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Holidays with grandmother Holidays with grandmother Cuuti kuli banakulu

Written by Violet Otieno

Illustrated by Catherine Groenewald

Read by Darshan Soni

Language English

Level Level 4

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Odongo and Apiyo lived in the city with their father. They looked forward to the holidays. Not just because school was closed, but because they went to visit their grandmother. She lived in a fishing village near a large lake.

Odongo and Apiyo lived in the city with their father. They looked forward to the holidays. Not just because school was closed, but because they went to visit their grandmother. She lived in a fishing village near a large lake.

Odongo na Apiyo baleeikala nabawishi kukalaale. Balekabila saana ukuya pacuti. Tepamulandu wakwisalafye amasukuulu lelo nico balefwaisha ukuya mukutandala kuli banakulu. Banakulu baleikala mumushi uwabalondo besabi uwali mupepi na cibeemba icikulu.


Odongo and Apiyo were excited because it was time to visit their grandmother again. The night before, they packed their bags and got ready for the long journey to her village. They could not sleep and talked the whole night about the holiday.

Odongo and Apiyo were excited because it was time to visit their grandmother again. The night before, they packed their bags and got ready for the long journey to her village. They could not sleep and talked the whole night about the holiday.

Odongo na Apiyo baali sansamwike saana ilyo inshita yakuya muku tandalila banakulu yafikile nakabili. Ubushiku balaliile ubulendo, baalongele ifipe fyabo ukupekanya ubulendo ubuutali ubwakuya kumushi. Ubushiku ubo, tabaaleele iyo, baaceseshe fye ukulanda palicuti.


Early the next morning, they left for the village in their father’s car. They drove past mountains, wild animals and tea plantations. They counted cars and sang songs.

Early the next morning, they left for the village in their father’s car. They drove past mountains, wild animals and tea plantations. They counted cars and sang songs.

Ubushiku bwakonkelopo uluceelo-ceelo, baimine ubulendo bwakuya kumushi muli motoka yabaawishi. Munshila, bapitile mumpili, bakumenye ne nama shampanga elyo bapitile namu mabala yatii. Munshila balepeenda bamotoka nokwiimba inyimbo.


After a while, the children were tired and fell asleep.

After a while, the children were tired and fell asleep.

Ilyo papitile nshita, abaana baalinakile bapona namutulo.


Father woke up Odongo and Apiyo as they arrived in the village. They found Nyar-Kanyada, their grandmother, resting on a mat under a tree. Nyar-Kanyada in Luo, means ‘daughter of the people of Kanyada’. She was a strong and beautiful woman.

Father woke up Odongo and Apiyo as they arrived in the village. They found Nyar-Kanyada, their grandmother, resting on a mat under a tree. Nyar-Kanyada in Luo, means ‘daughter of the people of Kanyada’. She was a strong and beautiful woman.

Ilyo baafikile kumushi, bawishi bashibwishe Odongo na Apiyo. Baasangile banakulu ba Nyar-Kanyada naabasendama pampaasa mwisamba lya cimuti. Ishina lya Nyar-Kanyada mu ci Luo lipilibula, umwana wabena Kanyanda. Nyar-Kanyada aali umusuma saana kabili uwakosa.


Nyar-Kanyada welcomed them into the house and danced around the room singing with joy. Her grandchildren were excited to give her the presents they brought from the city. “First open my gift,” said Odongo. “No, my gift first!” said Apiyo.

Nyar-Kanyada welcomed them into the house and danced around the room singing with joy. Her grandchildren were excited to give her the presents they brought from the city. “First open my gift,” said Odongo. “No, my gift first!” said Apiyo.

Nyar-Kanyada aalibapokeelele munganda nokutampa ukushana nokwimba nensaansa ishiingi saana. Abeshikulu baakwe balisansamwike saana nokupela banakulu ifyabupe babaleeteele ukufuma kukalaale. “Balileenipo ukwisula icabupe ico imileteele,” efyasosele Odongo. “Balileenipo ukwisula icandi,” e Apiyo.


After she opened the presents, Nyar-Kanyada blessed her grandchildren in a traditional way.

After she opened the presents, Nyar-Kanyada blessed her grandchildren in a traditional way.

Panuma yakwisula ifyabupe, Nyar-Kanyada apaalile abeeshikulu bakwe ukulingana neentambi.


Then Odongo and Apiyo went outside. They chased butterflies and birds.

Then Odongo and Apiyo went outside. They chased butterflies and birds.

Panuma yaifi fyonse elyo Odongo na Apiyo baile panse mukwikate fipelebesha neefyuuni.


They climbed trees and splashed in the water of the lake.

They climbed trees and splashed in the water of the lake.

Baleniina ifimuti elyo nokusansana ameenshi ayamuli beemba.


When it was dark they returned to the house for dinner. Before they could finish eating, they were falling asleep!

When it was dark they returned to the house for dinner. Before they could finish eating, they were falling asleep!

Ilyo pafiitile, babweleleemo kung’anda mukulya icakulya cacungulo-bushiku. Ilyo baali tabalapwisha nokulya, baponeene namutulo!


The next day, the children’s father drove back to the city leaving them with Nyar-Kanyada.

The next day, the children’s father drove back to the city leaving them with Nyar-Kanyada.

Ubushiku bwakonkelepo, baawishi babwelelemo kukalaale bashile Odongo na Apiyo kuli Nyar-Kanyada.


Odongo and Apiyo helped their grandmother with household chores. They fetched water and firewood. They collected eggs from the chickens and picked greens from the garden.

Odongo and Apiyo helped their grandmother with household chores. They fetched water and firewood. They collected eggs from the chickens and picked greens from the garden.

Odongo na Apiyo baale afwa banakulu imilimo yonse iya pang’anda. Baaletapa amenshi nokuteeba inkuni. Baaletoola namani yankoko nookusaba umusaalu ukufuuma mwibala.


Nyar-Kanyada taught her grandchildren to make soft ugali to eat with stew. She showed them how to make coconut rice to eat with roast fish.

Nyar-Kanyada taught her grandchildren to make soft ugali to eat with stew. She showed them how to make coconut rice to eat with roast fish.

Banakulu bafundile abeeshikulu baabo ifyakunaya ubwali ubwakuliila no munaani. Alibalangile nefyakwipika umupuunga uwakuliila nesabi ilyakooca.


One morning, Odongo took his grandmother’s cows to graze. They ran onto a neighbour’s farm. The farmer was angry with Odongo. He threatened to keep the cows for eating his crops. After that day, the boy made sure that the cows did not get into trouble again.

One morning, Odongo took his grandmother’s cows to graze. They ran onto a neighbour’s farm. The farmer was angry with Odongo. He threatened to keep the cows for eating his crops. After that day, the boy made sure that the cows did not get into trouble again.

Bushiku bumo, Odongo ailemukucema ing’ombe shabanakulu. Ing’ombe shabutukilile mwibala lya bena mupalamano. Umwine webala aafuliilwe Odongo pafyacitiike. Mukumutinyafye, amwebele ukuti alamupoka ingombe nokusuunga pakumuliila ifisabo fyakwe. Ukufuma apo, umulumendo aaliposeleko amano ukumona ukuti ingombe tashileetele imilandu nakabili.


On another day, the children went to the marketplace with Nyar-Kanyada. She had a stall selling vegetables, sugar and soap. Apiyo liked to tell customers the price of items. Odongo would pack the items that customers bought.

On another day, the children went to the marketplace with Nyar-Kanyada. She had a stall selling vegetables, sugar and soap. Apiyo liked to tell customers the price of items. Odongo would pack the items that customers bought.

Ubushiku bumbi, abaana baile na Nyar-Kanyada ku maliketi. Akwete icintamba apo aleshitiisha umusaalu, shuga elyo na sopo. Apiyo atemenwe ukweba abantu umutengo wafintu baleshitisha. Odongo atemenwe ukulonga ifintu ifyo abantu baaleeshita.


At the end of the day they drank chai tea together. They helped grandmother to count the money she earned.

At the end of the day they drank chai tea together. They helped grandmother to count the money she earned.

Icungulo batemenwe ukunwa tii nabanakulu. Batemenwe ukwafwa banakulu ukupenda indalama balesanga mukushitisha.


But too soon the holidays were over and the children had to go back to the city. Nyar-Kanyada gave Odongo a cap and Apiyo a sweater. She packed food for their journey.

But too soon the holidays were over and the children had to go back to the city. Nyar-Kanyada gave Odongo a cap and Apiyo a sweater. She packed food for their journey.

Tacaposele na inshita cuti alipwile nabaana baali nokubwelelamo kutauni. Nyar-Kanyada aapeele Odongo akasote elyo Apiyo amupeele sweeta. Abalongeele nefilyo ifyakulya pabuleendo.


When their father came to fetch them, they did not want to leave. The children begged Nyar-Kanyada to go with them to the city. She smiled and said, “I am too old for the city. I will be waiting for you to come to my village again.”

When their father came to fetch them, they did not want to leave. The children begged Nyar-Kanyada to go with them to the city. She smiled and said, “I am too old for the city. I will be waiting for you to come to my village again.”

Ilyo bawishi baishile mukubasenda, tabaleefwaya ukubwelelamo. Abaana bapaapaatile Nyar-Kanyada ukuti baye nankwe ku kalaale. Nakulu amwentwilefye nokutiila, “Nalikota saana uwakwikala kukalaale. Nkala muloleelafye mpaka ilyo mukeesa kuno mushi nakabili.”


Odongo and Apiyo both hugged her tightly and said goodbye.

Odongo and Apiyo both hugged her tightly and said goodbye.

Odongo na Apiyo bakumbatiile banakulu nokutila shalenipo.


When Odongo and Apiyo went back to school they told their friends about life in the village. Some children felt that life in the city was good. Others felt that the village was better. But most of all, everyone agreed that Odongo and Apiyo had a wonderful grandmother!

When Odongo and Apiyo went back to school they told their friends about life in the village. Some children felt that life in the city was good. Others felt that the village was better. But most of all, everyone agreed that Odongo and Apiyo had a wonderful grandmother!

Ilyo Odongo na Apiyo baabweleelemo kusukulu bashimikileko abanaabo pamikalile iyakumushi. Abana bamo bamweene ukuti ubwikalo bwamukalaale bwawamapo ukucila kumushi. Bambi nabo bamwene kwati ubwikalo bwakumushi bwawamapo. Nomba panuma, abaana bonse basumiinishe ukuti Odongo na Apiyo baalikwata nakulu uwa mutima uusuma.


Written by: Violet Otieno
Illustrated by: Catherine Groenewald
Read by: Darshan Soni
Language: English
Level: Level 4
Source: Holidays with grandmother from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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