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Civwubwe Ncatajisili Boya
Why hippos have no hair
Icoinfubu ishskwatila umushishi
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Bumwi buzuba, Sulwe wakali kwenda munsi amulonga.
One day, Rabbit was walking by the riverside.
Bushiku bumo, kalulu aile aleenda mululamba lwamumana
Civwubwe wakaliko awalo, wakali kwendeenda akulya twakulya tubotu-botu.
Hippo was there too, going for a stroll and eating some nice green grass.
Infubu nayo ekoyali, yaletandala nokulwa umulenfwe uusuma sana
Civwubwe takalizyi kuti Sulwe wakali munsi-munsi, mpao bakamulyata kumaulu. Sulwe wakatalika kubwentela Civwubwe, “Ebo Civwubwe, tobwene kuti wandalyata kumaulu”?
Hippo didn’t see that Rabbit was there and she accidentally stepped on Rabbit’s foot.
Rabbit started screaming at Hippo, “You Hippo! Can’t you see that you’re stepping on my foot?”
Infubu tayamwene ukuti Kalulu nao ekoali, epakumunyanta pakulu. Kalulu ayambile ukupundilila infubu. “Wenfubu iwe! Taulemona ukuti naunyanta pakulu?”
Civwubwe wakalomba lulekelelo kuli sulwe, “Tndakubwene. Ndakomba Kundilekela.” Sulwe takayanda kutelela. “Wacitila caali kundilyata! Bumwi buzuba, uyo cibona! Uyo abona malipilo.”
Hippo apologised to Rabbit, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you. Please forgive me!”
But Rabbit wouldn’t listen and he shouted at Hippo, “You did that on purpose! Someday, you’ll see! You’re going to pay!”
Infubu epakulomba ubwelelo kuli kalulu. “Njelelako, nshacikumona. Napapata njelelako!” Nomba kalulu talefwaya kunfwa, epakukalipila infubu ati, “wacicitilafye umufulo! bushiku bumo ukacimona, nkakulimuna!
Sulwe wakambila mulilo wati “kuya, umuumpe Civwubwe azwa mumenda mukucela bwizu. Wakandilyata!” Mulilo wakavwuwa, “Kwina penzi mwenzuma. Ndilacita Mbubona obo.”
Rabbit went to find Fire and said, “Go, burn Hippo when she comes out of the water to eat grass. She stepped on me!”
Fire answered, “No problem, Rabbit, my friend. I’ll do just what you ask.”
Kalulu epakuya mukufwaya umulilo nokuweba ati, “kabiyeoce infubu ngayafuma mumenshi mukulya icani. Acinyanta! Umuliolo epakwasuka ati, “takuli bwafya mune kalulu, nalacita ifyofine.”
Civwubwe wakali kulya bwizu kulanfwu amulonga. “maawe!” Mulilo wayakisya. Mulilo wakatalika kuumpa boya bwa Civwubwe.
Later, Hippo was eating grass far from the river when, “Whoosh!” Fire burst into flame. The flames began to burn Hippo’s hair.
Panuma yakakshita, infubu yalelya icani ukutali nomumana, “mutule!” umulilo wabilimuka mulubingu, ulubingu epakwamba ukoca umushishi wanfubu.
Civwubwe wakatalika kulila akubalikila mumenda. Iboya bwakwe bonse bwakapya kumulilo. Civwubwe wakali kwiide kulila. “Boya bwangu bwaumpwa kumulilo. Boya bwangu bwaunka. Boya bwangu bubotu.”
Hippo started to cry and ran for the water. All her hair was burned off by the fire.
Hippo kept crying, “My hair has burned in the fire! My hair is all gone! My beautiful hair!”
Infubu epakwamba ukulila nokubutukila kumenshi. Umushishi waiko onse ukupya kumulilo. Infubu yakonkenyepo ukulila, “umushishi wandi wapya kumulilo! umushishi wandi onse waya! Umushishi wandi ubusuma!”
Sulwe wakakomana kuti boya bwa Civwubwe bwakapya. Kusikila sunu, Civwubwe taunki kule amenda akambo kakuyowa mulilo.
Rabbit was happy that Hippo’s hair was burned.
And to this day, for fear of fire, the hippo never goes far from the water.
Kalulu alitemwa ukuti umushishi wanfubu walipya. Mpaka nalelo, mukutina umulilo, infubu taiya kutali namenshi.
Written by: Basilio Gimo, David KerIllustrated by: Carol LiddimentTranslated by: Chester Mwanza
