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Baana Babupula
Children of wax
Abaana bepula
Southern African Folktale
Wiehan de Jager
Ruth Kapamba, Mwitila Ntabo
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Kala kene, kwajinga kisemi kimo kyaikajilenga bingi na lusekelo.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Patiile akantu, kwali ulupwa ulwaikeele mu mutende ne nsansa.
Abe bantu kechi balwanga ne. Bakwashishenga bansemi yabo pa nzubo ne kumajimi.
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.
Pano mino kechi bebaswishishe kuya pabwipi na mujilo ne.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Nomba tabaaleebasuminisha ukupalama ku mulilo.
Baingijilenga nkito yabo yonse kimye kya bufuku mambo babumbilwe na bupula.
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.
Bino nsongwalume umo wakebeshenga bingi kuya mumute.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Nomba umo pa balumendo aaleefwaisha ukuya panse mu kasuba.
Juuba jimo, lusako lwanji lwakoselako. Bakolojanji babalume baesekele kumukanya…
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Ubushiku bumo icakufwaya ukuya pa kusuba cacilamo. Bandume yakwe baalimusokele…
Bino babanjile kumukanya! Wasungulukile namute.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Nomba balicelelwe. Asunguluka mu kasuba kaakaba.
Bano baana babupula baumvwine bingi kutama pa kumona mulongo wabo wasunguluka.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Abaana bepula baali no bulanda pa kumona uko ndume nabo aleesunguluka.
Balangulukilepo maana akubumba abwa bupula bwasungulukile mukañonyi.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
Nomba baalyumfwene. Baapangile icuuni ukufuma kwipula ilyasungulwike.
Basendele nkasabo kañonyi ne kumutwala kumutumba.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Baasendele ndume nabo bapangile mu cuuni pa muulu wa lupili ulutali.
Mute pakusama, aye watumbukile akwe saka enda nakwimba.
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: Ruth Kapamba, Mwitila Ntabo
