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Magozwe Magozwe Magozwe

Written by Lesley Koyi

Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager

Translated by Vision Milimo

Language Tonga

Level Level 5

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Mudolopo lya Nairobi, kule abubotu bwa kukkala mumunzi, kwakali kabunga kabana basankwa balo batakajisi nkobazulilwa. Bakalikupona buumi bwabo mbubona mbuli mazuba mbwaakali kutobelana. Bumwi buzuba mafwumo-fwumo, basankwa aba bakalongela minseme yabo nibakazwaa kubuka mumigelo yamumugwagwa aakali mpeyo kapati. Bakali kunga bayasya makwiisyilili kutegwa bayote mulilo kusola kumana mpeyo. Akati kabasankwa aba kwakali kujanika umwi ooyo wiitwa kuti Magozwe. Ooyu nguwakali musyoonto kwiinda ali mbabo boonse.

In the busy city of Nairobi, far away from a caring life at home, lived a group of homeless boys. They welcomed each day just as it came. On one morning, the boys were packing their mats after sleeping on cold pavements. To chase away the cold they lit a fire with rubbish. Among the group of boys was Magozwe. He was the youngest.

Mwi tauni lya Nairobi, ukutali ne ndupwa ishabasakamene, mwaleikala abalumendo abashakwete amayanda. Baaleikalafye cikulu bwaca. Uluceelo lumo, abalumendo baaleelonga impasa shabo panuma yakulaala mumpepo mumbali yanshila. Ukubomfya ifisooso, baalikoseshe umulilo pakupwisha impepo. Pali ili bumba paali Magozwe. Ewaali umwaice saana.


Ciindi bazyali ba Magozwe nibakafwa, wakali biyo amyaka yakuhyalwa yosanwe. Aboobo, wakaunka kuya kukkala abaasimihyaabo balo bakali kumutundulula kapati. Kunyina nibakamubikkila maanu Magozwe. Acibe cakulya nyaanya, kwiina nibakali kumupa pesi bakali kumubelesya milimo miyumu mbuli mbubakali kuyanda.

When Magozwe’s parents died, he was only five years old. He went to live with his uncle. This man did not care about the child. He did not give Magozwe enough food. He made the boy do a lot of hard work.

Ilyo abafyashi bakwa Magozwe baafwile, aalifye ne myaka isaano. Aile mukwikala na banalume. Banalume tabapooseleko amaano kuli Magozwe. Taabaaleemupeela ifyakulya ifyakumanina. Baaleemupeela incito shakubomba ishingi.


Magozwe kunyina naakali kuzuminzyigwa kuti ape tongoosi nokuba kubuzya mubuzyo uuli oonse. Kwakali kunga kuti naa wabuzya mubuzyo, basimihyaakwe nkumuuma. Wakali kunga ababuzya kujatikizya makani akuya kucikolo nkumuuma akumwaambila kuti, “buyanga bwakaindilila mulinduwe tokonzyi kwiiya.” Nikwakainda myaka yotatwe yakulelwa mukupenga, Magozwe wakatija, wakazwa aŋanda ali basimihyaabo akutalika kukkala mumazila.

If Magozwe complained or questioned, his uncle beat him. When Magozwe asked if he could go to school, his uncle beat him and said, “You’re too stupid to learn anything.” After three years of this treatment Magozwe ran away from his uncle. He started living on the street.

Nga Magozwe ati epushe nangu ukuilishanya, banalume baaleemuma. Ilyo Magozwe aipwishe palwa kuya ku sukulu, banalume baalimumine kabili baatiile, “Iwe tawakwata amaano. Tapali ico wingasambilila.” Panuma ya myaka itatatu iyakumusunga muli uyu musango, Magozwe aalibuutwike ukufuma pa ŋanda yaba nalume. Aatampile ukwikala mu musebo.


Buumi bwakukkala mumazila bwakali kukatazya. Bana basankwa banji cakali ciyumu-yumu kujana cakulya. Bamwi bakali kwaangwa mpoonya bamwi bakali kuumwa. Ciindi umwi naajanika muciimo cakuciswa, cakali ciyumu kujana cakulya nokuba lugwasyo luli loonse. Mali ngubakali kuyaa kulombelela alimwi akuulisya mapepa ngubakali kusyoma kutegwa kabaligwasya. Buumi bwakayuma kapati akaambo kakulwana atubunga tumbi twabana bakali kuyanda kuti kabeendelezya zyibeela zyadolopo zimwi.

Street life was difficult and most of the boys struggled daily just to get food. Sometimes they were arrested, sometimes they were beaten. When they were sick, there was no one to help. The group depended on the little money they got from begging, and from selling plastics and other recycling. Life was even more difficult because of fights with rival groups who wanted control of parts of the city.

Ukwikala mu musebo kwali ukwayafya kabili abalumendo abengi baaleecuula cila bushiku pa kusanga icakulya. Inshiku shimo baaleebooma, shimbi baaleebeekata kuli bakapokola. Nga baalwala takwaleeba abakubaafwa. Ulupiya baaleesanga mu kulombalomba, mu kushitisha amapulasitiki na fimbi elwaleebaafwilishako. Ubuumi bwalyafisheko pantu amabumba yambi ayabalumendo yaaleefwaya ukupoka incende shapusanapusana mu tauni.


Bumwi buzuba Magozwe naakali kumvwunyungula madooti muzyingungulu, wakabona kabbuku kamanide-manide. Wakakasansamuna akukabikka musaka lyakwe. Kuzwa buzuba oobo, wakali kunga ulakabweza kabbuku akulanga-langa zyifwanikiso akaambo kakuti taakacizi kubala noliba bbala lyomwe.

One day while Magozwe was looking through the dustbins, he found an old tattered storybook. He cleaned the dirt from it and put it in his sack. Every day after that he would take out the book and look at the pictures. He did not know how to read the words.

Ubushiku bumo ilyo Magozwe aaleefwayafwaya mu fisooso, aasangile ibuuku ilyakale ilyalepauka. Aafumisheko ifiko aalibika na mwisaaka. Cila bushiku, aleefumya ibuuku no kwamba ukulolesha pa fikope. Taishibe ukubelenga.


Izifwanikiso zyakali kutondezya caano camwana musankwa, wakaba simweenzya ndeke. Magozwe wakali kuliyeeyela kuba simweezya ndeke akomena. Zyimwi zyiindi wakali kulimvwa kuti ngonguwe ngobakanana mucaano.

The pictures told the story of a boy who grew up to be a pilot. Magozwe would daydream of being a pilot. Sometimes, he imagined that he was the boy in the story.

Ifikope fyaleelanga umulumendo uwaishileba kensha wandeke ilyo aakulile. Magozwe aaleeloota palwa kuba kensha wandeke na mu kasuba. Inshita shimo aleemona ukuti emulumendo wine uwa mwibuku.


Bumwi buzuba kwakali kutontola kapati, Magozwe wakaimikila munzila kalombelela. Imwaalumi wakeenda akuswena munsi lyakwe. “Halo, ndime Thomas. Ndibeleka munsi-munsi awaano, kwalo oko nkokonzya kujana cakulya,” wakaamba mwaalumi kumwi katondeka kuŋanda yamubala wamungunga waji aciluli cacikambwe. “Ndasyoma inga waunka okuya ukabweze cakulya?” Magozwe wakamulanga mwaalumi, wailanga ŋanda. “Ndiza,” wakavwiila Magozwe kumwi kayoobwenda ulaya.

It was cold and Magozwe was standing on the road begging. A man walked up to him. “Hello, I’m Thomas. I work near here, at a place where you can get something to eat,” said the man. He pointed to a yellow house with a blue roof. “I hope you will go there to get some food?” he asked. Magozwe looked at the man, and then at the house. “Maybe,” he said, and walked away.

Kwalitaleele kabili Magozwe aiminine pa musebo aleelombalomba. Umwaume umo aishile mupeepi napo aali. “Uli shaani? Nine Thomas. Momba mupeepi napano, pa ncende wingapoka icakulya,” efyo aasosele. Asontele ku ŋanda iyamutuntula no mutenge wa makumbi-makumbi. “Ndesubila walaayapoka ifyakulya?” efyo aipwishe. Magozwe aaloleeshe Thomas elyo kabili aloleesha ku ŋanda. “Limbi ndeeya,” efyo ayaswike, afumanapo.


Myezi mbuyakali kuyoobuya, aaba bana basankwa banyina kwakukkala bakazyibila kubabona aa Thomas. Thomas wakali muntu wakali kuyandisya kwaambaula abantu, kapati aabo bakali kukkala mumazila. Thomas wakali muntu wakali kuyanda kuteelela twaano twamaumi aabantu. Wakali muntu ubikkila maanu. Taakali muntu ulaa cinguni antela unyina bulemu. Bamwi bana bakatalika kuunka masikati kuya kubweza cakulya kuŋanda yamubala wamungunga waji.

Over the months that followed, the homeless boys got used to seeing Thomas around. He liked to talk to people, especially people living on the streets. Thomas listened to the stories of people’s lives. He was serious and patient, never rude or disrespectful. Some of the boys started going to the yellow and blue house to get food at midday.

Imyeshi yakonkelepo, abalumendo baalibeeleshe ukumona Thomas. Alitemenwe ukulanda na bantu maka-maka abaaleikala mu musebo. Thomas aaleumfwa ilyashi pa buumi bwa aba bantu. Aaleepoosa amaano ku fintu kabili uwacikuuku no mucinshi. Abalumendo bamo, bayambile ukuya ku ŋanda ya mutuntula na Makumbi-makumbi mukupoka ifyakulya akasuba.


Magozwe wakalikkede mumbembelekwa amugwagwa kalanga mukabbuku kakwe kazyifwanikiso Thomas naakakkala munsi lyakwe. “Ino kaamba nzi kabbuku aaka?” wakabuzya Thomas. “Cibalo caamba umwi musankwa wakaba namutekenya wa ndeke,” wakavwiila Magozwe. “Nguni zyina musankwa oyo?” wakabuzya Thomas. “Ccita, tandicizyi kubala,” wakavwiila Magozwe mukaumu umu.

Magozwe was sitting on the pavement looking at his picture book when Thomas sat down next to him. “What is the story about?” asked Thomas. “It’s about a boy who becomes a pilot,” replied Magozwe. “What’s the boy’s name?” asked Thomas. “I don’t know, I can’t read,” said Magozwe quietly.

Magozwe aikele mumbali yanshila aleetamba ifikope mwibuuku lyakwe ilyo Thomas aishileikala mupeepi nankwe. “Lileelanda pali cinshi ilyashi?” efyo Thomas aipwishe. “Lileelanda pa mulumendo uwaishileba kensha wandeke,” efyaaswike Magozwe. “Naani ishina umulumendo?” efyaipwishe Thomas. “Katwishi, nshaishiba ukubelenga,” efyayaswike Magozwe mwishiwi lya panshi.


Nibakaswaangaana, Magozwe wakatalika kumwaambila Thomas caano cabuumi bwakwe. Wakamuyiila caano cabaisyanyina ambuli mbwaakatija kuzwa kuli baacisyanyina. Thomas taakali kukanana maningi alimwi kunyina ncaakamwaambila Magozwe kuti acite pele wakalikuteelela caano ca Magozwe cakubikkila maanu. Zyimwi zyiindi bakali kwaambaula kabalya cakulya muŋanda yamasenke acikambwe.

When they met, Magozwe began to tell his own story to Thomas. It was the story of his uncle and why he ran away. Thomas didn’t talk a lot, and he didn’t tell Magozwe what to do, but he always listened carefully. Sometimes they would talk while they ate at the house with the blue roof.

Ilyo baakumeene, Magozwe aatendeke ukweba Thomas ilyashi pa buumi bwakwe. Aamwebele ifyo aabuutwike ukufuma kuli banalume. Thomas taalaandile ifingi kabili taebele Magozwe ifyakucita lelo aaleumfwikishafye. Limo-limo baaleelanshanya ilyo baleelya mu ŋanda yamutenge wa Makumbi-makumi.


Nocakalondelela ciindi cakukkwanisya mwaka ili kkumi yakuhyalwa kwa Magozwe, Thomas wakamupa kambi kabbuku. Kakali kabbuku kapandulula musankwa umwi wakumunzi mbuli mbwaakaba ampuwo akaambo ka musabano wa mupila. Thomas wakali kumubalila caano eeci zyiindi zyinji kusikila limwi bumwi buzuba wakati, “Cakkwana ciindi chakuti uunke kucikolo kutegwa ukaiye kubala akulemba. Inouyeeya buti?” Thomas wakapandula kuti kuli busena bumwi ooko kwalo bana nkobakkala akwiiya.

Around Magozwe’s tenth birthday, Thomas gave him a new storybook. It was a story about a village boy who grew up to be a famous soccer player. Thomas read that story to Magozwe many times, until one day he said, “I think it’s time you went to school and learned to read. What do you think?” Thomas explained that he knew of a place where children could stay, and go to school.

Ilyo Magozwe aali ne myaka ikumi, Thomas alimupeele ibuuku. Ibuuku lyali pa mulumendo wa mumushi uwaleeteya umupila uwalumbwike saana. Thomas alibelengeele Magozwe ili lyashi imiku iingi mpakafye bushiku bumo atiile, “Ndetontonkanya ukuti ulingile ukutampa isukulu pakuti usambilile ukubelenga. Uleetipo shani?” Thomas atiile alishibe incende uko abaana bengalaikala no kuya ku sukulu.


Wakeezyeezya makani aaya abusena bunyowani alimwi akubikkilizya amakani akuya kucikolo. Ino kuti basimihyaangu bakali luleme ndili mufubafuba nchobeni kuti inga tindaiya cili coonse? Ino kuti bakamuume kubusena bweenzu ooko?. “Andiza cilainda kubota kuti ndazumanana biyo kukkala mumugwagwa nkweena okuno “.

Magozwe thought about this new place, and about going to school. What if his uncle was right and he was too stupid to learn anything? What if they beat him at this new place? He was afraid. “Maybe it is better to stay living on the street,” he thought.

Magozwe aatontonkenye pali ii ncende iipya na palwa kuya ku sukulu. Nga limbi ifyo banalume bamwebele ukuti taakwata amaano teeti asambilile icili conse fyaciine? Nga cakuti kulya kuncende bamuuma? Alitiinine. “Limbi cawamapo ukutwalilila ukwikala mu musebo,” efyo aatontonkenye.


Wakamwaambila Thomas bukandu bwakwe kujatikizya busena bupya. Kwakainda kaindi, Thomas wakamukulwaizya kuti buumi bulakonzya kuya kuba kabotu, kubusena bupya.

He shared his fears with Thomas. Over time the man reassured the boy that life could be better at the new place.

Aebele Thomas ati aali no mwenso. Thomas nao alimukoseleshe ukuti akeekalafye bwino kuncende ilya.


Magozwe wakatalika kukkala mucibeela caŋanda iilaciluli ca nyanzabili. Wakali koona abeenzyinyina bobilo mucibeela eeco. Antoomwe, bana bakali kukkala muŋanda oomo bakali kkumi. Kwakali abanyina bategwa Cissy alimwi abalumi babo, babwa botatwe, kaaze alimwi ampongo ncembele yomwe.

And so Magozwe moved into a room in a house with a green roof. He shared the room with two other boys. Altogether there were ten children living at that house. Along with Auntie Cissy and her husband, three dogs, a cat, and an old goat.

Efyo Magozwe aile mukwikala mu muputule mu ŋanda yamutenge wa katapa-katapa. Aaleikalamo na balumendo bambi babili. Abaana bonse pamo abaleeikala muli ilya ŋanda baali ikumi. Elyo naba maama Cissy na balume baabo ne mbwa shitatu, puushi elyo ne mbushi iikote.


Magozwe wakatalika kwiiya cikolo pesi wakajana buyumu-yumu. Nzyinji zyakali kuyandika kuti kucita kutegwa keelana abeenzyinyina. Zyimwi zyiindi wakali kulimvwa kutyompwa alimwi akuyanda kucileka. Pele ayeeya makani ngaakajana mubbuku lyakwe aakweenzya ndeke alimwi amakani aakuuma mupila wa maulu, Kunyina naakaleka kwiiya.

Magozwe started school and it was difficult. He had a lot to catch up. Sometimes he wanted to give up. But he thought about the pilot and the soccer player in the storybooks. Like them, he did not give up.

Magozwe alyambile isukulu kabili lyalikosele. Fiingi ashaishibe ifyo aalingile ukwishiba pakuti alingane na banankwe. Limo-limo aaleefwaya no kuleka isukulu. Leelo aaleetontonkanyo pali kensha wandeke na kateya wa mupila abamumabuuku yakwe. Taalekele nga filya fine nabo bashalekele.


Magozwe wakalikkede anze aŋanda iilaa ciluli canyanzabili, kabala kabbuku ka kucikolo. Thomas wakasika alimwi akukkala munsi-munsi. “Kaamba nzi kabbuku aaka?” wakabuzya Thomas. “Kabbuku kaamba musankwa wakaba mwiiyi,” wakavwiila Magozwe. “Ino nguni zyina lyakwe?” wakabuzya Thomas. “Izyina lyakwe ngu Magozwe,” wakavwiila Magozwe kumwi kaseka-seka.

Magozwe was sitting in the yard at the house with the green roof, reading a storybook from school. Thomas came up and sat next to him. “What is the story about?” asked Thomas. “It’s about a boy who becomes a teacher,” replied Magozwe. “What’s the boy’s name?” asked Thomas. “His name is Magozwe,” said Magozwe with a smile.

Magozwe aikeele panse pa lubansa lwa ŋanda ya mutenge wa katapa-katapa, aleebelenga ibuuku lyaku sukulu. Thomas nao aishile ikala mupeepi nankwe. “Lilelanda pali cinshi ilyashi?” efyaipwishe Thomas. “Lileelanda pa mulumendo awaishileba kafundisha,” efyayaswike Magozwe. “Naani ishina umulumendo?” efyaipwishe Thomas. “Ishina lyakwe ni Magozwe,” efyalandile Magozwe ninshi aleemwentula.


Written by: Lesley Koyi
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Translated by: Vision Milimo
Language: Tonga
Level: Level 5
Source: Magozwe from African Storybook
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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