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Tom Musulu Wamakonde
Tom the banana seller
Tomu kashitisha wa nkonde
Humphreys Odunga
Zablon Alex Nguku
Ruth Kapamba, Mwitila Ntabo
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Tom usenda tule wamakonde apya.
Tom carries a tray of ripe bananas.
Tom alasenda ulupe lwa nkonde ishapya.
Tom uya kukisankanyi nakupotesha makonde.
Tom goes to the market to sell bananas.
Tom alaya ku maliketi mu kushitisha inkonde.
Bantu babena kupota bipangwa mukisankanyi.
People at the market are buying fruit.
Abantu pa maliketi baleeshita ifitwalo.
Bino kafwako wapotelenga makonde akwa Tom ne. Bantu bapotelengatu bipangwa kubainetu.
But no one is buying
Tom’s bananas.
They prefer to buy fruit from women.
Nomba tapali nangu umo uuleshita kuli Tomu.
“Muno munyaunda yetu, babakazhitu bobonkatu bapotesha bipangwa,” byobyamba bantu. “Nanchi awe ke mwanamulume wamutunduka ka?” bantu waipuzha.
“In our community, only women sell fruit,” people say. “What kind of a man is this?” people ask.
“Mu mushi wesu, banamaayofye ebashitisha ifitwalo,” efilanda abantu. “Mwaume wa musango shani uyu?” efyo bepusha.
Bino Tom aye kechi wikilekele kupoteshane. Waichilenga bantu amba, “Potai makonde! Potai makonde ami aapya bulongo kabiji atobala!”
But Tom does not give up.
He calls, “Buy my bananas!
Buy my sweet ripe bananas!”
Nomba Tomu taleka. Aleeta abantu, “Shiteni inkonde shandi! Shiteni inkonde shandi ishapya kabili ishalowa!”
Inetu umo watolelemo makonde mutule. Wiatajishishe makonde bulongo.
One woman picks up a bunch of bananas from the tray.
She looks at the bananas carefully.
Namaayo umo asendapo inkonde shimo pa lupe. Ashilolekesha bwino-bwino.
Uno inetu upota makonde.
The woman buys the bananas.
Uyu namaayo ashita inkonde.
Bantu baavula beeya pakitamba kyanji. Bapota makonde akwa Tom ne kuja.
More people come to the stall.
They buy Tom’s bananas and eat them.
Abantu abengi baisa pali Tomu. Balashita inkonde shakwa Tomu no kushilya.
Makonde akwa Tom kechi abanda kupwa ne. Tom ubala mali oamwenamo.
Soon, the tray is empty.
Tom counts the money he earned.
Ukwabula ukupoosa inshita, inkonde shapwa mu lupe. Tomu apenda indalama apanga.
Tom upotamo, sopo, shuka ne shinkwa. Tom usenda bintu byoapota mutule wanji.
Then Tom buys soap, sugar, and bread.
He puts the things in his tray.
Tomu ashitamo isopo, shuga no mukate. Afibiika mu lupe.
Tom usenda tule wanji pamutwe saka alekelelako ne kuya kunzubo.
Tom balances the tray on his head and goes home.
Tomu alaatengeseela ulupe lwakwe pa mutwe no kubwelela ku ŋanda.
Written by: Humphreys Odunga
Illustrated by: Zablon Alex Nguku
Translated by: Ruth Kapamba, Mwitila Ntabo
