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Ana aphula
Children of wax
Abaana bepula
Southern African Folktale
Wiehan de Jager
Sitwe Benson Mkandawire
Christine Mwanza
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Kale-kale nthawi ina, kunali banja lina lokondwera.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Patiile akantu, kwali ulupwa ulwaikeele mu mutende ne nsansa.
Sanali kuyambana. Anali kuthandiza makolo ao panyumba ndi kumunda.
They never fought with
each other. They helped
their parents at home
and in the fields.
Tabatalile abalwa beka-beka. Baaleeyafwa abafyashi baabo pa ŋanda na mwibala.
Koma sanaloredwe kupita pafupi ndi moto.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Nomba tabaaleebasuminisha ukupalama ku mulilo.
Anali kucita nchito yonse usiku. Cifukwa anapandidwa ndi chikonga.
They had to do all their
work during the night.
Because they were made of wax!
Baaleebomba imilimo yabo yonse ubushiku. Pantu bapangilwe ne pula.
Koma mnyamata umodzi anali kufunitsitsa kuyenda mdzuwa.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Nomba umo pa balumendo aaleefwaisha ukuya panse mu kasuba.
Tsiku lina, kufunitsitsa kwake kunakula kwambiri. Abale ace anamucenjeza…
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Ubushiku bumo icakufwaya ukuya pa kusuba cacilamo. Bandume yakwe baalimusokele…
Koma anacedwa! Anasungunuka mudzuwa lotentha kwambiri.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Nomba balicelelwe. Asunguluka mu kasuba kaakaba.
Ana aphula sanakondwele poona m’bale wao asungunika.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Abaana bepula baali no bulanda pa kumona uko ndume nabo aleesunguluka.
Koma anapangana zocita. Anaumba kambalame kucoka kuphula wa m’bale wao.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
Nomba baalyumfwene. Baapangile icuuni ukufuma kwipula ilyasungulwike.
Anapereka m’bale wao mbalame pamwamba pa phiri.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Baasendele ndume nabo bapangile mu cuuni pa muulu wa lupili ulutali.
Pamene dzuwa inakwera, kambalame kanauluka ndikuimba m’dzuwa ya m’mamawa.
And as the sun rose, he
flew away singing into
the morning light.
Lilya akasuba katula, aalipupwike aya aleimba mu cengelo ca lucelo.
Written by: Southern African Folktale
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Translated by: Sitwe Benson Mkandawire
Read by: Christine Mwanza
