A long time ago, three girls went
out to collect wood.
Hapo zamani za kale, wasichana watatu walienda kukusanya kuni.
Antsye aaba abiilile naabi, kila
batsya i luutsi khuusuba.
Baryo baasuba nga benyaha, nga
behanyakila kameetsi.
It was a hot day so they went down
to the river to swim.
They played and splashed and
swam in the water.
Ilikuwa ni siku yenye jua kali na wakaamua kwenda mtoni kuogelea. Wakaogelea huku wakicheza na kurushiana maji.
Baatsya khukhebulila nga antsye
abukabukana.
Beeyunakho khuukobolayo ingo.
Suddenly, they realised that it was
late.
They hurried back to the village.
Ghafla waligundua kuwa muda umekwenda. Wakaharakisha kurudi nyumbani.
Nga bali aambi khukhwoola ingo,
Namutosi weyabaaba mu milo
mweewe. Wenyoola nga webiliile
kumukufu kweewe. Aryo
wekoontselela basheewe ari, “Ni
munjeete khukoboleyo.” Ne basaale
beewe baaloma bari antsye
bwelabuule naabi.
When they were nearly home,
Nozibele put her hand to her neck.
She had forgotten her necklace!
“Please come back with me!” she
begged her friends.
But her friends said it was too late.
Walipokuwa wanakaribia kufika nyumbani, Nozibele akajishika shingoni. Alikuwa amesahau shanga zake! “Tafadhali turudini!” aliwasihi rafiki zake. Lakini rafiki zake wakasema tumechelewa.
Aryo Namutosi waakobolayo iluutsi
yenyene.
Waanyoola kumukuufu kweewe, kila
akyeendaka khaangu khuukobolayo
ingo.
Ne wakoraana khu lwe shishiilima
So Nozibele went back to the river
alone.
She found her necklace and hurried
home.
But she got lost in the dark.
Kwa hiyo Nozibele akarudi mwenyewe mtoni. Akapata shanga zake na akakimbia kurudi nyumbani. Lakini akapotea gizani.
Iburaangisikho waabonayo kumulilo
kumulikha nga kwaamila mu ntsu.
Waakyendaka khaangu woolayo,
waakhoonyaka khu lwiitsi.
In the distance she saw light
coming from a hut.
She hurried towards it and knocked
at the door.
Kwa mbali akaona mwanga unatoka kwenye nyumba. Akakimbilia kwenye nyumba na kugonga mlango.
Shamwiyaangisa khuubona nga
imbwa niyo iyamwiikulilawo
lulwiitsi, yaamureeba iri, “Ukana
shiina?”
Namutosi waakilamo ari, “Naatibile,
ari imeentsa shiifwo e khuukona.”
Imbwa yaamwiilamo iri, “Ingila
mukari, noola ta, ikhuluma.
Aryo Namutosi wenjila mu ntsu.
To her surprise, a dog opened the
door and said, “What do you want?”
“I’m lost and I need a place to
sleep,” said Nozibele.
“Come in, or I’ll bite you!” said the
dog.
So Nozibele went in.
Akastaajabu kumwona mbwa akifungua mlango na akasema, “Unataka nini?” “Nimepotea na ninatafuta sehemu ya kulala,” akasema Nozibele. “Ingia ndani, la sivyo nitakung’ata!” mbwa akamwambia. Nozibele akaingia ndani.
Then the dog said, “Cook for me!”
“But I’ve never cooked for a dog
before,” she answered.
“Cook, or I’ll bite you!” said the dog.
So Nozibele cooked some food for
the dog.
Then the dog said, “Make the bed
for me!”
Nozibele answered, “I’ve never
made a bed for a dog.”
“Make the bed, or I’ll bite you!” the
dog said.
So Nozibele made the bed.
Every day she had to cook and
sweep and wash for the dog.
Then one day the dog said,
“Nozibele, today I have to visit
some friends. Sweep the house,
cook the food and wash my things
before I come back.”
Akawa kila siku anampikia, anamfulia na kumfagilia mbwa. Siku moja mbwa akasema, “Nozibele, leo naenda kuwatembelea rafiki zangu. Fagia nyumba, pika chakula na osha vitu vyangu kabla sijarudi.”
Lubaluba nga imbwa ilitsiile,
Namutosi waakusa butsuune butaru
khu murwe kweewe. Khatweela
waakhara mu khuriiri, khakhaandi
waakhara inyuma we lulwiitsi, ni
khakhaandi waakhara mwitaala.
Lwanyuma waarandabala tsindimo
khuutsya ingo.
As soon as the dog had gone,
Nozibele took three hairs from her
head.
She put one hair under the bed, one
behind the door, and one in the
kraal.
Then she ran home as fast as she
could.
Mara baada tu ya mbwa kuondoka, Nozibele akanyofoa nywele tatu kutoka kwenye kichwa chake. Akaweka unywele mmoja chini ya kitanda, mmoja nyuma ya mlango, na mwingine akauweka kwenye uzio wa nyumba. Halafu, akakimbia kuelekea nyumbani kwa nguvu zote.
Ne imbwa ni yakobola, yaheentsa
Namutosi. Yalaanga iri, “Namutosi,
uli waheena?”
Khatsuune khakhanyoowa
kheelamo khari, “Ise indi ano mu
khuriiri.” Khakhaandi nakho khari,
“Ise indi inyuma we lulwiitsi.” Khe
khataru nakho khari, “Ise indi ano
mwiitaala.”
When the dog came back, he looked
for Nozibele.
“Nozibele, where are you?” he
shouted.
“I’m here, under the bed,” said the
first hair.
“I’m here, behind the door,” said the
second hair.
“I’m here, in the kraal,” said the
third hair.
Mbwa aliporudi akaanza kumtafuta Nozibele. “Nozibele, uko wapi?” akapiga kelele. “Niko hapa, chini ya kitanda,” unywele wa kwanza ukajibu. “Nipo hapa nyuma ya mlango,” unywele wa pili ukajibu. “Niko hapa kwenye uzio,” unywele wa tatu ukajibu.
Khaangukho, imbwa yaamanya iri
Namutosi waakiwomeele. Iryo
yaarakho tsindimo yaatima,
yaloonda luukyele paka mu shaalo.
Ne basaani ba Namutosi baaba nga
baakibuliile ni tsisoonyi. Imbwa
yashuukha, yenyukhilamo yaatima
yeelayo. Ni khukhwoolesa ari
sibakibonatsakakho luundi ta.
Then the dog knew that Nozibele
had tricked him.
So he ran and ran all the way to the
village.
But Nozibele’s brothers were
waiting there with big sticks.
The dog turned and ran away and
has never been seen since.
Mbwa akagundua kuwa Nozibele amemkimbia. Kwa hiyo akakimbia kuelekea kijijini. Kaka zake Nozibele walikuwa wakimsubiri na fimbo. Mbwa alipowaona akageuka na kukimbia, na hajawahi kuonekana tena.
