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Mulon’gadi anzovu chiyabulilawu insuki?
Why hippos have no hair
Ico imfubu ishakwatila umushishi
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Ifuku dimu Kachinchi wadin’ga nakwenda kwakamwihi nakalon’ga.
One day, Rabbit was walking by the riverside.
Ubushiku bumo, kalulu aile aleenda mu lulamba lwa mumana.
In’uvu niyena wedin’ga koku, kwendazhala nakuda tumatahu twatovu.
Hippo was there too, going for a stroll and eating some nice green grass.
Imfubu nayo eko yaali, yaletandala no kulya umulemfwe uusuma saana.
Inùvu wamweni wanyi neyi kachinchi wadin’ga koku dichi wamudatili hamwendu. Kachinchi watachikili kwabokela Inùvu, “Eyi Inùvu hiwunamoni neyi wunandati hamwenduku?”
Hippo didn’t see that Rabbit was there and she accidentally stepped on Rabbit’s foot.
Rabbit started screaming at Hippo, “You Hippo! Can’t you see that you’re stepping on my foot?”
Imfubu tayamwene ukuti Kalulu nao eko ali, epakumunyanta pa kuulu. Kalulu ayambile ukupundilila imfubu. “Iwe Mfubu! Taulemona ukuti naunyanta pa kuulu?”
Inùvu wadanakeneni kudi Kachinchi, “In’ganakeni’. Hinakumonaku. Nalembi In’ganakeni!” Ilan’ga kachinchi hachitiyiliku wazuwilili Inùvu, “Wunandati mulon’ga wadin’ga nakukeng’a! Ifuku dimu, Wukamona wukafweta!
Hippo apologised to Rabbit, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you. Please forgive me!”
But Rabbit wouldn’t listen and he shouted at Hippo, “You did that on purpose! Someday, you’ll see! You’re going to pay!”
Imfubu epakulomba ubwelelo kuli Kalulu. “Njelelako, nshacikumona. Napaapaata njelelako!” Nomba Kalulu taaleefwaya no kumfwa ifyo yaaleelanda, epakukalipila Mfubu ati, “Wacicitafye umufulo! Ubushiku bumo ukacimona, nkakulimuna!”
Kachinchi wayili nakuwana kesi hakuhosha nindi, “Yakamochi Inùvu neyi nafumi mumenzhi nakuda matahu. Wandata!” Kesi wakwili, “Kukala kosi, kachinchi imbwambu dami. Nikwila zhiwunalombi.”
Rabbit went to find Fire and said, “Go, burn Hippo when she comes out of the water to eat grass. She stepped on me!”
Fire answered, “No problem, Rabbit, my friend. I’ll do just what you ask.”
Kalulu epakuya mukufwaya Mulilo no kumweba ati, “Kabiye oce Mfubu nga afuma mu meenshi aisa mu kulya icaani. Acinyanta!” Mulilo epakwasuka ati, “Takuli bwafya mune Kalulu, nalacita ifyo fine.”
Chihahitili mpiji, Inùvu wadin’ga nakuda matahu kwakulehi nakalon’ga, chikabutukili kesi ka nyilan’gi. Nyilan’gi yatachikili kocha insuki zha Inùvu.
Later, Hippo was eating grass far from the river when, “Whoosh!” Fire burst into flame. The flames began to burn Hippo’s hair.
Panuma ya kashita akanoono, imfubu yaleelya icaani ukutali na mumana, “uuuu” Mulilo abilimuka mu lubingu. Ulubingu epakwamba ukooca umushishi wakwa Mfubu.
Inùvu watachikili kudila nakutemukila kumenzhi. Insuki zhezhima zhasukumini kukesi. Inùvu watwalekelihu kudila,”Insuki zhami zhinasukumi kukesi! Insuki zhami zhezhima zhinayi! Insuki zhami zhazhiwahi!”
Hippo started to cry and ran for the water. All her hair was burned off by the fire.
Hippo kept crying, “My hair has burned in the fire! My hair is all gone! My beautiful hair!”
Imfubu epakwamba ukulila no kubutukila ku menshi. Mulilo alyoceele umushishi wakwa Mfubu onse. Mfubu akonkenyepo ukulila ati, “Umushishi wandi wapya! Umushishi wandi onse waya! Umushishi wandi ubusuma!”
Kachinchi watiyili chiwahi hakusukuma chansuki zha Inùvu. Niku lelu, mulon’ga wa kesi, Inùvu hayan’ga kwakulehi namenzhiku.”
Rabbit was happy that Hippo’s hair was burned.
And to this day, for fear of fire, the hippo never goes far from the water.
Kalulu alitemenwe ukuti umushishi wa mfubu walipya. Mpaka na leelo, mukutina umulilo, imfubu taiya kutali na meenshi.
Written by: Basilio Gimo, David KerIllustrated by: Carol LiddimentTranslated by: Oscar Zangata
