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Koning Kaja en Sy Dogter Inkosi Undabenhle Nendodakazi Yayo Ikumkani Ukayanja Nentwazana Yakhe King Kayanja and his daughter

Written by Amana Yunus

Illustrated by Natalie Propa

Translated by Fanie Viljoen

Language Afrikaans

Level Level 4

Narrate full story The audio for this story is currently not available.


Lank gelede was daar ’n koning genaamd Kaja. Hy het in ’n paleis gewoon saam met die koningin en hulle dogter, Prinses Apenyo.

Kudaladala, kwakunenkosi ogama layo kwakunguNdabenhle. Inkosi le yayihlala esigodlweni nendlovukazi kanye nendodakazi yayo, inkosazana ogama layo kwakunguNaledi. UNaledi wayeyinkosazana enhle. Cishe zonke izinsizwa zendawo zazifisa ukuba ziganwe yile nkosazana. Okwakunzima, inkosi uNdabenhle, okunguyise, yayifuna ilobolo elimangazayo ngenkosazana yayo.

Kudala-dala kwaye kukho ikumkani egama layo linguKayanja. Yayihlala ebhotwe kunye nekumkanikazi nentombi yabo, unkosazana, Apenyo. U-Apenyo wayeyinkosazana entle, kangangokuba onke amadoda ayefuna ukumtshata. Kodwa ukumkani uKayanja wayefuna ilobola exabisa kakhulu ngentombi yakhe.

Long, long ago there was a king called Kayanja. He lived in a palace with the queen and their daughter, princess Apenyo. Princess Apenyo was such a beautiful young woman that every man wanted to marry her. But king Kayanja demanded a very high bride price for the princess.


Naby Koning Kaja se kasteel het hoofman Aloeda die Grote gebly. Hy is “Die Grote” genoem omdat almal in die buurt hom gehoorsaam het. (Hy was baie wreed as iemand nie na hom geluister het nie!)

Eduze nesigodlo kwakuhlala induna, uMtungwa omkhulu. Wayebizwa ngo Mtungwa “omkhulu” ngoba wayehlonishwa yisigodi sonkana. Wayebonisa ulaka kulowo muntu owayengamhloniphi. Inkosikazi yenduna uMtungwa yayisanda kushona, ithathwa yisifo soqhuqho. Manje induna yayisifuna ukuthatha enye inkosikazi.

Kufutshane nebhotwe lekumkani uKayanja kwakuhlala inkosi eyayisaziwa ngokuba ngu-Aludah Omkhulu. Kwakusithiwa, ‘Omkhulu’ ngoba bonke abantu belali babemhlonipha. Wayendlongondlongo kakhulu kubantu ababengamhloneli. Inkosikazi yeNkosi u-Aludah yayisandula kubhubha sisifo semalariya, ngoko u-Aludah wayefuna ukuthatha enye inkosikazi.

Near king Kayanja’s palace lived a chief called Aludah the Great. He was called “the Great” because everybody in the neighbourhood obeyed him. (He was very violent to anyone who disobeyed him!) Chief Aludah’s wife had recently died of malaria and he wanted another wife.


Die vet ou hoofman gaan uiteindelik na Koning Kaja toe om ’n bruidskat vir die jong prinses aan te bied.

UMtungwa omkhulu waya enkosini uNdabenhle eyozibika ukuthi yena angakhipha ilobolo elingakanani ngenkosazana yenkosi. Babhunga indaba yelobolo lenkosazana nje, umsizi wasesigodlweni, uNelisiwe, uyezwa ukuthi bathini. UNelisiwe wayemkhonzile unkosazana uNaledi.

Ngoko inkosi endala etyebileyo yaya kukumkani uKayanja iyokunikezela ngelobola yayo enkulu kuze itshate inkosazana encinane. Athi xa amadoda amakhulu exovula umba welobola kwathi kanti uyaweva uKakembo, owayengumsebenzi ebhotwe. Umsebenzi uKakembo wayehlobene kakhulu nenkosazana u-Apenyo.

So the fat old chief went to king Kayanja to offer bride wealth for the young princess. While the two men were discussing the price, the maid Kakembo overheard their conversation. Maid Kakembo was very close to princess Apenyo.


Hoofman Aloeda het ingestem om die helfte van sy rykdom aan Koning Kaja te gee. Dit het ’n naald ingesluit wat ook deel van die bruidskat sou wees.

UMtungwa omkhulu wathi yena angathatha uhhafu wengcebo yakhe ayinike inkosi njengelobolobo. Ngasese, kwenziwa amalungiselelo omshado phakathi kwenduna Umtungwa omkhulu nonkosazana uNaledi. Inkosi uNdabenhle wayazi kahle kamhlophe ukuthi indodakazi yakhe ngeke isijabulele lesi sinqumo.

Inkosi yavuma ukunika ihafu yobutyebi bayo kukumkani uKayanja, obuquka inaliti eyayiyinxalenye yelobola. Kwenziwa amalungiselelo abucala omtshato phakathi kwenkosi u-Aludah kunye nenkosazana u-Apenyo. Ikumkani yayisazi ukuba intombi yayo ayisokuze isithande esi sigqibo.

Chief Aludah agreed to give half of his wealth to king Kayanja, including a needle, which was also part of the bride price. Preparations were made in secret for the wedding between chief Aludah and princess Apenyo. The king knew that his daughter would not be happy with this decision.


’n Week voor die koninklike bruilof het Kembo na Prinses Apenyo toe gegaan.

Sekusele isonto ngaphahambi kosuku lomshado, umsizi uNelisiwe waqonda kunkosazana Naledi. “Nkosazana yami ethandekayo, ubaba wakho uhlela ukukuganisela induna uMtungwa omkhulu. Loku kuzokwenzeka maduze, evikini elizayo.” Kuchaza uNelisiwe.

Kuthe sele kusele iveki enye kuphela phambi kokuba ifike imini yomtshato, uKakembo waya kuthetha noApenyo, wathi, “Nkosazana yami ethandekayo, utata wakho ucwangcisa umtshato wakho nenkosi u-Aludah, kwaye uza kwenzeka kwiveki ezayo.”

One week before the royal wedding day, maid Kakembo approached Apenyo. “My dear princess, your father has organised your wedding with Chief Aludah, and it will take place in one week,” said Kakembo.


Prinses Apenyo was geskok. Sy het nie geweet wat om te doen nie.

Inkosazana yathuka umhlola, yangazi ukuthi ithini futhi yenzeni. Emva kwesikhashana seyithi, “Mina, ngeke ngiganele induna uMtungwa omkhulu, indoda endala ekhuluphele kanje. Angeke bakubone loko. Kuzomele ngigijimele kuThando abone ukuthi angenzenjani.” Phela uThando kwakuyisoka lika Naledi.

Inkosazana u-Apenyo yothuka kakhulu ingazi ukuba iza kwenza njani. Wacinga, wacinga, wacinga u-Apenyo, waze wathi, “Andisokuze mna nditshate nenkosi u-Aludah, ixhego elibi elityebileyo. Unotshe! Mandiye kuTrevor ndibone ukuba angenza ntoni, lisekhona ixesha.” UTrevor wayelisoka likankosazana u-Apenyo.

Princess Apenyo was shocked and at first didn’t know what to do. Then she thought, “I will never marry chief Aludah, that fat old man. Never! I must hurry to Trevor and see what he can do before it’s too late.” Trevor was princess Apenyo’s boyfriend.


Daardie aand sluip Apenyo uit die paleis uit. As haar pa uitvind waarheen sy gaan, sou hy baie kwaad wees.

Ngalobo busuku, uNaledi wanyonyoba weqa esigodlweni. Uma uyise wayengezwa ngaloko wayezothukuthela ngokweqile. Wagijima edlula ihlathi elimnyama, eqa amadwala, imihosha nemihoshana, waze wafika esithandweni sakhe uThando. Wafika ekhathele, elambile, onyiwe.

Ngobo busuku u-Apenyo wanyonyoba waphuma ebhotwe. Ukuba utata wake wayenokwazi ukuba uyaphi wayeza kucaphuka kakhulu. Wabaleka wadlula ehlathini elimnyama thsu, elishinyeneyo. Watsiba amatye nezihlahla de wayokufika kuTrevor wakhe. Wafika kwaTrevor ediniwe, elambile, futhi enxaniwe.

That night Apenyo crept out of the palace. If her father discovered where she was going he would be very angry. She ran through the thick, dark forest over rocks and shrubs, until she finally reached her Trevor. When she arrived at his house she was tired, hungry, and thirsty.


“My lief, waarom het jy so ver gehardloop? Alleen, hierdie tyd van die nag?” het Trevor gevra.

“Hhayi-bo gugu lami, kwenzenjani? Ungathini ukuhamba ibanga elide kangaka wedwa, ebusuku lobu?” kubuza uThando. Wabe esemlandela amanzi okuphuza, wamdedela ukuba ake aphumule. UThando, wayengakwazi ukubeka isiqe phansi ngenkathi esalinde uNaledi ukuba alande indaba.

“Sithandwa sam, kungani ukuba ubaleke umgama ongaka wedwa ezinzulwini zobusuku?” kwabuza uTrevor. Wamphathela amanzi okusela waze wamnika ithuba lokuphumla. UTrevor wayengasakwazi ukulinda ngelixa u-Apenyo asaziphumzayo.

“My love, why have you run all this long distance alone and at such a time of night?” asked Trevor. He fetched drinking water for her and allowed her to rest. Trevor could not settle down while he waited for Apenyo to talk.


“My liewe prinses, wat is fout?” het Trevor gevra.

“Ngitshele, sthandwa sami,” kusho uThando. UNaledi waphefumulela phezulu, wezwakala esethi, “Ubaba ufuna ukungiganisela induna uMtungwa omkhulu. Angikwazi ukugana leya ndoda embi kanjeya. Thando, noma ngabe umpofu kangakanani, mina ngifuna ukugana wena. Ngikulungele ukuhlupheka. Ngithanda wena qha!”

“Nkosazana yam endiyithandayo, ingaba yintoni ingxaki?” wabuza uTrevor. U-Apenyo waphefumlela phezulu kalusizi waze wathi, “Utata ufuna ukunditshatisa nenkosi u-Aludah, omkhulu. Kodwa andisoze nditshate indoda ekhohlakele ngolwahlobo. Trevor, ndifuna ukutshata nawe nokuba awunanto. Ndikulungele ukuhlupheka. Ndiyakuthanda.”

“My dear princess, what is the problem?” asked Trevor. Apenyo breathed heavily and said sadly, “My father wants to marry me off to chief Aludah the Great. But I can’t marry that horrible man. Trevor, I want to marry you even if you are poor. I am ready to suffer. I love you.”


“Maar prinses, ek het niks om vir jou bruidskat te gee nie. Jy weet ek is ’n arm man,” het Trevor gesê.

“Kodwa manje nkosazana, mina anginalutho, ukukhokhela ilobolo lakho. Wazi kahle, ngimpofu,” kuzikhalela uThando. UNaledi wamphendula wathi, “Ngiyakwazi loko, kodwa nguwe kuphela engingakugana.” Wake wathula isikhashana, wabe esethi, “Nginecebo, masigijimele ku Kwanda, indoda le yesikebhe asiweze sibalekele ngale komfula. Ngaleyo ndlela singeqa, ubaba angasitholi.”

“Kodwa nkosazana, andinanto endinokukulobola ngayo, uyazi nawe ukuba ndiyindoda ehluphekayo,” watsho uTrevor. U-Apenyo waphendula wathi, “Ndiyazi Trevor, kodwa ndifuna ukutshata wena kuphela.” Wacinga ixeshana u-Apenyo waze wathi, “Masiye kuKategga indoda yesikhephe asiwelise siye ngaphesheya komlambo. Ngale ndlela, singesaba, utata angaze aphinde asifumane.”

“But princess, I have nothing to pay as your bride price, you know I’m a poor boy.” cried Trevor. Apenyo replied, “I know, but it’s only you I can get married to.” She thought for a while and said, “Let’s go to Kategga the boat man to sail us to the other side of the river. That way we can escape and my father will never find us.”


By die paleis, het Koning Kaja van die prinses se verdwyning uitgevind. Hy het sy onderdane beveel om oral in die dorp na haar te gaan soek. Die koning se wagte, soldate en al die ander mense het gesoek, maar hulle kon die prinses nêrens kry nie.

Emuva esigodlweni, inkosi uNdabenhle usetholile ukuthi uNkosazana Naledi usenyamalele. Usetshele izinhloli, nabantu bayo ukuba baphume bayoyifuna inkosazana. Abaqaphi benkosi, amabutho, wonke umuntu wagcwala isiganga kufunwa inkosazana yenkosi, kodwa do! Abazange bayithole inkosazana yenkosi. Babuyela emuva enkosini beyoyitshela ukuthi uNaledi akatholakali. Inkosi yabaphendula ngokucasuka, “Hambani niyocinga ehlathini.”

Emva ebhotwe, ikumkani uKayanja yayisele ibonile ukuba inkosazana u-Apenyo yayinyamalele. Wathumela abantu bakhe ukuba bayifune kuyo yonke indawo elalini. Amaphakathi eKumkani, amajoni kunye naye wonke umntu bacinga ngendawo awayenokuba uzifihle kuyo, kodwa abazange bamfumane u-Apenyo. Babuyela emva beyokuxelela ikumkani ukuba akafumaneki ndawo u-Apenyo. “Hambani niyokumfuna ehlathini,” wabhavumla ukumkani uKayanja. Wayenomsindo ngeyona ndlela.

Back at the palace, king Kayanja had discovered Princess Apenyo’s disappearance and ordered his subjects to search for her everywhere in the village. The king’s guards, soldiers, and everyone else searched, but they couldn’t find Princess Apenyo. They went back to the King and told him Apenyo was nowhere to be seen. “Then go to the bush and search,” King Kayanja ordered. He was very annoyed.


Soos Prinses Apenyo en Trevor na die rivier toe gehardloop het, het donker wolke in die lug begin saampak. ’n Groot storm was op pad.

Ngesikhathi uThando noNaledi begijimela osebeni lomfula, izulu laqala lashintsha, kwaguqubala, kwaba namafu amnyama. Kwakuza isiphepho esikhulu.

Ngelixa inkosazana u-Apenyo noTrevor bebaleka ukuya emlanjeni, kwaqalisa ukusibekela aze amafu amnyama asigquma isibhakabhaka. Kwakusiza isaqhwithi esikhulukazi.

As Princess Apenyo and Trevor hurried to the riverbank, dark clouds began gathering in the sky. A heavy storm was coming.


Kategga, die bootsman, was besig om sy boot vas te meer toe die paartjie aankom. Trevor het vir Kategga gevra om hulle oor die rivier te roei.

UKwanda, indoda yesikebhe wayesabophela isikebhe sakhe ngesikhathi izithandani zifika. UThando wancenga uKwanda ukuba agwedle isikebhe sakhe, abaweze. UKwanda wenqaba, wabachazela ukuthi isiphepho esinamandla sesifikile, kuzoba yingozi ukubaweza.

UKategga umqhubi wesikhephe wayesabophelela isikhephe sakhe ngelixa aba bathandanayo befika kuye. UTrevor wacela uKategga ukuba abakhwelise kwisikhephe sakhe abawelise umlambo. UKategga akazange avume, wabachazela ukuba isaqhwithi sele sikufutshane, ngoko kwakuza kuba yingozi kakhulu ukuzama ukuwela.

Kategga the boatman was mooring his boat when the young couple approached him. Trevor asked Kategga to row them across the river. Kategga refused to accept, explaining that a heavy storm was fast approaching, and it would be too dangerous.


Trevor het daarop aangedring en verduidelik hoekom hulle anderkant moes kom. Hy steek toe sy hand diep in sy sak en haal ’n muntskulp uit om vir Kategga te gee.

UThando waphikelela echazela uKwanda ukuthi kungani kumele bewelele ngaphesheya. Wafaka isandla sakhe ephaketheni wakhipha igobolondo wanika uKwanda. UKwanda, ezwa indaba yabo, esebona negobolondo elibiza kangaka, wabazwela. Wavuma wagwedla isikebhe wabaweza, yize isimo sezulu sasisibi.

UTrevor waqhubekeka wachazela uKategga isizathu sokufuna kwabo ukuwela umlambo. Wasuka wafaka isandla sakhe epokothweni wakhupha imali wayinika uKategga. Wathi akuyiva imeko yabo uKategga, ebona nemali ebengezelayo, wavelana nabo. Wavuma ukubawelisa umlambo nangona izulu lalizongoma.

Trevor insisted and explained to Kategga why they must cross. He then put his hand deep in his pocket and took out a cowrie shell to give to Kategga. When Kategga heard their story and saw the beautiful shell, he felt sorry for them. He agreed to row them across the river in spite of the weather.


Kategga het die boot nader gesleep en gesê hulle moet inklim. Hy tel toe sy spane op en begin roei.

Ngokushesha, uKwanda wadonsa isikebhe, bagibela. Wathatha izigwedlo, waqala umsebenzi wagwedla. Kwathi inkosi nenduna befika ngasosebeni lomfula, babona nabaya abantu abathathu esikebheni. Kwabakhanyela ukuthi izithandani zeqile, yizo leziya. Umoya omkhulu waxukuzisa isikebhe, kwaba uKwanda uyehluleka ukusilawula asiqondise isikebke manje. Kwezwakala inkosi isimemeza, “Ndodakazi yami Naledi, ngicela ubuye! Ngiyakuxolela, ngeke nginijezise, wena no Thando.”

UKategga watsalela isikhephe sakhe ngasenyeleni yomlambo waze wabaxelela ukuba bangene. Waqalisa ukubhexa. Bathe xa ukumkani uKanyanja nenkosi u-Aludah befika enyeleni yomlambo, bababona aba bathathu esikhepheni. Babona ukuba izithandani zesabile.

Kategga pulled the boat near the bank and told them to get in. He then picked his oars and began rowing. When king Kayanja and chief Aludah reached the bank, they saw the three people in the boat. They realised that the young lovers had escaped.


Swaar winde het die boot geskommel. Kategga kon dit naderhand nie meer beheer nie. Koning Kaja het uitgeroep, “Apenyo, kom asseblief terug! Ek het jou vergewe en sal julle nie straf nie.” Maar dit was te laat. Die boot het omgekantel en al drie die mense het in die rowwe water geval en verdrink.

Inkosi yasho sekonakele. Isikebhe saketuka, bobathatu baphonseka emanzini ayenamandla. Bonke baminza. Emva kwalesi sehlakalo, wonke umuntu embusweni wenkosi UNdabenhle wakhululeka ukugana noma ukuganwa yilowo amthandayo, ocebile noma ompofu, inqobo uma bethandana.

Umoya omkhulu owawuvuthuza wasisa ngapha nangapha isikhephe waze uKategga wasokola ukusilawula. IKumkani uKayanja yakwaza: “Apenyo, ndicela ubuye! Ndikuxolele, kwaye andisokuze ndinohlwaye wena noTrevor.” Kodwa kwakusele kusemva kwesithonga. Isikhephe saphequka baze abantu ababekuso baphoseka emanzini. Bobathathu barhaxwa ngamanzi. Ukususela loo mini yentlekele, wonke umntu kwisizwe sikaKumkani uKayanja wakhululeka ukuba atshate naye nabani na amfunayo, nokuba usisityebi okanye ulihlwempu na.

Heavy winds rocked the boat and Kategga could no longer control it. King Kayanja shouted: “Apenyo, please come back! I have forgiven you and will never punish you or Trevor.” But it was too late. The boat tipped over and the three people were thrown into the wild water. They all drowned. After that day, everyone in king Kayanja’s kingdom could marry anyone they wanted, rich or poor.


Written by: Amana Yunus
Illustrated by: Natalie Propa
Translated by: Fanie Viljoen
Language: Afrikaans
Level: Level 4
Source: King Kayanja and his daughter from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 International License.
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