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Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Patile akantu, kwali ulupwa ulwaleikala ulwasansamuka.
They never fought with
each other. They helped
their parents at home
and in the fields.
They never fought with
each other. They helped
their parents at home
and in the fields.
Tabatalile abalwa bekabeka. Baleyafwa abafyashi babo pa ng’anda na mu ibala.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Lelo tabasuminishiwe ukupalama ku mulilo.
They had to do all their
work during the night.
Because they were made of wax!
They had to do all their
work during the night.
Because they were made of wax!
Balebomba imilimo yabo yonse ubushiku. Pantu bapangilwe na ipula.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Lelo umulumendo umo alifulwike ukuya panse mu kasuba.
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Bushiku bumo ukufuluka kwalicililemo. Ba ndume yakwe balimucengeshe.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Lelo inshita yalipitile kale. Alisungulwike mu kasuba akakaba.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Abana ba ipula bali ababulanda pakumona uko ndume yabo alesunguluka.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
Lelo balyumfwene. Balipangile icuuni ukufuma ku ipula ilya sungulwike.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Balisendele ndume yabo mu cuuni pa mulu walupili ulutali.
And as the sun rose, he
flew away singing into
the morning light.
And as the sun rose, he
flew away singing into
the morning light.
Elyo lintu akasuba katulile, alipupwike aleimba mu cengelo ca lucelo.
Written by: Southern African Folktale
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Read by: Darshan Soni
