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La chanson de Sakima Sakima's song Ulwimbo lwakwa Sakima

Written by Ursula Nafula

Illustrated by Peris Wachuka

Translated by Alexandra Danahy

Read by Monique Bournot-Trites

Language French

Level Level 3

Narrate full story

Reading speed

Autoplay story


Sakima vivait avec ses parents et sa petite sœur, qui avait quatre ans. Ils vivaient sur la terre d’un homme riche. Leur hutte à toit de chaume était située au bout d’un rang d’arbres.

Sakima lived with his parents and his four year old sister. They lived on a rich man’s land. Their grass-thatched hut was at the end of a row of trees.

Sakima aaleikala na bafyashi bakwe pamo na nkashi yakwe uwamyaka ine. Baleikala pancende ya mukankaala umo. Iŋanda yabo iyafyani yabeleele kumpela ya miti.


Quand Sakima avait trois ans, il est tombé malade et a perdu la vue. Sakima était un garçon avec beaucoup de talent.

When Sakima was three years old, he fell sick and lost his sight. Sakima was a talented boy.

Ilyo Sakima aali ne myaka itatu, alipofwile ku mulandu wa bulwele. Sakima aali mulumendo uwakwete icabupe.


Sakima faisait beaucoup de choses que d’autres garçons de six ans ne faisaient pas. Par exemple, il pouvait se tenir avec les membres plus âgés du village et discuter de questions importantes.

Sakima did many things that other six year old boys did not do. For example, he could sit with older members of the village and discuss important matters.

Sakima aaleecita ifintu ifingi efyo abalumendo bamyaka mutanda baaleefilwa. Ico mwingamwenako cimo cakuti, uyu Sakima aaleikala pa bakulu bamumushi no kulanshanya pa milandu iikankaala.


Les parents de Sakima travaillaient chez l’homme riche. Ils quittaient leur maison tôt le matin et revenaient tard le soir. Sakima restait seul chez eux avec sa petite sœur.

The parents of Sakima worked at the rich man’s house. They left home early in the morning and returned late in the evening. Sakima was left with his little sister.

Abafyashi bakwa Sakima baaleebomba pa ŋanda ya mukankaala. Baaleefuma pa ŋanda ku macaaca no kubwela inshita ya bushiku. Sakima aaleeshaala na nkashi yakwe.


Sakima adorait chanter des chansons. Un jour sa mère lui demanda, « Où apprends-tu à chanter ces chansons, Sakima? »

Sakima loved to sing songs. One day his mother asked him, “Where do you learn these songs from, Sakima?”

Sakima aalitemenwe ukwimba inyimbo. Ubushiku bumo banyina balimwipwishe abati, “Usambilila kwisa ishi nyimbo, Sakima?”


Sakima répondit, « Elles me viennent tout simplement, maman. Je les entends dans ma tête et ensuite je chante. »

Sakima answered, “They just come, mother. I hear them in my head and then I sing.”

Sakima ayaswike ati “Shiisafye, maayo, nshumfwa mu mutwe elyo nashimba.”


Sakima aimait chanter pour sa petite sœur, surtout si elle avait faim. Sa sœur l’écoutait chanter sa chanson préférée. Elle se balançait en écoutant la chanson apaisante.

Sakima liked to sing for his little sister, especially, if she felt hungry. His sister would listen to him singing his favourite song. She would sway to the soothing tune.

Sakima alitemenwe ukwimbila nkashi yakwe, maka-maka nkashi yakwe nga aumfwa insala. Nkashi yakwe aaleekutika uko Sakima aleimba ulwimbo atemenwe saana, ninshi ayamba ukuisunsuntila ku ciunda ca lwimbo.


« Peux-tu la chanter encore et encore, Sakima? » le suppliait sa sœur. Sakima acceptait et la chantait encore et encore.

“Can you sing it again and again, Sakima,” his sister would beg him. Sakima would accept and sing it over and over again.

Nkanshi yakwe aaleemulomba ati, “Njimbilako na kabili, Sakima.” Sakima aaleesumina no kubwekeshapo ukwimba ulwimbo imiku iingi.


Un soir quand ses parents sont revenus chez eux, ils étaient très tranquilles. Sakima savait qu’il y avait un problème.

One evening when his parents returned home, they were very quiet. Sakima knew that there was something wrong.

Ubushiku bumo ilyo abafyashi bakwe baabwelele pa ŋanda, baalifye tondolo. Sakima aalishibe ukutiila pali ifyalubene.


« Qu’est-ce qu’il y a, maman et papa? » Sakima demanda. Sakima apprit que le fils de l’homme riche avait disparu. L’homme était très triste et seul.

“What is wrong, mother, father?” Sakima asked. Sakima learned that the rich man’s son was missing. The man was very sad and lonely.

“Finshi ifilubene, maayo, taata?” efyo aabepwishe. Sakima Baamwebele ukutiila umwana wa mukankaala aalilubile. Umukankaala aali no bulanda nganshi kabili aalifye eka bulanda-bulanda.


« Je peux chanter pour lui. Il redeviendra peut-être heureux, » dit Sakima à ses parents. Mais ses parents rejetèrent l’idée. « Il est très riche. Tu es seulement un garçon aveugle. Penses-tu vraiment que ta chanson l’aidera? »

“I can sing for him. He might be happy again,” Sakima told his parents. But his parents dismissed him. “He is very rich. You are only a blind boy. Do you think your song will help him?”

“Kuti namwimbilako. Limbi kuti asansamuka na kabili,” efyo Sakima aebele abafyashi bakwe. Nomba abafyashi bakwe balikene. Abati, “Uyu muntu mukankaala saana. Iwe uli mwaice kabili taumona. Uleetontokanya ukutiila ulwimbo lobe kuti lwamwafwilisha?”


Toutefois, Sakima ne démissionna pas. Sa petite sœur l’appuyait. Elle disait, « Les chansons de Sakima me calment quand j’ai faim. Elles calmeront l’homme riche aussi. »

However, Sakima did not give up. His little sister supported him. She said, “Sakima’s songs soothe me when I am hungry. They will soothe the rich man too.”

Sakima taanenwiike. Nkashi yakwe aalimulandiileko. Aatiile, “Inyimbo shakwa Sakima shilantalalika nga ndi ne nsala. No mukankaala wine kuti shamutalalika. ”


Le lendemain, Sakima demanda à sa petite sœur de le mener chez l’homme riche.

The following day, Sakima asked his little sister to lead him to the rich man’s house.

Ubushiku bwakonkelepo, Sakima aebele nkashi yakwe ukumutungulula ku ŋanda ya mukankaala.


Il se tint sous une grande fenêtre et commença à chanter sa chanson préférée. Lentement, la tête de l’homme riche apparu à la grande fenêtre.

He stood below one big window and began to sing his favourite song. Slowly, the head of the rich man began to show through the big window.

Aiminine mwisamba lye windo ilikalamba no kwamba ukwimba ulwimbo aatemwishishe. Panoono-panoono, umutwe wa mukankaala wayambile ukumoneka pa windo.


Les ouvriers arrêtèrent ce qu’ils faisaient. Ils écoutèrent la belle chanson de Sakima. Mais un homme dit, « Personne n’a été capable de consoler le patron. Est-ce que ce garçon aveugle pense qu’il pourra le consoler ? »

The workers stopped what they were doing. They listened to Sakima’s beautiful song. But one man said, “Nobody has been able to console the boss. Does this blind boy think he will console him?”

Ababomfi baaleekele imilimo yabo. Baaleekutika ku lwimbo lwakwa Sakima ulwawama nganshi. Nomba shitaata umo aatiile, “Tapaaba nangu umo uwakwanisha ukutalalika ba bwana. Bushe uyu mulumendo wapofula aleemona kwati kuti abatalalika?”


Sakima termina de chanter sa chanson et s’apprêtait à partir. Mais l’homme riche sortit en vitesse et dit, « S’il te plaît, chante encore. »

Sakima finished singing his song and turned to leave. But the rich man rushed out and said, “Please sing again.”

Sakima alipwishishe ukwimba ulwimbo lwakwe kabili alimine ukuti aleeya ku mwabo. Nomba umukankaala alifumine panse no kutiila “Napaapaata, imba na kabili.”


À ce moment, deux hommes sont arrivés en portant quelqu’un sur une civière. Ils avaient trouvé le fils de l’homme riche tabassé et abandonné sur le bord de la route.

At that very moment, two men came carrying someone on a stretcher. They had found the rich man’s son beaten up and left on the side of the road.

Apopeene kwaishile abantu babili nabasenda umuntu pa macila. Baasangile umwana wa mukankaala nabamupuma ku fipondo kabili bamushiile mumbali ya musebo.


L’homme riche fut tellement content de revoir son fils. Il récompensa Sakima de l’avoir consolé. Il emmena les deux garçons à l’hôpital pour que Sakima puisse retrouver la vue.

The rich man was so happy to see his son again. He rewarded Sakima for consoling him. He took his son and Sakima to hospital so Sakima could regain his sight.

Umukankaala aalisansamwike pa kumona umwana wakwe na kabili. Aalilambwile Sakima pa kumutalalika ku mutima. Aatwele umwana wakwe na Sakima ku cipataala mu kumona nga kuti Sakima atampa ukumona na kabili.


Written by: Ursula Nafula
Illustrated by: Peris Wachuka
Translated by: Alexandra Danahy
Read by: Monique Bournot-Trites
Language: French
Level: Level 3
Source: Sakima's song from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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