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Lwiimbo lwa kwa Sakima Sakima's song Ulwimbo lwakwa Sakima

Written by Ursula Nafula

Illustrated by Peris Wachuka

Translated by Ruth Kapamba, Mwitila Ntabo

Language Kaonde

Level Level 3

Narrate full story The audio for this story is currently not available.


Sikima waikalanga na bansemi yaanji ne nyenga yaanji wamyaka ina. Baikalaanga mu ntaanda yaabanooshi.Nzubo yaabo yansono yaji kunsa kwapela bichi.

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 na bafyashi bakwe pamo na nkashi yakwe uwamyaka ine. Baleikala pancende ya mukankaala umo. Iŋanda yabo iyafyani yabeleele kumpela ya miti.


Kimye Sikima waaji na myaka ya kusemwa isatu, wabeleele kabiji walekele ne kumona. Sakina wajinga mwana wamulume wapeshiwa mu mingilo.

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

Ilyo Sakima aali ne myaka itatu, alipofwile ku mulandu wa bulwele. Sakima aali mulumendo uwakwete icabupe.


Sakina waubanga bintu byavula abyo banyike bakwabo bamyaka yanji yakusemwa byo babujile ku konsha kuuba. Nobe kimwesho, wakonshanga kwikala naba kulumpe ba mumuzhi ne kwisamba nabo pamitwe yaneema.

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 aaleecita ifintu ifingi efyo abalumendo bamyaka mutanda baaleefilwa. Ico mwingamwenako cimo cakuti, uyu Sakima aaleikala pa bakulu bamumushi no kulanshanya pa milandu iikankaala.


Bansemi bakwa Sakima basebezanga kunzubo ya munoonshi. Bafumanga pa nzubo lukelo-kelo ne kubwela mabanga ene. Sakima washalanga ne nyenga yanji mwanyike.

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 baaleebomba pa ŋanda ya mukankaala. Baaleefuma pa ŋanda ku macaaca no kubwela inshita ya bushiku. Sakima aaleeshaala na nkashi yakwe.


Sakima watemenwe kwimba nyimbo. Juuba jimo bainanji bamwipwizhe amba, “Nanchi ufumya kwepi nyimbo , Sakima?”

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

Sakima aalitemenwe ukwimba inyimbo. Ubushiku bumo banyina balimwipwishe abati, “Usambilila kwisa ishi nyimbo, Sakima?”


Sakima wakumbwile amba, “Iyaatu, maama. Neyumvwa mumutwe apa mino naimba.”

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

Sakima ayaswike ati “Shiisafye, maayo, nshumfwa mu mutwe elyo nashimba.”


Sakima watemenwe kwimbila nyenga yanji mwanyike, kikatakata inge waumvwa nzala. Nyenga yanji watelekanga saka bamwimbila nyimbo yanji yeatemwisha. Wazhanga ku lwimbo wa kumulelezha.

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 nga aumfwa insala. Nkashi yakwe aaleekutika uko Sakima aleimba ulwimbo atemenwe saana, ninshi ayamba ukuisunsuntila ku ciunda ca lwimbo.


“Imba jikwabo ne jikwabo, Sakima,” nyenga yanji wa mulombanga. Sakima waswanga ne kwimba jikwabo ne jikwabo.

“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 aaleemulomba ati, “Njimbilako na kabili, Sakima.” Sakima aaleesumina no kubwekeshapo ukwimba ulwimbo imiku iingi.


Juuba jimo mabanga bansemi yanji byo babwelele ku nzubo, bazhindamine biingi. Sakima wayukile amba pajiko lukatazho.

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

Ubushiku bumo ilyo abafyashi bakwe baabwelele pa ŋanda, baalifye tondolo. Sakima aalishibe ukutiila pali ifyalubene.


“Kika kya katazha maama, taata?” Sakima waipwizhe. Sakima ba mubujile amba mwaana wa munoonshi waeleka. Munoonshi uji biingi na bulanda.

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

“Finshi ifilubene, maayo, taata?” efyo aabepwishe. Sakima Baamwebele ukutiila umwana wa mukankaala aalilubile. Umukankaala aali no bulanda nganshi kabili aalifye eka bulanda-bulanda.


“Nakoonsha kumwimbila. Wakoonsha kwikala wasangalala jikwabo,” Sakima wabujile bansemi yaanji. Mino bansemi yaanji bamulengulwiile. “Wanoonka biingi. Obewa wimwayiketu mputa. Walanguluka amba lwiimbo obe wakoonsha kumu kwashanyi?”

“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 namwimbilako. Limbi kuti asansamuka na kabili,” efyo Sakima aebele abafyashi bakwe. Nomba abafyashi bakwe balikene. Abati, “Uyu muntu mukankaala saana. Iwe uli mwaice kabili taumona. Uleetontokanya ukutiila ulwimbo lobe kuti lwamwafwilisha?”


Nangwa byonka byo, Sakima kechi wikilekelene. Nyenga yanji mwanyike wamu tundailikele. Wa ambile amba, “Nyimbo yakwa Sakima indelezha inge naumvwa nzala. Yakoonsha kulelezha neuno shetu munoonshi.”

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 aalimulandiileko. Aatiile, “Inyimbo shakwa Sakima shilantalalika nga ndi ne nsala. No mukankaala wine kuti shamutalalika. ”


Juuba ja londejileepo, Sakima walombele nyengayanji mwanyike kumu twala ku nzubo wauno shetu munoonshi.

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

Ubushiku bwakonkelepo, Sakima aebele nkashi yakwe ukumutungulula ku ŋanda ya mukankaala.


Waimene muunshi ya windo umo mukatampe nekutendeka kwiimba lwiimbo yeatemenwe. Pachepache, mutwe wauno shetu munoonshi watendekele kumwekana pa windo ikatampe.

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 lye windo ilikalamba no kwamba ukwimba ulwimbo aatemwishishe. Panoono-panoono, umutwe wa mukankaala wayambile ukumoneka pa windo.


Bamingilo balekele byo baubilenga. batelekele ku lwiimbo lwakwa Sakima wawaama biingi. Pano shetu umo waambile amba, “Kafwako nangwa umo wakonsheshe kutekenesha ba bosi. Nanchi awe mwanyike mputa walanguluka amba wakoonsha kwiba tekeneshanyi?”

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?”

Ababomfi baaleekele imilimo yabo. Baaleekutika ku lwimbo lwakwa Sakima ulwawama nganshi. Nomba shitaata umo aatiile, “Tapaaba nangu umo uwakwanisha ukutalalika ba bwana. Bushe uyu mulumendo wapofula aleemona kwati kuti abatalalika?”


Sakima wapwishishe kwimba kabiji wa alukile amba ayenga. Kabiji uno shetu munoonshi walupukile lubilo ne kwamba amb, “Nasansapo, imba jikwabo.”

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 kabili alimine ukuti aleeya ku mwabo. Nomba umukankaala alifumine panse no kutiila “Napaapaata, imba na kabili.”


Pakyonkakya kimye, bashetu babiji baishile saka basenda muntu pamakila. Bataine mwana wauno munoonshi bamupuma kabiji bamusha ne kunsa ya mukwakwa.

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.

Apopeene kwaishile abantu babili nabasenda umuntu pa macila. Baasangile umwana wa mukankaala nabamupuma ku fipondo kabili bamushiile mumbali ya musebo.


Uno shetu munoonshi wasangalele biingi pakumona mwanaji jikwabo. Wamulambwile Sakima pakumutekenesha. Watwajile mwananji ne Sakima ku kipatela pakubamba Sakima atambule lubuko lwa meeso.

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 aalisansamwike pa kumona umwana wakwe na kabili. Aalilambwile Sakima pa kumutalalika ku mutima. Aatwele umwana wakwe na Sakima ku cipataala mu kumona nga kuti Sakima atampa ukumona na kabili.


Written by: Ursula Nafula
Illustrated by: Peris Wachuka
Translated by: Ruth Kapamba, Mwitila Ntabo
Language: Kaonde
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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