyilo mfana okuxoxwa ngaye endabeni.

Le mifanekiso yayibalisa ngenkwenkwana eyakhula yaba ngumqhubi weenqwelo-moya. UMagozwe wayephupha ngokuba ngumqhubi weenqwelo-moya. Maxa wambi wayezibona eyile nkwenkwana ikweli bali.

The pictures told the story of a boy who grew up to be a pilot. Magozwe would daydream of being a pilot. Sometimes, he imagined that he was the boy in the story.

Kwakumakhaza uMagozwe emi emgwaqeni ecela imali.Kwafika indoda eyathi kuye, “Sawubona, nginguThomas. Ngisebenza eduze kwalapha, endaweni ongathola khona ukudla,” Yakhomba indlu ephuzi enophahla oluluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka. “Ngethemba uzoya khona uzothola ukudla?” kubuza indoda. UMagozwe wayibuka indoda, wabuka nendlu wasethi, “Mhlawumbe.” Wasuka wahamba.

Kwakumakhaza uMagozwe emi emgwaqeni ecela imali.Kwafika indoda eyathi kuye, “Sawubona, nginguThomas. Ngisebenza eduze kwalapha, endaweni ongathola khona ukudla,” Yakhomba indlu ephuzi enophahla oluluhlaza okwesibhakabhaka. “Ngethemba uzoya khona uzothola ukudla?” kubuza indoda. UMagozwe wayibuka indoda, wabuka nendlu wasethi, “Mhlawumbe.” Wasuka wahamba.

Kwakubanda uMagozwe emi ecaleni kwendlela engqiba. Kweza indoda kuye. “Molo, ndinguThomas. Ndisebenza kufutshane apha, kwindawo onokufumana kuyo into etyiwayo,” yatsho indoda. Yakhomba kumzi otyheli onophahla olubhlowu. “Ndiyathemba ukuba uyakuya phaya uyokufumana ukutya?” yabuza. UMagozwe wajonga kule ndoda, wajonga kulo mzi. “Mhlawumbi,” watsho waze wahamba.

It was cold and Magozwe was standing on the road begging. A man walked up to him. “Hello, I’m Thomas. I work near here, at a place where you can get something to eat,” said the man. He pointed to a yellow house with a blue roof. “I hope you will go there to get some food?” he asked. Magozwe looked at the man, and then at the house. “Maybe,” he said, and walked away.

Ezinyangeni eziningi ezilandelayo, abafana abangenamakhaya baze bajwayela ukubona uThomas endaweni. Wayethanda ukukhuluma nabantu, ikakhulu abahlala ezitaladini. UThomas wayelalela izindaba ngezimpilo zabantu. Wayezimisela enesineke futhi, wayengakaze abeluhlaza futhi engenayo indelelo. Abanye abafana baqala ukuya endlini ephuzi nokuluhlaza beyothola ukudla emini.

Ezinyangeni eziningi ezilandelayo, abafana abangenamakhaya baze bajwayela ukubona uThomas endaweni. Wayethanda ukukhuluma nabantu, ikakhulu abahlala ezitaladini. UThomas wayelalela izindaba ngezimpilo zabantu. Wayezimisela enesineke futhi, wayengakaze abeluhlaza futhi engenayo indelelo. Abanye abafana baqala ukuya endlini ephuzi nokuluhlaza beyothola ukudla emini.

Kwiinyanga ezilandelayo la makhwenkwe angenamakhaya aqhelana nokubona uThomas. Wayekuthanda ukuthetha nabantu, ingakumbi abantu abahlala esitalatweni. UThomas wayephulaphula amabali angobomi babantu. Wayeqinisekile kwaye enomonde kwaye engakhe abekrwada okanye angabina ntlonipho. Amanye amakhwenkwe aqalisa ukuya kulendlu ityheli nabhlowu ukuya kufumana isidlo sasemini.

Over the months that followed, the homeless boys got used to seeing Thomas around. He liked to talk to people, especially people living on the streets. Thomas listened to the stories of people’s lives. He was serious and patient, never rude or disrespectful. Some of the boys started going to the yellow and blue house to get food at midday.

UMagozwe wayehlezi onqenqemeni lomgwaqo ebuka izithombe encwadini yakhe lapho uThomas efika ehlala eduze kwakhe. “Imayelana nani le ndaba?” kubuza uThomas “Imayelana nomfana obangumqhubi wezindiza,” kuphendula uMagozwe. “Ubani igama lomfana?” kubuza uThomas. “Angazi, angikwazi ukufunda,” kusho uMagozwe kancane.

UMagozwe wayehlezi onqenqemeni lomgwaqo ebuka izithombe encwadini yakhe lapho uThomas efika ehlala eduze kwakhe. “Imayelana nani le ndaba?” kubuza uThomas “Imayelana nomfana obangumqhubi wezindiza,” kuphendula uMagozwe. “Ubani igama lomfana?” kubuza uThomas. “Angazi, angikwazi ukufunda,” kusho uMagozwe kancane.

UMagozwe wayehleli kwipavumente ebuka incwadi yakhe yemifanekiso kwaze kwafika uThomas wahlala ecaleni kwakhe. “Ingaba lingantoni eli bali?” wabuza uThomas. “Lithetha ngenkwenkwana eyaba ngumqhubi weenqwelo-moya,” waphendula uMagozwe. “Ngubani igama lalenkwenkwana?” wabuza uThomas. “Andilazi, andikwazi ukufunda,” watsho uMagozwe ethethela phantsi.

Magozwe was sitting on the pavement looking at his picture book when Thomas sat down next to him. “What is the story about?” asked Thomas. “It’s about a boy who becomes a pilot,” replied Magozwe. “What’s the boy’s name?” asked Thomas. “I don’t know, I can’t read,” said Magozwe quietly.

Kwathi lapho behlangana futhi uMagozwe waqala ukuxoxela uThomas indaba yakhe. Kwakuyindaba kamalume wakhe nesizathu sokubaleka kwakhe. UThomas kazange akhulume kakhulu futhi kazange atshele uMagozwe ukuthi akenzenjani, wayegcina ngokulalela ngokucophelela. Kokunye babexoxa lapho bedla endlini enophahla oluluhalza okwesibhakabhaka.

Kwathi lapho behlangana futhi uMagozwe waqala ukuxoxela uThomas indaba yakhe. Kwakuyindaba kamalume wakhe nesizathu sokubaleka kwakhe. UThomas kazange akhulume kakhulu futhi kazange atshele uMagozwe ukuthi akenzenjani, wayegcina ngokulalela ngokucophelela. Kokunye babexoxa lapho bedla endlini enophahla oluluhalza okwesibhakabhaka.

Ukudibana kwabo, uMagozwe waxelela uThomas ngebali lakhe. Wamxelela ngomalume wakhe nesizathu sokuba abaleke. UThomas wayengathethi kakhulu, kwaye wayengamxeleli uMagozwe kuba enze ntoni na, kodwa wayephulaphula ngononophelo. Maxa wambi babencokola ngeli lixa besitya kwindlu enophahla olubhlowu.

When they met, Magozwe began to tell his own story to Thomas. It was the story of his uncle and why he ran away. Thomas didn’t talk a lot, and he didn’t tell Magozwe what to do, but he always listened carefully. Sometimes they would talk while they ate at the house with the blue roof.

UMagozwe esezohlanganisa iminyaka eyishumi, uThomas wamupha enye incwadi. Kwakuyindaba yomfana wasedolobheni elincane owakhula waba umdlali webhola odumile. UThomas wafundela uMagozwe le ndaba izikhathi eziningi, kwaze kwathi ngelinye ilanga wathi, “Ngibona ukuthi sekuyisikhathi sokuthi uye esikoleni ufunde ukuzifundela. Ubona kanjani?” UThomas wachaza ukuthi kukhona indawo ayaziyo lapho izingane zingahala khona, futhi zifunde.

UMagozwe esezohlanganisa iminyaka eyishumi, uThomas wamupha enye incwadi. Kwakuyindaba yomfana wasedolobheni elincane owakhula waba umdlali webhola odumile. UThomas wafundela uMagozwe le ndaba izikhathi eziningi, kwaze kwathi ngelinye ilanga wathi, “Ngibona ukuthi sekuyisikhathi sokuthi uye esikoleni ufunde ukuzifundela. Ubona kanjani?” UThomas wachaza ukuthi kukhona indawo ayaziyo lapho izingane zingahala khona, futhi zifunde.

Kufutshane nomhla wokuzalwa kaMagozwe egqiba iminyaka elishumi, uThomas wamnika incwadi yamabali entsha. Yayithetha ngenkwenkwana eyakhulela ezilalini eyakhula yaba ngumdlali webhola odumileyo. UThomas wamfundela le ncwadi uMagozwe amaxa amaninzi waza wathi ngenye imini, “Ndicinga ukuba kufuneka uye esikolweni ukwazi ukufunda. Ucinga ntoni wena?” UThomas wathi kukho indawo ayaziyo apho abantwana bavunyelwa ukuba bahlale baye nasesikolweni.

Around Magozwe’s tenth birthday, Thomas gave him a new storybook. It was a story about a village boy who grew up to be a famous soccer player. Thomas read that story to Magozwe many times, until one day he said, “I think it’s time you went to school and learned to read. What do you think?” Thomas explained that he knew of a place where children could stay, and go to school.

UMagozwe wacabanga ngale ndawo entsha, nangokuya esikoleni. Kunganjani uma ngabe umalume wakhe wayeqinisile lapho ethi uyisiduphunga engeke sifunde lutho? Kwakuyothiwani uma eshaywa lapho? Wayesaba. “Mhlawumbe kungcono ngiqhubeke nokuhlala esitaladini,” ecabanga.

UMagozwe wacabanga ngale ndawo entsha, nangokuya esikoleni. Kunganjani uma ngabe umalume wakhe wayeqinisile lapho ethi uyisiduphunga engeke sifunde lutho? Kwakuyothiwani uma eshaywa lapho? Wayesaba. “Mhlawumbe kungcono ngiqhubeke nokuhlala esitaladini,” ecabanga.

UMagozwe wacinga ngalendawo intsha nangokuya esikolweni. Mhlawumbi umalume wakhe wayelungile xa esithi usisidenge esinganakho ukufunda nto? Angathini xa benokumbetha kulendawo intsha. Wayesoyika. “Mhlawumbi kungcono ahlale esitalatweni,” wacinga ngolo hlobo.

Magozwe thought about this new place, and about going to school. What if his uncle was right and he was too stupid to learn anything? What if they beat him at this new place? He was afraid. “Maybe it is better to stay living on the street,” he thought.

Wacobelela uThomas ngovalo analo. Kaningi emmisa isibindi ukuthi impilo yakhe ingabangcono.

Wacobelela uThomas ngovalo analo. Kaningi emmisa isibindi ukuthi impilo yakhe ingabangcono.

Waxelela uThomas ngoloyiko lwakhe. Ekuhambeni kwexesha le ndoda yamthembisa ukuba ubomi bunokuba ngcono kulendawo intsha.

He shared his fears with Thomas. Over time the man reassured the boy that life could be better at the new place.

Kanjalo uMagozwe wathuthela ekameleni endlini eyayinophahla oluluhlaza njengotshani. Wayehlala nabanye abafana babili. Sebebonke ababehlala endlini kwakuyizingane eiyishumi. Kanye noAnti Cissy, nomyeni wakhe, izinja ezintathu, ikati nembuzi endala.

Kanjalo uMagozwe wathuthela ekameleni endlini eyayinophahla oluluhlaza njengotshani. Wayehlala nabanye abafana babili. Sebebonke ababehlala endlini kwakuyizingane eiyishumi. Kanye noAnti Cissy, nomyeni wakhe, izinja ezintathu, ikati nembuzi endala.

Ngoko ke uMagozwe wafumana igumbi lokuhlala kumzi onophahla oluluhlaza namanye amakhwenkwe amabini. Babelishumi bebonke abantwana ababehlala kweli khaya. Kwakukho noMama uCissy nomyeni wakhe, izinja ezintathu, ikati kunye nebhokhwe endala.

And so Magozwe moved into a room in a house with a green roof. He shared the room with two other boys. Altogether there were ten children living at that house. Along with Auntie Cissy and her husband, three dogs, a cat, and an old goat.

UMagozwe wasiqala isikole kwabalukhuni. Kwakukuningi okwakufanele akwazi ukuze aficane nabanye. Kwakukekuthi akayeke. Kodwa wayecabanga ngomqhubi wendiza nomdlali webhola ezincwadini zakhe.

UMagozwe wasiqala isikole kwabalukhuni. Kwakukuningi okwakufanele akwazi ukuze aficane nabanye. Kwakukekuthi akayeke. Kodwa wayecabanga ngomqhubi wendiza nomdlali webhola ezincwadini zakhe.

UMagozwe waqala isikolo kwaye kwakunzima. Wayesemva ngomsebenzi omninzi kakhulu. Maxa wambi wayefuna ukunikezela. Kodwa wayecinga ngomqhubi weenqwelo-ntaka kunye nomdlali webhola awayefunda ngabo kwiincwadi zakhe zamabali. Wayenganikezeli efana nabo.

Magozwe started school and it was difficult. He had a lot to catch up. Sometimes he wanted to give up. But he thought about the pilot and the soccer player in the storybooks. Like them, he did not give up.

UMagozwe wayehleli egcekeni lendlu eyayinophahla oluluhlaza, efunda incwadi yezindaba yesikole. UThomas wafika wahlala eduze kwakhe. “Imayelana nani le ndaba?” kubuza uThomas. “Imayelana nomfana owaba uthisha,” kuphendula uMagozwe. “Ubani igama lakhe?” kubuza uThomas “Igama lakhe uMagozwe,” kusho uMagozwe emamatheka.

UMagozwe wayehleli egcekeni lendlu eyayinophahla oluluhlaza, efunda incwadi yezindaba yesikole. UThomas wafika wahlala eduze kwakhe. “Imayelana nani le ndaba?” kubuza uThomas. “Imayelana nomfana owaba uthisha,” kuphendula uMagozwe. “Ubani igama lakhe?” kubuza uThomas “Igama lakhe uMagozwe,” kusho uMagozwe emamatheka.

UMagozwe wayehleli eyadini kwindlu enophahla oluluhlaza efunda incwadi yamabali yasesikolweni. UThomas weza kuhlala ecaleni kwakhe. “Lingantoni eli bali?” wabuza uThomas. “Limalunga nenkwenkwana eyaba nguTitshala,” waphendula uMagozwe. “Ngubani igama lalenkwenkwana?” wabuza uThomas. “Igama layo nguMagozwe,” waphendula enoncumo uMagozwe.

Magozwe was sitting in the yard at the house with the green roof, reading a storybook from school. Thomas came up and sat next to him. “What is the story about?” asked Thomas. “It’s about a boy who becomes a teacher,” replied Magozwe. “What’s the boy’s name?” asked Thomas. “His name is Magozwe,” said Magozwe with a smile.

Written by: Lesley Koyi
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Translated by: Margaret Nokuthula Zondi
Read by: Beauty Ngwenya
Language: Zulu
Level: Level 4
Source: Magozwe from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Read more level 4 stories:
Options
Back to stories list Download PDF