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Vana vandunda
Children of wax
Abaana bepula
Southern African Folktale
Wiehan de Jager
Masho Kaloza
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Lwola lumwe, vathu vatwaminenga mukuwahilila muthanga yavo.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Patiile akantu, kwali ulupwa ulwaikeele mu mutende ne nsansa.
Kavazungilengako. Vakafwile visemi javo hembo nakumande.
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.
Oloze kavavetavijile kuya kwakamwihi nakakahyako.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Nomba tabaaleebasuminisha ukupalama ku mulilo.
Shikaho vazachilenga milimo yavo naufuko kaha. Mwomwo vapwile vakutungisa nandunda.
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.
Oloze mwana umwe hakachi kavaze vamalunga asakile kuya mumusana.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Nomba umo pa balumendo aaleefwaisha ukuya panse mu kasuba.
Likumbi limwe kusaka chenyi echi chahyanyine. Vayayenyi vamulwezele kanda mwaya mumusanako.
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Ubushiku bumo icakufwaya ukuya pa kusuba cacilamo. Bandume yakwe baalimusokele…
Oloze echi chapwile kulishina! Ayengunukile muze mumusana uzuma.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Nomba balicelelwe. Asunguluka mu kasuba kaakaba.
Vaze vana vandunda vapihilile chikuma hakumona ndumbwavo mwayengunuka.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Abaana bepula baali no bulanda pa kumona uko ndume nabo aleesunguluka.
Oloze vashinganyekele mwakulinga. Vambachile ize ndunda nakuumba kajila.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
Nomba baalyumfwene. Baapangile icuuni ukufuma kwipula ilyasungulwike.
Vatwalile kajila kandumbwavo helu lyaphili.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Baasendele ndume nabo bapangile mu cuuni pa muulu wa lupili ulutali.
Omu likumbi lyazundukile, atukile nakuya nakwimba muze mumusana wachimene.
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: Masho Kaloza
