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Khalai alitemwa ifilimbwa
Khalai talks to plants
Khalai alitemwa ifilimbwa
Ursula Nafula
Jesse Pietersen
Margaret Nambao, Agnes Chileshe Chibamba
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Uyu ni Khalai. Ali nemyaka cinelubali. Mu Cibemba, Ishina lyakwe lipilibula “umuntu umusuma”.
This is Khalai.
She is seven years old.
Her name means ‘the
good one’ in her
language, Lubukusu.
Uyu ni Khalai. Ali nemyaka cinelubali. Mu Cibemba, Ishina lyakwe lipilibula “umuntu umusuma”.
Lyonse Khalai nga ashibuka alalaanda ku cimuti cama cungwa ati: “Wecimuti cama cungwa, napapaata kula, utwaale namacungwa ayeengi, utupeleko tulyeko.”
Khalai wakes up and
talks to the orange tree.
“Please orange tree,
grow big and give us
lots of ripe oranges.”
Lyonse Khalai nga ashibuka alalaanda ku cimuti cama cungwa ati: “Wecimuti cama cungwa, napapaata kula, utwaale namacungwa ayeengi, utupeleko tulyeko.”
Khalai nga aleenda lyonse pakuya kusukuulu alalaanda kufyani ati: “We cani, napapaata moneka uwayemba elyo kabili wilauma.”
Khalai walks to school.
On the way she talks to
the grass. “Please
grass, grow greener
and don’t dry up.”
Khalai nga aleenda lyonse pakuya kusukuulu alalaanda kufyani ati: “We cani, napapaata moneka uwayemba elyo kabili wilauma.”
Khalai nga asaanga amaluba yampanga nayo alayeba ati: “Mwe maluba mulebaluula bwino bwino pakuti ndeswako nokufwala mumutwe wandi.”
Khalai passes wild
flowers. “Please
flowers, keep blooming
so I can put you in my
hair.”
Khalai nga asaanga amaluba yampanga nayo alayeba ati: “Mwe maluba mulebaluula bwino bwino pakuti ndeswako nokufwala mumutwe wandi.”
Khalai nga afika kusukulu, lyonse alalaanda kucimuti icabeela pakati kalubansa lwesukulu ati: “Wecimuti, napapaata kula utwale nemisaambo iyakutupeela icintelelwe icakuti tuleikalamo pakubeleenga.”
At school, Khalai talks
to the tree in the
middle of the
compound. “Please
tree, put out big
branches so we can
read under your shade.”
Khalai nga afika kusukulu, lyonse alalaanda kucimuti icabeela pakati kalubansa lwesukulu ati: “Wecimuti, napapaata kula utwale nemisaambo iyakutupeela icintelelwe icakuti tuleikalamo pakubeleenga.”
Elyo kabili, Khalai alalaanda kulupango lwesukulu ati: “We lupango ube uwakosa saana pakuti ulelesha ifipondo ififwaya ukwingila mukati ke sukuulu lyesu.”
Khalai talks to the
hedge around her school.
“Please grow strong
and stop bad people
from coming in.”
Elyo kabili, Khalai alalaanda kulupango lwesukulu ati: “We lupango ube uwakosa saana pakuti ulelesha ifipondo ififwaya ukwingila mukati ke sukuulu lyesu.”
Khalai nga ainuka lyonse, alaya mukupempula icimuti camacungwa nokucipuusha ati: “Bushe amacungwa yobe nanoomba tayalapya?”
When Khalai returns
home from school, she
visits the orange tree.
“Are your oranges ripe
yet?” asks Khalai.
Khalai nga ainuka lyonse, alaya mukupempula icimuti camacungwa nokucipuusha ati: “Bushe amacungwa yobe nanoomba tayalapya?”
Aaaa! Amacungwa yacili ayabishi! Nkesa kumonako nakabili mailo. Limbi nkasangako nangu icungwa limo nalipya.
“The oranges are still
green,” sighs Khalai.
“I will see you tomorrow
orange tree,” says
Khalai. “Perhaps then
you will have a ripe
orange for me!”
Aaaa! Amacungwa yacili ayabishi! Nkesa kumonako nakabili mailo. Limbi nkasangako nangu icungwa limo nalipya.
Written by: Ursula Nafula
Illustrated by: Jesse Pietersen
Translated by: Margaret Nambao, Agnes Chileshe Chibamba
