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La chanson de Sakima Sakima's song Ulwimbo lwakwa Sakima

Written by Ursula Nafula

Illustrated by Peris Wachuka

Translated by Alexandra Danahy

Read by Monique Bournot-Trites

Language French

Level Level 3

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Autoplay story


Sakima vivait avec ses parents et sa petite sœur, qui avait quatre ans. Ils vivaient sur la terre d’un homme riche. Leur hutte à toit de chaume était située au bout d’un rang d’arbres.

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 naba fyashi bakwe pamo nankashi yakwe uwa myaka ine. Baleikala pancende ya mukankaala. Ng’anda yabo iya fiilu yaikeele kumpela yamiti.


Quand Sakima avait trois ans, il est tombé malade et a perdu la vue. Sakima était un garçon avec beaucoup de talent.

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

Lintu Sakima aali nemyaka itatu, alipofwike kumulandu wabulwele. Sakima aali umulumendo wetalanta.


Sakima faisait beaucoup de choses que d’autres garçons de six ans ne faisaient pas. Par exemple, il pouvait se tenir avec les membres plus âgés du village et discuter de questions importantes.

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 aalecita ifintu ifingi efyo abalumendo bamyaka mutanda balefilwa. Mukulangilisha, aleikala paba kulu bamumushi na ukulanshanya pamafya yacindima.


Les parents de Sakima travaillaient chez l’homme riche. Ils quittaient leur maison tôt le matin et revenaient tard le soir. Sakima restait seul chez eux avec sa petite sœur.

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 baalebomba pa ng’anda yamukankaala. Baalefumapo kumaca nokubwela inshita yabushiku. Sakima aleshaala na nkashi yakwe


Sakima adorait chanter des chansons. Un jour sa mère lui demanda, « Où apprends-tu à chanter ces chansons, Sakima? »

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

Sakima aalitemenwe ukwimba inyimbo. Bushiku bumo ba nyina balimwipwishe, “Usambilila kwisa ishi nyimbo Sakima?”


Sakima répondit, « Elles me viennent tout simplement, maman. Je les entends dans ma tête et ensuite je chante. »

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

Sakima alyaswike ukutila “Nashishibafye ba mayo, nda shumfwa mumutwe elyo nashimba”.


Sakima aimait chanter pour sa petite sœur, surtout si elle avait faim. Sa sœur l’écoutait chanter sa chanson préférée. Elle se balançait en écoutant la chanson apaisante.

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 ngaumfwa insala. Nkashi yakwe aalekutika Sakima ale imba ulwimbo atemenwe saana, ninshi ayamba ukuyisunsuntila ku ci unda ca lwimbo.


« Peux-tu la chanter encore et encore, Sakima? » le suppliait sa sœur. Sakima acceptait et la chantait encore et encore.

“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 aalepapata “bushe kuti waimba nakabili Sakima.” Sakima aalesumina na ukubwekeshapo ukwimba ulwimbo. Imiku iingi


Un soir quand ses parents sont revenus chez eux, ils étaient très tranquilles. Sakima savait qu’il y avait un problème.

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

Bushiku bumo lintu aba fyashi bakwe ba bwelele pa ng’anda, bafikile tondolo. Sakima aalishibe ukutiila pali ifilubene.


« Qu’est-ce qu’il y a, maman et papa? » Sakima demanda. Sakima apprit que le fils de l’homme riche avait disparu. L’homme était très triste et seul.

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

“Nindo ilubene ba mayo na ba tata?” efo ayipwishe. Sakima alisambilile ukutiila umwana wamukankaala aali luba. Umukankaala aali uwa cikonko nowabulanda.


« Je peux chanter pour lui. Il redeviendra peut-être heureux, » dit Sakima à ses parents. Mais ses parents rejetèrent l’idée. « Il est très riche. Tu es seulement un garçon aveugle. Penses-tu vraiment que ta chanson l’aidera? »

“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 na mwimbila. Kuti aikalako uwansansa nakabili,” abafyashi bakwe bamwipwishe ukutiila. Uyu muntu mukankaala saana. Uli mulumendo wapofuka amanso epela. Uletontokanya ukutiila ulwimbo lobe elwinga mwafwilisha?


Toutefois, Sakima ne démissionna pas. Sa petite sœur l’appuyait. Elle disait, « Les chansons de Sakima me calment quand j’ai faim. Elles calmeront l’homme riche aussi. »

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 aalimwafwilishe. Atiile, “Inyimbo shakwa Sakima shilantalalika elyo ndi nensala.” Shi katalalika na umukankaala.


Le lendemain, Sakima demanda à sa petite sœur de le mener chez l’homme riche.

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

Ubushiku bwakonkelepo, Sakima ayebele nkashi yakwe ukumutungulula kung’anda yamukankaala.


Il se tint sous une grande fenêtre et commença à chanter sa chanson préférée. Lentement, la tête de l’homme riche apparu à la grande fenêtre.

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 lya nsolokoto nokwamba ukwimba ulwimbo lwakwe. Panono panono, umutwe wamukankaala wayambile ukulanga pansolokoto.


Les ouvriers arrêtèrent ce qu’ils faisaient. Ils écoutèrent la belle chanson de Sakima. Mais un homme dit, « Personne n’a été capable de consoler le patron. Est-ce que ce garçon aveugle pense qu’il pourra le consoler ? »

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?”

Aba bomfi baalekele imilimo yabo. Baalekutika ku lwimbo lwakwa Sakima ulwawama nganshi. Abaume bamo basosele ukutiila “tapaaba nangu umo uwakwanisha ukutalalika ba bwana. Bushe uyu mulumendo wapofuka alemona kwati kuti abatalalika?”


Sakima termina de chanter sa chanson et s’apprêtait à partir. Mais l’homme riche sortit en vitesse et dit, « S’il te plaît, chante encore. »

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 nokupilibuka ati ambeko kumwabo. Nomba umukankaala alifumine panse nokutila “Napapata, imba nakabili.”


À ce moment, deux hommes sont arrivés en portant quelqu’un sur une civière. Ils avaient trouvé le fils de l’homme riche tabassé et abandonné sur le bord de la route.

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.

Ukutula Ubushiku bulya, abaume babili bafikile nabasenda umuntu pamacila. Ba sangile umwana wamukankaala napumwa nokushiiwa kumbali ya musebo.


L’homme riche fut tellement content de revoir son fils. Il récompensa Sakima de l’avoir consolé. Il emmena les deux garçons à l’hôpital pour que Sakima puisse retrouver la vue.

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 aali uwa nsansa pakumona umwana wakwe nakabili. Aali lambwile Sakima pa kumutalalika kumutima. Asendele umwana wakwe na Sakima ku cipataala mukumona nga kuti Sakima amona nakabili.


Written by: Ursula Nafula
Illustrated by: Peris Wachuka
Translated by: Alexandra Danahy
Read by: Monique Bournot-Trites
Language: French
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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