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Anyana andunda
Children of wax
Abaana bepula
Southern African Folktale
Wiehan de Jager
Oscar Zangata
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Kunyima yamafuku, kwadin’ga chisaka chawahilila.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Patiile akantu, kwali ulupwa ulwaikeele mu mutende ne nsansa.
Hiyedin’ga nakudizun’gishaku. Akwashilen’ga anvwali zhawu ku maha.
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.
Ilan’ga hiyayitezheli kuya kwakamwihi na kesiku.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Nomba tabaaleebasuminisha ukupalama ku mulilo.
Edin’ga nakuzata nyidimu yezhima nawufuku. Mulon’ga edin’ga akutun’ga 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.
Ilan’ga umu hadi itu tunyana twamayala waken’gelen’ga kuya hanzhi ha mwaana.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Nomba umo pa balumendo aaleefwaisha ukuya panse mu kasuba.
Ifuku dimu waswezheli kuken’gesha kuwudika. Amanakwindi amukanishili ....
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Ubushiku bumo icakufwaya ukuya pa kusuba cacilamo. Bandume yakwe baalimusokele…
Ilan’ga alabili! wayen’gunukili mumwaana.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Nomba balicelelwe. Asunguluka mu kasuba kaakaba.
Anyaana andunda atamininini hakumona manakwawu nakuyen’gunuka.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Abaana bepula baali no bulanda pa kumona uko ndume nabo aleesunguluka.
Ilan’ga ashin’ganyekeli zhakwila. Awumbili kazhila kudi indunda yayen’gunukili.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
Nomba baalyumfwene. Baapangile icuuni ukufuma kwipula ilyasungulwike.
Atweli manakwawu wakazhili ku mpindi yayilehi.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Baasendele ndume nabo bapangile mu cuuni pa muulu wa lupili ulutali.
Chiwenzili mwaana, watukili nakwiimba kamina muna budidi.
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: Oscar Zangata
