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Kinders van was
Children of wax
Abaana bepula
Southern African Folktale
Wiehan de Jager
Suzette Hallatt, Helena Vilonel
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Lank - Lank gelede, was daar ‘n gelukkige familie.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Patiile akantu, kwali ulupwa ulwaikeele mu mutende ne nsansa.
Hulle het nooit met mekaar baklei nie. Hulle het hulle ouers by die huis en op die landerye gehelp.
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.
Maar, hulle was nie toegelaat om naby ‘n vuur te kom nie.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Nomba tabaaleebasuminisha ukupalama ku mulilo.
Hulle moes al hulle werk deur die nag voltooi, want hulle was gemaak van was!
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.
Maar een van die seuns wou baie graag uitgaan in die sonlig.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Nomba umo pa balumendo aaleefwaisha ukuya panse mu kasuba.
Een dag was die begeerte om uit te gaan te sterk. Sy broers het hom gewaarsku…
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Ubushiku bumo icakufwaya ukuya pa kusuba cacilamo. Bandume yakwe baalimusokele…
Maar dit was te laat. Hy het in die warm son gesmelt.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Nomba balicelelwe. Asunguluka mu kasuba kaakaba.
Die was kinders was so hartseer om te sien hoe hulle broer wegsmelt.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Abaana bepula baali no bulanda pa kumona uko ndume nabo aleesunguluka.
Maar hulle het ‘n plan beraam. Hulle het die gesmelte was in ‘n voël gevorm.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
Nomba baalyumfwene. Baapangile icuuni ukufuma kwipula ilyasungulwike.
Hulle het hom na ‘n hoë berg toe geneem.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Baasendele ndume nabo bapangile mu cuuni pa muulu wa lupili ulutali.
Soos die son opgekom het, het hy singend weg gevlieg in die lig in.
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: Suzette Hallatt, Helena Vilonel
