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Khalai wamba na bijimwa
Khalai talks to plants
Khalai Alasosha Icaani ne Fimuti
Ursula Nafula
Jesse Pietersen
Ruth Kapamba, Mwitila Ntabo
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Awe Khalai.Uji namwaka itanu naisatu. Jizhina janji jalumbulula buwame mumulaka wanji, Lubukusu.
This is Khalai. She is seven years old. Her name means ‘the good one’ in her language, Lubukusu.
Uyu ni Khalai. Ali na imyaka cine-lubali. Ishina lyakwe mu lulimi lwakwe, ulwa Cilubukusu lipilibula “umusuma”.
Khalai ubuka ne kwamba nama orange ku kichi.”Nakupopwela obe kuchi kwama orange, koma bukiji witupeko ma orange apya avula.
Khalai wakes up and talks to the orange tree. “Please orange tree, grow big and give us lots of ripe oranges.”
Lyonse Khalai nga ashibuka alasosha icimuti ca macungwa ati: “We cimuti ca macungwa, napaapaata kula, utwaale na macungwa ayaapya ayeengi.”
Khalai wenda nama ulu pakuya kusukulu. Mujishinda wamba na nsono.” Nakupopwela obe nsono koma wafititukila kabiji kukooma ne”.
Khalai walks to school. On the way she talks to the grass. “Please grass, grow greener and don’t dry up.”
Khalai nga aleenda lyonse pa kuya ku sukuulu alasosha icaani ati: “We caani, napaapaata moneka uwayemba elyo kabili wilauma.”
Khalai upita paji maluba amungye, “Nakupopwela sapukayi pakwamba nkemubike munsuki yami”.
Khalai passes wild flowers. “Please flowers, keep blooming so I can put you in my hair.”
Khalai nga asaanga amaluba ya mpanga nayo alayeba ati: “Mwe maluba muleebalula bwino-bwino pakuti ndeswako no kubiika mu mushishi wandi.”
Ku sukulu, Khalai wamba nakichi kiji pakachi ka muzhi. “Nakupopwela obe kichi, lupula misampi pakwamba mba tutangilengamo mu kimfutele kyobe.”
At school, Khalai talks to the tree in the middle of the compound. “Please tree, put out big branches so we can read under your shade.”
Khalai nga afika ku sukulu, lyonse alasosha icimuti icabeela pakati ka lubansa lwe sukulu ati: “We cimuti, napaapaata kula utwale ne misambo iyakutupeela icintelelwe icakuti tuleikalamo pa kubelenga.”
Khalai wamba naluvimba lwa pasukulu ,”Nakupopwela koma wakosa uvimbile sukulu pakwambamba bantu batama babule kutwela.”
Khalai talks to the hedge around her school. “Please grow strong and stop bad people from coming in.”
Elyo kabili, Khalai alasosha utumuti utwacingilila isukulu ati: “Mwe tumuti mube abakosa saana pakuti mulelesha ifipondo ukwingila mukati ke sukulu lyesu.”
Khalai inge wabwela kufuma kusukulu, upempula kichi kwama orange.” Ma orange yobe yapyanyi?” Khalai waipuzha.
When Khalai returns home from school, she visits the orange tree. “Are your oranges ripe yet?” asks Khalai.
Khalai nga ainuka lyonse, alaya mu kupempula icimuti ca macungwa no kucipusha ati: “Bushe amacungwa yobe na nomba tayalapya?”
“Ma orange akiji abishi,” Khalai wijizhang’anya. 2Nkeya nakwimimona kesha,” Khalai waamba.” Kampe katana kwapya yami imo!”
“The oranges are still green,” sighs Khalai. “I will see you tomorrow orange tree,” says Khalai. “Perhaps then you will have a ripe orange for me!”
“Amacungwa yacili ayabishi!” efyasosa Khalai. “Nkesa kumonako mailo we mucungwa” efyasosa Khalai. Limbi lyena nkasanga naukwata icungwa ilyapya.”
Written by: Ursula Nafula
Illustrated by: Jesse Pietersen
Translated by: Ruth Kapamba, Mwitila Ntabo
