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Sakima’s song Sakima's song Ulwimbo lwakwa Sakima

Written by Ursula Nafula

Illustrated by Peris Wachuka

Read by Darshan Soni

Language English

Level Level 3

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Autoplay story


Sakima lived with his parents and his four year old sister. They lived on a rich man’s land. Their grass-thatched hut was at the end of a row of trees.

Sakima lived with his parents and his four year old sister. They lived on a rich man’s land. Their grass-thatched hut was at the end of a row of trees.

Sakima aaleikala na bafyashi bakwe pamo na nkashi yakwe uwamyaka ine. Baleikala pancende ya mukankaala umo. Iŋanda yabo iyafyani yabeleele kumpela ya miti.


When Sakima was three years old, he fell sick and lost his sight. Sakima was a talented boy.

When Sakima was three years old, he fell sick and lost his sight. Sakima was a talented boy.

Ilyo Sakima aali ne myaka itatu, alipofwile ku mulandu wa bulwele. Sakima aali mulumendo uwakwete icabupe.


Sakima did many things that other six year old boys did not do. For example, he could sit with older members of the village and discuss important matters.

Sakima did many things that other six year old boys did not do. For example, he could sit with older members of the village and discuss important matters.

Sakima aaleecita ifintu ifingi efyo abalumendo bamyaka mutanda baaleefilwa. Ico mwingamwenako cimo cakuti, uyu Sakima aaleikala pa bakulu bamumushi no kulanshanya pa milandu iikankaala.


The parents of Sakima worked at the rich man’s house. They left home early in the morning and returned late in the evening. Sakima was left with his little sister.

The parents of Sakima worked at the rich man’s house. They left home early in the morning and returned late in the evening. Sakima was left with his little sister.

Abafyashi bakwa Sakima baaleebomba pa ŋanda ya mukankaala. Baaleefuma pa ŋanda ku macaaca no kubwela inshita ya bushiku. Sakima aaleeshaala na nkashi yakwe.


Sakima loved to sing songs. One day his mother asked him, “Where do you learn these songs from, Sakima?”

Sakima loved to sing songs. One day his mother asked him, “Where do you learn these songs from, Sakima?”

Sakima aalitemenwe ukwimba inyimbo. Ubushiku bumo banyina balimwipwishe abati, “Usambilila kwisa ishi nyimbo, Sakima?”


Sakima answered, “They just come, mother. I hear them in my head and then I sing.”

Sakima answered, “They just come, mother. I hear them in my head and then I sing.”

Sakima ayaswike ati “Shiisafye, maayo, nshumfwa mu mutwe elyo nashimba.”


Sakima liked to sing for his little sister, especially, if she felt hungry. His sister would listen to him singing his favourite song. She would sway to the soothing tune.

Sakima liked to sing for his little sister, especially, if she felt hungry. His sister would listen to him singing his favourite song. She would sway to the soothing tune.

Sakima alitemenwe ukwimbila nkashi yakwe, maka-maka nkashi yakwe nga aumfwa insala. Nkashi yakwe aaleekutika uko Sakima aleimba ulwimbo atemenwe saana, ninshi ayamba ukuisunsuntila ku ciunda ca lwimbo.


“Can you sing it again and again, Sakima,” his sister would beg him. Sakima would accept and sing it over and over again.

“Can you sing it again and again, Sakima,” his sister would beg him. Sakima would accept and sing it over and over again.

Nkanshi yakwe aaleemulomba ati, “Njimbilako na kabili, Sakima.” Sakima aaleesumina no kubwekeshapo ukwimba ulwimbo imiku iingi.


One evening when his parents returned home, they were very quiet. Sakima knew that there was something wrong.

One evening when his parents returned home, they were very quiet. Sakima knew that there was something wrong.

Ubushiku bumo ilyo abafyashi bakwe baabwelele pa ŋanda, baalifye tondolo. Sakima aalishibe ukutiila pali ifyalubene.


“What is wrong, mother, father?” Sakima asked. Sakima learned that the rich man’s son was missing. The man was very sad and lonely.

“What is wrong, mother, father?” Sakima asked. Sakima learned that the rich man’s son was missing. The man was very sad and lonely.

“Finshi ifilubene, maayo, taata?” efyo aabepwishe. Sakima Baamwebele ukutiila umwana wa mukankaala aalilubile. Umukankaala aali no bulanda nganshi kabili aalifye eka bulanda-bulanda.


“I can sing for him. He might be happy again,” Sakima told his parents. But his parents dismissed him. “He is very rich. You are only a blind boy. Do you think your song will help him?”

“I can sing for him. He might be happy again,” Sakima told his parents. But his parents dismissed him. “He is very rich. You are only a blind boy. Do you think your song will help him?”

“Kuti namwimbilako. Limbi kuti asansamuka na kabili,” efyo Sakima aebele abafyashi bakwe. Nomba abafyashi bakwe balikene. Abati, “Uyu muntu mukankaala saana. Iwe uli mwaice kabili taumona. Uleetontokanya ukutiila ulwimbo lobe kuti lwamwafwilisha?”


However, Sakima did not give up. His little sister supported him. She said, “Sakima’s songs soothe me when I am hungry. They will soothe the rich man too.”

However, Sakima did not give up. His little sister supported him. She said, “Sakima’s songs soothe me when I am hungry. They will soothe the rich man too.”

Sakima taanenwiike. Nkashi yakwe aalimulandiileko. Aatiile, “Inyimbo shakwa Sakima shilantalalika nga ndi ne nsala. No mukankaala wine kuti shamutalalika. ”


The following day, Sakima asked his little sister to lead him to the rich man’s house.

The following day, Sakima asked his little sister to lead him to the rich man’s house.

Ubushiku bwakonkelepo, Sakima aebele nkashi yakwe ukumutungulula ku ŋanda ya mukankaala.


He stood below one big window and began to sing his favourite song. Slowly, the head of the rich man began to show through the big window.

He stood below one big window and began to sing his favourite song. Slowly, the head of the rich man began to show through the big window.

Aiminine mwisamba lye windo ilikalamba no kwamba ukwimba ulwimbo aatemwishishe. Panoono-panoono, umutwe wa mukankaala wayambile ukumoneka pa windo.


The workers stopped what they were doing. They listened to Sakima’s beautiful song. But one man said, “Nobody has been able to console the boss. Does this blind boy think he will console him?”

The workers stopped what they were doing. They listened to Sakima’s beautiful song. But one man said, “Nobody has been able to console the boss. Does this blind boy think he will console him?”

Ababomfi baaleekele imilimo yabo. Baaleekutika ku lwimbo lwakwa Sakima ulwawama nganshi. Nomba shitaata umo aatiile, “Tapaaba nangu umo uwakwanisha ukutalalika ba bwana. Bushe uyu mulumendo wapofula aleemona kwati kuti abatalalika?”


Sakima finished singing his song and turned to leave. But the rich man rushed out and said, “Please sing again.”

Sakima finished singing his song and turned to leave. But the rich man rushed out and said, “Please sing again.”

Sakima alipwishishe ukwimba ulwimbo lwakwe kabili alimine ukuti aleeya ku mwabo. Nomba umukankaala alifumine panse no kutiila “Napaapaata, imba na kabili.”


At that very moment, two men came carrying someone on a stretcher. They had found the rich man’s son beaten up and left on the side of the road.

At that very moment, two men came carrying someone on a stretcher. They had found the rich man’s son beaten up and left on the side of the road.

Apopeene kwaishile abantu babili nabasenda umuntu pa macila. Baasangile umwana wa mukankaala nabamupuma ku fipondo kabili bamushiile mumbali ya musebo.


The rich man was so happy to see his son again. He rewarded Sakima for consoling him. He took his son and Sakima to hospital so Sakima could regain his sight.

The rich man was so happy to see his son again. He rewarded Sakima for consoling him. He took his son and Sakima to hospital so Sakima could regain his sight.

Umukankaala aalisansamwike pa kumona umwana wakwe na kabili. Aalilambwile Sakima pa kumutalalika ku mutima. Aatwele umwana wakwe na Sakima ku cipataala mu kumona nga kuti Sakima atampa ukumona na kabili.


Written by: Ursula Nafula
Illustrated by: Peris Wachuka
Read by: Darshan Soni
Language: English
Level: Level 3
Source: Sakima's song from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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