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Simbegwire Simbegwire Simbegwire

Written by Rukia Nantale

Illustrated by Benjamin Mitchley

Translated by Chester Mwanza

Language Tonga

Level Level 5

Narrate full story The audio for this story is currently not available.


Banyina Simbegwire nibakafwa, Simbegwire wakausa kapati. Bausyi bakasola kumulela akumupa zyoonse. Mukuya kwaciindi, bakatalika kukkomana alimwi nokuba kuti banyina Simbegwire tiibakaliko. Mafwumo-fwumo bakali kwaambaula kujatikizya zyakucita mu buzuba oobo. Masiku bakali kujika antoomwe. Bamana kusanzya mitiba, bakali kumugwasya zyakucikolo.

When Simbegwire’s mother died, she was very sad. Simbegwire’s father did his best to take care of his daughter. Slowly, they learned to feel happy again, without Simbegwire’s mother. Every morning they sat and talked about the day ahead. Every evening they made dinner together. After they washed the dishes, Simbegwire’s father helped her with homework.

Lintu banyina Simbegwire baafwile, aali uwabulanda saana. Bawishi balyesesha na maka yonse ukumusunga bwino no kumusansamusha. Panoono-panoono, baatampile ukusansamuka na kabili, nangu banyina Simbegwire bashalipo. Cila lucelo baleikala pamo no kulanda pafya ubo bushiku buleba. Cila cungulo baaleepekanya umulalilo bonse. Panuma ya kusamfya imbale, bawishi Simbegwire baaleafwako umwana imilimo yaku sukulu.


Bumwi buzuba bausyi bakaccelwa kujoka kuŋanda. “Uli kuli mwanaangu?” bakaita. Simbegwire wakabazuzila bausyi. Naakamana, wakaimikila nji naakabona bausyi kabajatide kwaanza kwamukaintu. “Ndiyanda kuti uzyibane amuntu waandeene mwanaangu. Oyu ngu Anita,” bakaamba calumwemwe.

One day, Simbegwire’s father came home later than usual. “Where are you my child?” he called. Simbegwire ran to her father. She stopped still when she saw that he was holding a woman’s hand. “I want you to meet someone special, my child. This is Anita,” he said smiling.

Ubushiku bumo, bawishi Simbegwire baalicelelwe ukubwela ukucila inshita baalebwelelapo lyonse. Baitile Simbegwire abati, “Ulikwisa we mwana wandi?” Simbegwire aabutukiile kuli bawishi. Aileiminina shika ilyo aamwene bawishi nabekatilila ukuboko kwakwa namaayo. “Mwana wandi, ndefwaya uposhe aba njishile nabo. Niba Anita,” efyalandile bawishi ninshi baalemwentula.


“Uli buti Simbegwire, bauso bakandaambila zyintu zyinji zyijatikizya nduwe,” wakaamba Anita. Pesi taakwe naakaseka-seka nokuba kumujata kujanza. Bausyi Simbegwire bakalikkomene. Bakaamba amakani aakuti bakakkale antoomwe botatwe alimwi abuumi mbobunga bwabota. “Mwanaangu, ndasyoma uyakuzumina kuti Anita abe banyoko,” bakaamba bausyi.

“Hello Simbegwire, your father told me a lot about you,” said Anita. But she did not smile or take the girl’s hand. Simbegwire’s father was happy and excited. He talked about the three of them living together, and how good their life would be. “My child, I hope you will accept Anita as your mother,” he said.

Ba Anita abati, “Mwapola Simbegwire, bawiso balinshimikila ifintu ifingi pali iwe.” Nomba tabamwentwile nangu ukutambika ukuboka ku mwana. Ba wishi Simbegwire baali temwa na ukusansamuka saana. Balandile pafyo bonse batatu bakalaikala pamo, na pafyo imikalile yabo ikawama. Abati, “We mwana wandi, ndesubila ukasumina ba Anita ukuba banoko.”


Buumi bwa Simbegwire bwakacinca. Wakaleka kujanika abausyi mafwumo-fwumo. Anita wakali kumupa milimo minji yakubeleka muŋanda cakuti wakali kwaalilwa kucita ncito yakucikolo masiku. Wakali kuunka kukoona mbwaamanina kulya. Cintu cakali kumubotela biyo ndipayi libotu kapati lyakamupede banyina. Bausyi Simbegwire tiibakali kubikkila maano kuti bazyibe kuti mwana takkomene.

Simbegwire’s life changed. She no longer had time to sit with her father in the mornings. Anita gave her so many household chores that she was too tired to do her school work in the evenings. She went straight to bed after dinner. Her only comfort was the colourful blanket her mother gave her. Simbegwire’s father did not seem to notice that his daughter was unhappy.

Ubwikashi bwakwa Simbegwire bwalicinjishe. Taakwete inshita yakuba na bawishi ulucelo. Ba Anita baaleemupeela incito shapa ŋanda ishingi saana icakuti aaleenaka aaleefilwa no kubomba imilimo yaku sukulu icungulo. Aaleeyafye mu kusendama panuma ya kulya icakulya ca mulalilo. Icaleemusansamushafye buulangeti bwamalangi ubwamupeele banyina. Calemoneka kwati bawishi Simbegwire tabaishibe kuti umwana wabo taasansamwike.


Nikwakainda myezi misyoonto, bausyi Simbegwire bakaamba kuti balazwa aŋanda kwaciindi cisyoonto. Bakati “Ndilazwa ndiya kukubelekela kumbi. Ndilizyi kuti mulalelana kabotu.” Simbegwire wakalanga ansi cakunyandwa, pesi bausyi tiibakabikkila maano. Anita kunyina ncaakaamba. Taakakkomene awalo.

After a few months, Simbegwire’s father told them that he would be away from home for a while. “I have to travel for my job,” he said. “But I know you will look after each other.” Simbegwire’s face fell, but her father did not notice. Anita did not say anything. She was not happy either.

Panumafye ya myeshi inoono, bawishi Simbegwire balilaile pa ŋanda ukuti baleefumapo panshita inoono. Abati, “Mfwile ukuya ku ncito. Nomba ninjishiba ukuti mwakulasunganafye bwino.” Simbegwire taasansamwike, nomba bawishi taabaishibe. Ba Anita taabalandile nangu cimo. Nabo tabaatemenwe iyoo.


Zyintu zyakaindilila kumubijila Simbegwire. Anita wakali kumuuma kuti taamaninzya kubeleka milimo yaaŋanda nokuba kuti watongooka. Masiku, mukaintu oyu wakali kulya zyakulya zyoonse akusiila mwana cakulya cisyoonto. Simbegwire wakali kulila masiku oonse, kakumbete payi lyaka mupa banyina.

Things got worse for Simbegwire. If she didn’t finish her chores, or she complained, Anita hit her. And at dinner, the woman ate most of the food, leaving Simbegwire with only a few scraps. Each night Simbegwire cried herself to sleep, hugging her mother’s blanket.

Imikalile yakwa Simbegwire yalibiipiileko. Nga tapwishishe incito isha mu ŋganda, nangu nga ailishanya, ba Anita baaleemuuma. Pa mulalilo, Ba Anita eebaaleelya ifyakulya ifingi, baashilakofye Simbegwire utunoono. Cila bushiku Simbegwire aaleelaala alelila ninshi nakumbatila no bulangeti bwaba nyina.


Bumwi buzuba mafwumo-fwumo, Simbegwire wakamuka kubuka. “Yebo okasimbi katolo,” wakoompolola Anita. Wakamukwela Simbegwire kuzwa abulo. Ipayi yakwe yakajata ampikili akuzauka muzyibeela zyobilo.

One morning, Simbegwire was late getting out of bed. “You lazy girl!” Anita shouted. She pulled Simbegwire out of bed. The precious blanket caught on a nail, and tore in two.

Ubushiku bumo ulucelo, Simbegwire alicelelwe ukubuuka. Ba Anita baapatile ati, “We munaŋani wamwanawe!” Efyo baakulwile Simbegwire ukumufunya pa busanshi. Ubulangeti atemwishishe bwaiketwe ku musomali no kulepuka ukwakanika pabili.


Simbegwire wakanyema kapati. Wakayeeya kutija akuzwa aŋanda. Wakabweza tubeela twapayi lyabanyina akubweza cakulya mpoona wakazwa aŋanda. Wakatobelezya nzila bausyi njibakabelesya.

Simbegwire was very upset. She decided to run away from home. She took the pieces of her mother’s blanket, packed some food, and left the house. She followed the road her father had taken.

Simbegwire alifulilwe saana. Aasalilepo ukufyuka pa ŋanda. Aasendele utupimfya twa bulangeti bwaba nyina, alonga no twakulya, no kufuma pa ŋanda. Aakonkele umusebo mwapitile bawishi.


Nikwakasiya, wakayeeya kutanta mucisamu cilamfwu munsi akalonga akubamba bulo. Naakaunka kukoona, wakaimba: “Baama, Baama, mwakandisiya. Mwakandisiya mpoona tiimwakajoka. Bataata tabacindiyandi. Baama, ino mujoka lili? Mwakandisiya.”

When it came to evening, she climbed a tall tree near a stream and made a bed for herself in the branches. As she went to sleep, she sang: “Maama, maama, maama, you left me. You left me and never came back. Father doesn’t love me anymore. Mother, when are you coming back? You left me.”

Cilya bwaila, aniina ku cimuti icitali mupeepi na kamana no kupanga ubusanshi mu misambo. Pa kulaala, alaimba ati: “Maayo, maayo, maayo, mwalinsha ine. Mwalinsha ukwabula ukubwela. Bataata tabatemwa nomba. Maayo ni lilali mukabwela? Mwalinsha ine.”


Mafwumo-fwumo aakaccilila, Simbegwire wakaimba nyimbo alimwi. Bamakaintu nibakaboola kuwasha zikobela kumulonga, bakamvwa nyimbo yabuumba kuzwa mucisamu cilamfwu. Bakayeeya kuti muwo weenzya matuvwu, kumane bakatolelela amulimo wabo. Pele umwi mukaintu wakateelesesya kunyimbo.

The next morning, Simbegwire sang the song again. When the women came to wash their clothes at the stream, they heard the sad song coming from the tall tree. They thought it was only the wind rustling the leaves, and carried on with their work. But one of the women listened very carefully to the song.

Ubushiku bwakonkelepo ulucelo, Simbegwire aimbile ulwimbo na kabili. Ilyo banamaayo baishile mu kucapa ifyakufwala mu mumana, baumfwile ulwimbo lwacililishi lulefumina ku cimuti icitali. Mu maano abati mwela uleelisha amabuula, awe bakonkenyepo ne milimo yabo. Nomba umo pali beena akutikishe ku lwimbo.


Oyu mukaintu wakalanga mujulu mucisamu. Naakabona mwana musimbi atubeela twapayi, wakalila, “Simbegwire mwana wamunyinandumi wangu!” Bamwi bamakaintu bakaleka kuwacca zyisani akumugwasya kuseluka kuzwa mujulu mucisamu. Bakamukumbatila.

This woman looked up into the tree. When she saw the girl and the pieces of colourful blanket, she cried, “Simbegwire, my brother’s child!” The other women stopped washing and helped Simbegwire to climb down from the tree. Her aunt hugged the little girl and tried to comfort her.

Uyu namaayo aalooleshe ku muulu wa cimuti. Lintu aamwene akakashana no tupimfya twa bulangeti ubwamalangi, aapundile ati, “Simbegwire, umwana wakwa ndume yandi!” Banamaayo bambi baaleekele ukucapa bayafwilishako Simbegwire ukwikila ku cimuti. Banyina-senge bakumbatile akakashana no kwesha ukukatalalika.


Bakamubweza akumutola kuŋanda yabo. Bakamupa zyakulya zyikasaala, akumuyalila bulo angubo yabanyina. Simbegwire wakalila, pesi kwakali kulila kwalwaanguluko. Wakalizyi kuti balamulela kabotu.

Simbegwire’s aunt took the child to her own house. She gave Simbegwire warm food, and tucked her in bed with her mother’s blanket. That night, Simbegwire cried as she went to sleep. But they were tears of relief. She knew her aunt would look after her.

Banyina-senge baasendele Simbegwire ku ŋanda ku mwabo. Panuma, baamupeele icakulya icakaba, no kumufimbilisha no bulangeti bwaba nyina pa busanshi. Bulya bushiku, Simbegwire aalililile pa kulaala. Nomba fyali fiilamba fyansansa. Aalishibe ukuti banyina-senge bakamusunga bwino.


Nibakajoka bausyi, bakajana kuti Simbegwire tako mumunzi. “Ncinzi cakacitika?” bakabuzya cakuusa. Mukaintu wakapandulula kuti Simbegwire wakatija. “Ndaalikuyanda kuti andipe bulemu,” wakaamba. “Ndiza ndakaindilizya.” Bausyi Simbegwire bakamuyandaula mwana mamabazu oonse kusikila kumulonga. Bakaindilila akuunka kumunzi kwakali kukkala mucizyi wabo kukubuzya kuti naa bakamubona Simbegwire.

When Simbegwire’s father returned home, he found her room empty. “What happened, Anita?” he asked with a heavy heart. The woman explained that Simbegwire had run away. “I wanted her to respect me,” she said. “But perhaps I was too strict.” Simbegwire’s father left the house and went in the direction of the stream. He continued to his sister’s village to find out if she had seen Simbegwire.

Ilyo bawishi Simbegwire baabwelele pa ŋanda, baasangile Simbegwire talimo mu muputule wakwe. Baipwishe bulanda-bulanda abati, “Anita, finshi fyacitike?” Namaayo alondolwele ukuti Simbegwire aalifyukile. Ati “Naalefwaya ancindike. Nomba limbi caalicilamo.” Bawishi Simbegwire baafumine pa ŋanda no kulola ku mumana. Bakonkeyepo ukuya ku mushi ukwaleikala bankashi yabo mu kuyaipusha nga cakuti baalimweneko Simbegwire.


Simbegwire wakali kusobana abeeninyina naakabona bausyi kababoola alaale. Wakatijila muŋanda nkaambo wakayoowa kuti bausyi balamunyemena. Pesi bausyi bakanjila akwaamba kuli nguwe, “Simbegwire, wajana banyoko bali kabotu alimwi bakuyanda akukuzyiba kabotu. Wandikkomaninsya alimwi ndakuyanda.” Bakazuminana kuti Simbegwire inga wacaala kuti kayanda.

Simbegwire was playing with her cousins when she saw her father from far away. She was scared he might be angry, so she ran inside the house to hide. But her father went to her and said, “Simbegwire, you have found a perfect mother for yourself. One who loves you and understands you. I am proud of you and I love you.” They agreed that Simbegwire would stay with her aunt as long as she wanted to.

Simbegwire aaleyangala na bafyala bakwe ilyo aamwene bawishi akatalamukila. Aalitinine ukuti limbi balikalipe, icalengele ukuti abutukile mu ŋanda mu kubelama. Nomba bawishi baile kuli ena elyo balanda ati, “Simbegwire, nausanga banoko abalingile. Banoko abakutemwa kabili abakwishiba ifyo waba. Naucitafye bwino elyo kabili naalikutemwa.” Baasuminishenye ukuti Simbegwire kuti aikala na banasenge apo aleefwaila.


Bausyi bakali kumuswaya abuzuba. Bumwi buzuba bakaboola aa Anita. Anita wakalila akuzumina bulubizi bwakwe. Wakamupa ijanza lyakwe Simbengwire akumwaambila kuti “ndilomba kulekelelwa, ndakalubuhya” kumwi kalila. “Sena inga wandizumizhya kuti ndisole alimwi?” Simbegwire wakalanga bausyi abusyu bwabo buuside, kumane wakaswena munsi aa Anita asyoonto syoonto akumukumbatila.

Her father visited her every day. Eventually, he came with Anita. She reached out for Simbegwire’s hand. “I’m so sorry little one, I was wrong,” she cried. “Will you let me try again?” Simbegwire looked at her father and his worried face. Then she stepped forward slowly and put her arms around Anita.

Bawishi baalemutandalila cila bushiku. Mpaka pakulekelesha, baishile naba Anita. Ba Anita baikete Simbegwire pa kuboko. Abati, “Unjeleleko we mwana, nalilufyenye. Bushe kuti wansuminisha ukuti njesheko na kabili?” Simbegwire aaloleshe bawishi abaaleemoneka ukusakamana. Simbegwire aendele panoono-panoono no kukumbatila ba Anita.


Nsondo yakaccilila, Anita wakaita Simbegwire, beeninyina abacizyi babausyi kuunka kuŋanda yakwe. Wakajika zyakulya nzyaakali kuyandisya Simbegwire. Boonse bakalya limwi bakkuta. Kumane bana bakatalika kusobana, balo bapati bakakkala kwaambaula. Simbegwire wakamvwa kabotu kapati. Wakayeeya kuti kwainda biyo mazuba masyoonto uyakujoka kuŋanda kuti akakkale abausyi abanyina bambi.

The next week, Anita invited Simbegwire, with her cousins and aunt, to the house for a meal. What a feast! Anita prepared all of Simbegwire’s favourite foods, and everyone ate until they were full. Then the children played while the adults talked. Simbegwire felt happy and brave. She decided that soon, very soon, she would return home to live with her father and her stepmother.

Umulungu wakonkelepo, ba Anita baitile Simbegwire ukwisa ku ŋanda ku maliila pamo na bafyala bakwe na banasenge. Yaali maaliila! Ba Anita baapekenye fyonse ifyakulya Simbegwire atemwishishe, na bonse baaliliile mpaka baikuta. Panuma, abaice baile mukwangala elyo abakalamba baashele baleeshimika ilyashi. Simbegwire aumfwile insansa kabili taakwete no mwenso. Aatontonkenye ukuti tacali na kupoosa inshita, aali no kubwelela pa ŋanda mu kwikala na bawishi na banyina ba Anita.


Written by: Rukia Nantale
Illustrated by: Benjamin Mitchley
Translated by: Chester Mwanza
Language: Tonga
Level: Level 5
Source: Simbegwire from African Storybook
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 International License.
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