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Tom namukakulandisha makondi
Tom the banana seller
Tomu kashitisha wa nkonde
Humphreys Odunga
Zablon Alex Nguku
Oscar Zangata
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Tom wasenda’ga chimban’gu cha makondi akwiha.
Tom carries a tray of ripe bananas.
Tom alasenda ulupe lwa nkonde ishapya.
Tom wayan’ga kuchisankanu nakulandisha makondi.
Tom goes to the market to sell bananas.
Tom alaya ku maliketi mu kushitisha inkonde.
Antu ha chisankanu anakulanda makondi.
People at the market are buying fruit.
Abantu pa maliketi baleeshita ifitwalo.
Ilan’ga ninowu nakulanda makondi a Tom kosi. Aken’ga kulanda makondi kudi muka mama.
But no one is buying
Tom’s bananas.
They prefer to buy fruit from women.
Nomba tapali nangu umo uuleshita kuli Tomu.
“Muchitun’gili chetu akamama hohu diwu alandishan’ga nyikabu,” chahoshan’gawu antu. “Iyala wakufwana ng’ahi iwe?” Antu ehulang’a
“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.
Ilan’ga Tom halekang’a wanyi. Hakubidika, “Landenu makondi ami! landenu akwiha atowala
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!”
Mukamama umu asenda nimuvun’ga umu wamakondi hachiban’gu. Hakutalishisha ana makondi.
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.
Ona mukamama alanda ninana makondi.
The woman buys the bananas.
Uyu namaayo ashita inkonde.
Antu amavulu enzili iku ku chitamba. Alandili makondi a Tom na kuyada.
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.
Chantesha hohu, chimban’gu chikumani. Tom achinda madi indi aweniyu.
Soon, the tray is empty.
Tom counts the money he earned.
Ukwabula ukupoosa inshita, inkonde shapwa mu lupe. Tomu apenda indalama apanga.
Henohu Tom alanda ni sopu,shuga na dinkendi. Washili yumiyi mu chiban’gu chindi.
Then Tom buys soap, sugar, and bread.
He puts the things in his tray.
Tomu ashitamo isopo, shuga no mukate. Afibiika mu lupe.
Tom aditwika ni chiban’gu chindi amutu.
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: Oscar Zangata
