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Il était une fois une famille bien heureuse.
Hapo zamani za kale, paliishi familia yenye furaha.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Ils ne se disputaient jamais. Ils aidaient leurs parents à la maison et dans les champs.
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.
Mais ils n’avaient pas le droit de s’approcher d’un feu.
Lakini, walikatazwa kwenda karibu na moto.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Ils devaient faire tout leur travail pendant la nuit. Puisqu’ils étaient faits de cire !
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!
Mais un des garçons désirait se promener au soleil.
Lakini, kijana mmoja alitamani kwenda nje wakati wa mchana.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Un jour son désir était trop puissant. Ses frères l’avertirent…
Siku moja tamaa ya kwenda nje ikazidi. Wenzake wakamwonya asiende juani. Lakini, hakusikia.
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Mais c’était trop tard ! Il fondit au soleil brûlant.
Aliyeyuka kwa sababu joto lilikuwa kali.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Les enfants de cire étaient si tristes de voir leur frère fondre.
Watoto wa nta walihuzunika walipoona kaka yao akiyeyuka.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Mais ils firent un plan. Ils façonnèrent le morceau de cire fondue en oiseau.
Wakapanga jambo fulani. Walichukua nta iliyoyeyuka wakatengeza ndege.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
Ils apportèrent leur frère l’oiseau jusqu’au sommet d’une montagne haute.
Wakamweka ndege huyo juu ya mlima mrefu.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Et lorsque le soleil se leva, il s’envola vers la lumière du matin en chantant.
Jua lilipochomoza asubuhi, akapeperuka akiimba kwa furaha.
And as the sun rose, he
flew away singing into
the morning light.
Written by: Southern African Folktale
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Translated by: Alexandra Danahy
Read by: Monique Bournot-Trites
