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Tom mukakulanjisa makonde
Tom the banana seller
Tomu kashitisha wa nkonde
Humphreys Odunga
Zablon Alex Nguku
Masho Kaloza
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Tom nambate lupasa lwamakonde akuhya.
Tom carries a tray of ripe bananas.
Tom alasenda ulupe lwa nkonde ishapya.
Tom nayi kwakulanjishila nakulanjisa makonde.
Tom goes to the market to sell bananas.
Tom alaya ku maliketi mu kushitisha inkonde.
Vatu kwakulanjishila vana kulanda mihako.
People at the market are buying fruit.
Abantu pa maliketi baleeshita ifitwalo.
Oloze vawuchi vanakulanda makonde a tom. vanasakula kulanda mihako kuli mapwevo.
But no one is buying
Tom’s bananas.
They prefer to buy fruit from women.
Nomba tapali nangu umo uuleshita kuli Tomu.
“Mungalila mwetu, mapwevo kaha vechi kulanjisanga mihako,” vatu vechi kuhanjika. “lunga muka owu?” vatu vechi kuhulisa.
“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.
Wunonyi Tom kechako. echi kusanyika “landenu makonde ami! landenu makonde ami ayema akwiha kanawa!”
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!”
Pwevo wumwe nambateho mulumba wumwe wamakonde halupasa. natalishisa hamakonde chakuzangama.
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.
Pwevo nalande makonde.
The woman buys the bananas.
Uyu namaayo ashita inkonde.
Vatu vavavulu vechi kwiza nakushikama. vechi kulanda makonde a tom nakuvalya.
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.
Kalinomu, lupasa lwasale hululu. Tom nalave mbongo nawanemo.
Soon, the tray is empty.
Tom counts the money he earned.
Ukwabula ukupoosa inshita, inkonde shapwa mu lupe. Tomu apenda indalama apanga.
Shikaho tom nalandemo sopo, shunga na mbolo. nahake vyuma mu lwalo
Then Tom buys soap, sugar, and bread.
He puts the things in his tray.
Tomu ashitamo isopo, shuga no mukate. Afibiika mu lupe.
Tom nolola lwalo hamutwe nakuya kwimbo.
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: Masho Kaloza
