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Tom Sikusambala Mabbanana
Tom the banana seller
Tomu kashitisha wa nkonde
Humphreys Odunga
Zablon Alex Nguku
Chester Mwanza
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Tom wanyamuna mabbanana abizwide mucinzuma.
Tom carries a tray of ripe bananas.
Tom alasenda ulupe lwa nkonde ishapya.
Tom waunka kumusyika kukusambala mabbanana.
Tom goes to the market to sell bananas.
Tom alaya ku maliketi mu kushitisha inkonde.
Bantu kumusyika baula michelo.
People at the market are buying fruit.
Abantu pa maliketi baleeshita ifitwalo.
Pesi kunyina uula mabbanana akwe Tom. Balombozya kuula micelo kuli bamakaintu.
But no one is buying
Tom’s bananas.
They prefer to buy fruit from women.
Nomba tapali nangu umo uuleshita kuli Tomu.
“Muminzi yesu mbaamakaintu balo basambala michelo,” bantu baamba. “Mwaalumi wamusyobo nzi ooyu?” bantu babuzya.
“In our community, only women sell fruit,” people say. “What kind of a man is this?” people ask.
“Mu mushi wesu, banamaayofye ebashitisha ifitwalo,” efilanda abantu. “Mwaume wa musango shani uyu?” efyo bepusha.
Tom taakatyompwa. Wakaita “Kamuula mabbanana angu! Kamuula mabbanana angu abizwide alimwi alweela!”
But Tom does not give up.
He calls, “Buy my bananas!
Buy my sweet ripe bananas!”
Nomba Tomu taleka. Aleeta abantu, “Shiteni inkonde shandi! Shiteni inkonde shandi ishapya kabili ishalowa!”
Umwi mukaintu wakanyamuna mabbanana kugusya mucinzuma. Waalangisisya mabbanana.
One woman picks up a bunch of bananas from the tray.
She looks at the bananas carefully.
Namaayo umo asendapo inkonde shimo pa lupe. Ashilolekesha bwino-bwino.
Mukaintu ulaula ma bbanana.
The woman buys the bananas.
Uyu namaayo ashita inkonde.
Bantu banji balasika ku cintoolo cha Tom kuula ma bbanana akwaalya.
More people come to the stall.
They buy Tom’s bananas and eat them.
Abantu abengi baisa pali Tomu. Balashita inkonde shakwa Tomu no kushilya.
Mukaindi kaniini, cinzuma Cha Tom cinyina ma bbanana. Tom wabala mali ngaajana kwiinda mukusambala.
Soon, the tray is empty.
Tom counts the money he earned.
Ukwabula ukupoosa inshita, inkonde shapwa mu lupe. Tomu apenda indalama apanga.
Kwamana, Tom waula nsipa, ccukela alimwi aa cinkwa. Wabikka zyintu eezyi mucinzuma cakwe.
Then Tom buys soap, sugar, and bread.
He puts the things in his tray.
Tomu ashitamo isopo, shuga no mukate. Afibiika mu lupe.
Tom watukka cinzuma amutwe akuunka kuŋanda.
Tom balances the tray on his head and goes home.
Tomu alaatengeseela ulupe lwakwe pa mutwe no kubwelela ku ŋanda.
Written by: Humphreys Odunga
Illustrated by: Zablon Alex Nguku
Translated by: Chester Mwanza
