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This is Khalai. She is seven years old. Her name means ‘the good one’ in her language, Lubukusu.
This is Khalai. She is seven years old. Her name means ‘the good one’ in her language, Lubukusu.
Uyu ni Khalai. Ali na imyaka cine-lubali. Ishina lyakwe mu lulimi lwakwe, ulwa Cilubukusu lipilibula “umusuma”.
Khalai wakes up and talks to the orange tree. “Please orange tree, grow big and give us lots of ripe oranges.”
Khalai wakes up and talks to the orange tree. “Please orange tree, grow big and give us lots of ripe oranges.”
Lyonse Khalai nga ashibuka alasosha icimuti ca macungwa ati: “We cimuti ca macungwa, napaapaata kula, utwaale na macungwa ayaapya ayeengi.”
Khalai walks to school. On the way she talks to the grass. “Please grass, grow greener and don’t dry up.”
Khalai walks to school. On the way she talks to the grass. “Please grass, grow greener and don’t dry up.”
Khalai nga aleenda lyonse pa kuya ku sukuulu alasosha icaani ati: “We caani, napaapaata moneka uwayemba elyo kabili wilauma.”
Khalai passes wild flowers. “Please flowers, keep blooming so I can put you in my hair.”
Khalai passes wild flowers. “Please flowers, keep blooming so I can put you in my hair.”
Khalai nga asaanga amaluba ya mpanga nayo alayeba ati: “Mwe maluba muleebalula bwino-bwino pakuti ndeswako no kubiika mu mushishi wandi.”
At school, Khalai talks to the tree in the middle of the compound. “Please tree, put out big branches so we can read under your shade.”
At school, Khalai talks to the tree in the middle of the compound. “Please tree, put out big branches so we can read under your shade.”
Khalai nga afika ku sukulu, lyonse alasosha icimuti icabeela pakati ka lubansa lwe sukulu ati: “We cimuti, napaapaata kula utwale ne misambo iyakutupeela icintelelwe icakuti tuleikalamo pa kubelenga.”
Khalai talks to the hedge around her school. “Please grow strong and stop bad people from coming in.”
Khalai talks to the hedge around her school. “Please grow strong and stop bad people from coming in.”
Elyo kabili, Khalai alasosha utumuti utwacingilila isukulu ati: “Mwe tumuti mube abakosa saana pakuti mulelesha ifipondo ukwingila mukati ke sukulu lyesu.”
When Khalai returns home from school, she visits the orange tree. “Are your oranges ripe yet?” asks Khalai.
When Khalai returns home from school, she visits the orange tree. “Are your oranges ripe yet?” asks Khalai.
Khalai nga ainuka lyonse, alaya mu kupempula icimuti ca macungwa no kucipusha ati: “Bushe amacungwa yobe na nomba tayalapya?”
“The oranges are still green,” sighs Khalai. “I will see you tomorrow orange tree,” says Khalai. “Perhaps then you will have a ripe orange for me!”
“The oranges are still green,” sighs Khalai. “I will see you tomorrow orange tree,” says Khalai. “Perhaps then you will have a ripe orange for me!”
“Amacungwa yacili ayabishi!” efyasosa Khalai. “Nkesa kumonako mailo we mucungwa” efyasosa Khalai. Limbi lyena nkasanga naukwata icungwa ilyapya.”
Written by: Ursula Nafula
Illustrated by: Jesse Pietersen
Read by: Darshan Soni
