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Bana ba bulota
Children of wax
Abaana bepula
Southern African Folktale
Wiehan de Jager
Christabel Songiso, Akombelwa Muyangana
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Kale kale koo, nekunani lubasi lone lupila mwa tabo.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Patiile akantu, kwali ulupwa ulwaikeele mu mutende ne nsansa.
Nebasa lwanangi. Nebatusanga bashemi babona kwa ndu ni kwa masimu.
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.
Kono nebasa lumelezwi kusutelela fakaufi ni mulilo.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Nomba tabaaleebasuminisha ukupalama ku mulilo.
Nebanani kubelekanga misebezi yabona kaufela ka nako ya busihu kakuli nabapangilwe fa bulota.
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.
Kono yomuñwi kwa bashimani na nyolezwi kuya mwa lizazi.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Nomba umo pa balumendo aaleefwaisha ukuya panse mu kasuba.
Zazi leliñwi linyolwa lahae selitoba lelituna hahulu. Mizwale bahae bamufa mamela…
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Ubushiku bumo icakufwaya ukuya pa kusuba cacilamo. Bandume yakwe baalimusokele…
Kono nesekuliyehile! Hashengunukela mwa lizazi lenelicisa.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Nomba balicelelwe. Asunguluka mu kasuba kaakaba.
Bana ba bulota nebaswabile hahulu kubona muhabo bona inge ashengunuka cwalo.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Abaana bepula baali no bulanda pa kumona uko ndume nabo aleesunguluka.
Kono baba ni mulelo. Babupa nyunywani fa sikoto sa bulota bone bushengunukile boo.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
Nomba baalyumfwene. Baapangile icuuni ukufuma kwipula ilyasungulwike.
Baisa munyenaabona wa nyunywani fa lilundu leli pahami luli.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Baasendele ndume nabo bapangile mu cuuni pa muulu wa lupili ulutali.
Lizazi haselipazuzi, afufa inge aopela mwa liseli la kakusasani.
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: Christabel Songiso, Akombelwa Muyangana
Language: Lozi
