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Abana b’ibishashara
Children of wax
Watoto wa nta
Southern African Folktale
Wiehan de Jager
Patrick Munyurangabo
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kera, habayeho umuryango wishimye.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Hapo zamani za kale, paliishi familia yenye furaha.
Ntibigeraga barwana hagati yabo. Bafashaga ababyeyi babo murugo no mu imirima.
They never fought with
each other. They helped
their parents at home
and in the fields.
Hawakugombana hata kidogo. Watoto waliwasaidia wazazi nyumbani na shambani.
Ariko ntibari bemerewe kwegera hafi umuriro.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Lakini, walikatazwa kwenda karibu na moto.
Bagombaga gukora imirimo yabo yose mu ijoro. Kuberako bari bakozwe mu ibishashara!
They had to do all their
work during the night.
Because they were made of wax!
Walifanya kazi zao zote usiku. Hii ni kwa sababu walikuwa wameumbwa kwa nta.
Ariko umwe mu bahungu yifuzaga cyane kujya hanze kuzuba.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Lakini, kijana mmoja alitamani kwenda nje wakati wa mchana.
Umunsi umwe kwifuza byari bikomeye cyane. Basaza be baramuburiye…
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Siku moja tamaa ya kwenda nje ikazidi. Wenzake wakamwonya asiende juani. Lakini, hakusikia.
Ariko byari bitinze! Yarayonze mu izuba rishyushye.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Aliyeyuka kwa sababu joto lilikuwa kali.
Abana b’ibishashara barababaye kubona umuvandimwe wabo ayonga.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Watoto wa nta walihuzunika walipoona kaka yao akiyeyuka.
Ariko bakoze umupangu. Bakozemo ibishashara bya yonze mo inyoni.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
Wakapanga jambo fulani. Walichukua nta iliyoyeyuka wakatengeza ndege.
Batwaye muzaza wabo w’inyoni hejuru k’umusozi.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Wakamweka ndege huyo juu ya mlima mrefu.
Ubwo izuba ryacyaga, yagurutse aririmba mu urumuri rw’igitondo.
And as the sun rose, he
flew away singing into
the morning light.
Jua lilipochomoza asubuhi, akapeperuka akiimba kwa furaha.
Written by: Southern African Folktale
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Translated by: Patrick Munyurangabo
Kinyarwanda
Level 2
