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Il était une fois une famille bien heureuse.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Patiile akantu, kwali ulupwa ulwaikeele mu mutende ne nsansa.
Ils ne se disputaient jamais. Ils aidaient leurs parents à la maison et dans les champs.
They never fought with
each other. They helped
their parents at home
and in the fields.
Tabatalile abalwa beka-beka. Baaleeyafwa abafyashi baabo pa ŋanda na mwibala.
Mais ils n’avaient pas le droit de s’approcher d’un feu.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Nomba tabaaleebasuminisha ukupalama ku mulilo.
Ils devaient faire tout leur travail pendant la nuit. Puisqu’ils étaient faits de cire !
They had to do all their
work during the night.
Because they were made of wax!
Baaleebomba imilimo yabo yonse ubushiku. Pantu bapangilwe ne pula.
Mais un des garçons désirait se promener au soleil.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Nomba umo pa balumendo aaleefwaisha ukuya panse mu kasuba.
Un jour son désir était trop puissant. Ses frères l’avertirent…
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Ubushiku bumo icakufwaya ukuya pa kusuba cacilamo. Bandume yakwe baalimusokele…
Mais c’était trop tard ! Il fondit au soleil brûlant.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Nomba balicelelwe. Asunguluka mu kasuba kaakaba.
Les enfants de cire étaient si tristes de voir leur frère fondre.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Abaana bepula baali no bulanda pa kumona uko ndume nabo aleesunguluka.
Mais ils firent un plan. Ils façonnèrent le morceau de cire fondue en oiseau.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
Nomba baalyumfwene. Baapangile icuuni ukufuma kwipula ilyasungulwike.
Ils apportèrent leur frère l’oiseau jusqu’au sommet d’une montagne haute.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Baasendele ndume nabo bapangile mu cuuni pa muulu wa lupili ulutali.
Et lorsque le soleil se leva, il s’envola vers la lumière du matin en chantant.
And as the sun rose, he
flew away singing into
the morning light.
Lilya akasuba katula, aalipupwike aya aleimba mu cengelo ca lucelo.
Written by: Southern African Folktale
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Translated by: Alexandra Danahy
Read by: Monique Bournot-Trites
