Shy but brave, the little girl moved nearer to the woman.
“We must keep her with us,” the little girl’s people decided. “We’ll keep her and her child safe.”
Shy but brave, the little girl moved nearer to the woman.
“We must keep her with us,” the little girl’s people decided. “We’ll keep her and her child safe.”
Nangu umukashana aali ne nsoni alishipile no kupalama mupepi na namaayo. “Tufwile twamusunga uyu namaayo,” efyalandile abantu. “Tulemusunga bwino no mwana wakwe.”
The child was soon on its way.
“Push!”
“Bring blankets!”
“Water!”
“Puuuuussssshhh!!!”
The child was soon on its way.
“Push!”
“Bring blankets!”
“Water!”
“Puuuuussssshhh!!!”
But when they saw the baby, everyone jumped back in shock.
“A donkey?!”
But when they saw the baby, everyone jumped back in shock.
“A donkey?!”
Nomba ilyo baamwene umwana, bonse batolokela kunuma mu kusunguka. “Punda?”
Everyone began to argue.
“We said we would keep mother and child safe, and that’s what we’ll do,” said some.
“But they will bring us bad luck!” said others.
Everyone began to argue.
“We said we would keep mother and child safe, and that’s what we’ll do,” said some.
“But they will bring us bad luck!” said others.
And so the woman found herself alone again.
She wondered what to do with this awkward child.
She wondered what to do with herself.
And so the woman found herself alone again.
She wondered what to do with this awkward child.
She wondered what to do with herself.
Efyo nomba namaayo aisangile eka na kabili. Taishibe ifyakucita no mwana wa musango uyu. Taishibe ifyakucita umwine.
But finally she had to accept that he was her child and she was his mother.
But finally she had to accept that he was her child and she was his mother.
Panuma aasuminafye ukuti umwana aali mwana wakwe elyo nao ali ni nyina.
Now, if the child had stayed that same, small size, everything might have been different. But the donkey child grew and grew until he could no longer fit on his mother’s back.
And no matter how hard he tried, he could not behave like a human being. His mother was often tired and frustrated. Sometimes she made him do work meant for animals.
Now, if the child had stayed that same, small size, everything might have been different. But the donkey child grew and grew until he could no longer fit on his mother’s back.
And no matter how hard he tried, he could not behave like a human being. His mother was often tired and frustrated. Sometimes she made him do work meant for animals.
Nomba nga cakuti umwana taaleekula, alifye umunono, fyonse nga fyalifye bwino. Lelo uyu punda alikulile saana icakuti aleka ukukumana mu numa yaba nyina. Elyo nangu eshe shani, ificitwa fyakwe tafyali fya buntu. Inshita yonse banyina baleebafye ne cifukushi kabili abanaka. Limo-limo baaleemupeela incito sha nama.
Confusion and anger built up inside Donkey. He couldn’t do this and he couldn’t do that. He couldn’t be like this and he couldn’t be like that.
He became so angry that, one day, he kicked his mother to the ground.
Confusion and anger built up inside Donkey. He couldn’t do this and he couldn’t do that. He couldn’t be like this and he couldn’t be like that.
He became so angry that, one day, he kicked his mother to the ground.
By the time he stopped running, it was night, and Donkey was lost.
“Hee haw?” he whispered to the darkness.
“Hee Haw?” it echoed back. He was alone.
Curling himself into a tight ball, he fell into a deep and troubled sleep.
By the time he stopped running, it was night, and Donkey was lost.
“Hee haw?” he whispered to the darkness.
“Hee Haw?” it echoed back. He was alone.
Curling himself into a tight ball, he fell into a deep and troubled sleep.
Ilyo Punda alekele ukubutuka, ninshi nakufiita, taishiibe uko aali. “Hee haw?” efyo aitootoosha mumfifi. “Hee Haw?” aumfwa iciunda. Ali eka. Aipeta, apona na mutulo utwinetwine utwamalangulushi.
Donkey woke up to find a strange old man staring down at him. He looked into the old man’s eyes and started to feel a twinkle of hope.
Donkey woke up to find a strange old man staring down at him. He looked into the old man’s eyes and started to feel a twinkle of hope.
Donkey went to stay with the old man, who taught him many different ways to survive.
Donkey listened and learned, and so did the old man. They helped each other, and they laughed together.
Donkey went to stay with the old man, who taught him many different ways to survive.
Donkey listened and learned, and so did the old man. They helped each other, and they laughed together.
Punda aile mu kwikala na shikulu-bantu, uwamufundile inshila sha kwikalilamo ishingi. Punda aaleumfwa no kusambilila, shikulu-bantu nao wine aaleesambilila. Baleyafwana no kusekela pamo.
One morning, the old man asked Donkey to carry him to the top of a mountain.
One morning, the old man asked Donkey to carry him to the top of a mountain.
Ubushiku bumo, shikulu-bantu aipwishe punda ukumusenda pa muulu wa lupili.
High up amongst the clouds they fell asleep.
Donkey dreamed that his mother was sick and calling to him.
And when he woke up…
High up amongst the clouds they fell asleep.
Donkey dreamed that his mother was sick and calling to him.
And when he woke up…
Pa muulu mu makumbi basendama. Punda aalotele ukuti banyina nabalwala kabili balemwita. Ilyo abukile…
… the clouds had disappeared along with his friend, the old man.
… the clouds had disappeared along with his friend, the old man.
… asangile amakumbi nayaluba pamo no munankwe, shikulu- bantu.
Donkey finally knew what to do.
Donkey finally knew what to do.
Panuma Punda alishibe ifyakucita.
Donkey found his mother, alone and mourning her lost child. They stared at each other for a long time.
And then hugged each other very hard.
Donkey found his mother, alone and mourning her lost child. They stared at each other for a long time.
And then hugged each other very hard.
The donkey child and his mother have grown together and found many ways of living side by side.
Slowly, all around them, other families have started to settle.
The donkey child and his mother have grown together and found many ways of living side by side.
Slowly, all around them, other families have started to settle.
