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Nétií apá, nétií olmaréí óbo óbokito te enchípai.
Hapo zamani za kale, paliishi familia yenye furaha.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Óre inkérâ néméára áíkata. Néret intóiwúó enyê.
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.
Néjokí intóiwúó énye peê ményíkáki aké enkímá.
Lakini, walikatazwa kwenda karibu na moto.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Náa kewarié éás esíaai enyê. Amû te emanoó eitobirúno nínche.
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!
Néng’uar enkáyíóní peê élô aíj enkolóng.
Lakini, kijana mmoja alitamani kwenda nje wakati wa mchana.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Néponári eng’uarratá. Káke etiákitâ iláláshera lényená peê méló aké.
Siku moja tamaa ya kwenda nje ikazidi. Wenzake wakamwonya asiende juani. Lakini, hakusikia.
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Káke eikonyáyie aló. Óre peê édâl enkólong, néshola.
Aliyeyuka kwa sababu joto lilikuwa kali.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Néísinánuo iláláshera lényená peê edôl olaláshe lenyê áajo etoshóle.
Watoto wa nta walihuzunika walipoona kaka yao akiyeyuka.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Néígúéna. Néjo peê eitobíru entóki nanyaányukie emótonyî te emanoó.
Wakapanga jambo fulani. Walichukua nta iliyoyeyuka wakatengeza ndege.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
Néílepie ínâ kítányáányúkoto é emótonyî áaya shúmátá ó olkiú.
Wakamweka ndege huyo juu ya mlima mrefu.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Óre peê éílépû enkólong, nélo te aí érányítâ.
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: Leonard Kotikash
Read by: Jackson
