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Tom mulekisi wa makonde
Tom the banana seller
Tomu kashitisha wa nkonde
Humphreys Odunga
Zablon Alex Nguku
Christabel Songiso, Akombelwa Muyangana
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Tom ushimbanga mukeke wa makonde abuzwize.
Tom carries a tray of ripe bananas.
Tom alasenda ulupe lwa nkonde ishapya.
Tom uyanga kwa musika kuyolekisa makonde.
Tom goes to the market to sell bananas.
Tom alaya ku maliketi mu kushitisha inkonde.
Batu kwa musika baleka litolwana.
People at the market are buying fruit.
Abantu pa maliketi baleeshita ifitwalo.
Kono akuna yaleka makonde a Tom. Balata kuleka litolwana kwa basali.
But no one is buying
Tom’s bananas.
They prefer to buy fruit from women.
Nomba tapali nangu umo uuleshita kuli Tomu.
“Mwa sibaka saluna, ki basali feela baba lekisanga litolwana.” batu babulela. “Ki muuna ya cwani yo?” batu babuza.
“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.
Kono Tom azwafi. Wa huweleza, “amuleke makonde aka! amuleke makonde aka abuzwize mi amunati!”
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!”
Musali yomumu ashimba sing’ata sa makonde mwa mukeke. Atalimisisa makonde katokomelo.
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.
Musali yo aleka makonde.
The woman buys the bananas.
Uyu namaayo ashita inkonde.
Batu babang’ata bataha fa sintolo. Baleka makonde a Tom ni kuaca.
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.
Onafa fa mukeke kele kufela. Tom wabala masheleng’i a fumani.
Soon, the tray is empty.
Tom counts the money he earned.
Ukwabula ukupoosa inshita, inkonde shapwa mu lupe. Tomu apenda indalama apanga.
Cwale Tom waleka mulola, swikili, mi sinkwa. Lika ze alibeya mwa mukeke wahae.
Then Tom buys soap, sugar, and bread.
He puts the things in his tray.
Tomu ashitamo isopo, shuga no mukate. Afibiika mu lupe.
Tom watengenya mukeke wahae fa toho anze aya kwandu.
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: Christabel Songiso, Akombelwa Muyangana
Language: Lozi
