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Maturumuthero na mama ghomukamadi Holidays with grandmother Cuuti kuli bamaama

Written by Violet Otieno

Illustrated by Catherine Groenewald

Translated by Ruthgela Shawanga

Language Mbukushu

Level Level 4

Narrate full story The audio for this story is currently not available.


Odongo naApiyo hatungire muñurumbara na wihagho. Hatatere maturumuthero. Mbadi yoyishi shure ne dha yandhere, ene yoyishi hayendire ha kadhingure nyakudyagho ghomukamadi. Aye gha tungire mumukunda gho pepi no rware omu nga ha roveranga thi.

Odongo and Apiyo lived in the city with their father. They looked forward to the holidays. Not just because school was closed, but because they went to visit their grandmother. She lived in a fishing village near a large lake.

Odongo na Apiyo baaleikala na bawishi ku kalaale. Lyonse baaleekabila saana ukuba pa cuuti. Tepamulandufye wakuti baaleisala isukulu lelo nico baalefwaisha ukuya mu kutandala kuli banakulu. Banakulu baaleikala mu mushi uwabalondo besabi uwali mupepi na cibeemba icikulu.


Odongo na Apiyo hashamberere yoyishi rwa karire ruvedhe ro kudhingura nyakudyagho karo. Ghuthiku ghu ngaghupu, harongere mandjato ghawo nokukuroyithera ruyendo ru rorure ro kumukunda. Mbadi ha rarire no ha kuvurekire ghuthiku ghoghuhe yo kuhatera ku maturumuthero.

Odongo and Apiyo were excited because it was time to visit their grandmother again. The night before, they packed their bags and got ready for the long journey to her village. They could not sleep and talked the whole night about the holiday.

Odongo na Apiyo baalisansamwike saana ilyo inshita yakuya mu kutandalila banakulu yafikile na kabili. Ubushiku balaliile ubulendo, baalongele ifipe fyabo ukupekanya ubulendo ubutali ubwakuya ku mushi. Ubo bushiku, tabaaleele iyo, baaceseshefye ukulanda pali cuuti.


Murughura diyuwa dyo kurandako, hafungurukire muthihaghuto tha wihagho hayende kumukunda. Hahingire kupita marundu, yiyama no yikwinino. Awo ha tarire yihaghuto no hembire membo.

Early the next morning, they left for the village in their father’s car. They drove past mountains, wild animals and tea plantations. They counted cars and sang songs.

Ubushiku bwakonkelopo uluceeloceelo, baimine ubulendo bwakuya ku mushi muli motoka yaba wishi. Mu nshila, bapitile mumpili, bakumenye ne nama shampanga kabili baapitile na mumabala ya tii. Mu nshila balepeenda bamotoka no kwiimba inyimbo.


Kapupi kamanana, hanuke wa ha ghayire no hakothire.

After a while, the children were tired and fell asleep.

Ilyo paapitile nshita, abaana baalinakile bapona na mutulo.


Tate gha pinduthire Odongo naApiyo opa hakaumine ku dighumbo. Hakawanine Nyar-Kanyada, nyakudyagho ghomukamadi ghana hungumana pa disharo muthitondo. Nyar-Kanyada mu ndimi dho Luo, kutongora eshi “mwana ghodiko dyaKanyada” Aye gha karire mbuyama gho kutanara nomuwa.

Father woke up Odongo and Apiyo as they arrived in the village. They found Nyar-Kanyada, their grandmother, resting on a mat under a tree. Nyar-Kanyada in Luo, means ‘daughter of the people of Kanyada’. She was a strong and beautiful woman.

Ilyo baafikile ku mushi, bawishi bashibwishe Odongo na Apiyo. Baasangile banakulu ba Nyar-Kanyada naabasendama pa mpasa mwisamba lya cimuti. Ishina lya Nyar-Kanyada mu ci Luo lipilibula ukuti, umwana wa beena Kanyanda. Ba Nyar-Kanyada baali abayemba saana kabili abakosa.


Nyar-Kanyada gha watambure mundhugho wimba no yishamberera. Hekurwendi ha hafire mukumupa ghushwi oghu ha mupitwere. “Tange kuyandhura thange,” gha ghambire Odongo.” Ca, thange sho tangere!” gha ghambire Apiyo.

Nyar-Kanyada welcomed them into the house and danced around the room singing with joy. Her grandchildren were excited to give her the presents they brought from the city. “First open my gift,” said Odongo. “No, my gift first!” said Apiyo.

Ba Nyar-Kanyada balibapokeleele mu ŋanda no kutampa ukushana no kwimba ne nsaansa ishiingi saana. Abeshikulu balisansamwike saana no kupeela banakulu ifyabupe babaleeteele ukufuma ku kalaale. Odongo aasosele ati, “Balileenipo ukwisula icabupe imuleteele.” “Awe, balileenipo icabupe imuleteele!” efyasosele Apiyo.


Opa gha manine kuyandhura maghushwi, Nyar-Kanyada gha fiyere no kutungeka hekurwendi mundhira dho pa thitjo.

After she opened the presents, Nyar-Kanyada blessed her grandchildren in a traditional way.

Panuma yakwisula ifyabupe, ba Nyar-Kanyada baapaalile abeshikulu babo ukulingana ne ntambi.


Munyima Odongo naApiyo ha yendire panunda. Hatjidhatjidhire mambimbidhi no yinyunyi.

Then Odongo and Apiyo went outside. They chased butterflies and birds.

Panuma ya ifi fyonse, Odongo na Apiyo baile panse. Baatampile ukupepeka fipelebesha ne fyuni.


Awo ha dhinine kuyitondo no kutjavatjava meyu gho murware.

They climbed trees and splashed in the water of the lake.

Baaleniina ku fimuti elyo no kusansana ameenshi ayamuli beemba.


Opa gha karire makokore hakahukire kudimbo no hadye murarero. Kughutho gho kumana kudya, awo haporokere muturo!

When it was dark they returned to the house for dinner. Before they could finish eating, they were falling asleep!

Ilyo pafiitile, balibwelelemo ku ŋanda mu kulya icakulya ca cungulo-bushiku. Ilyo baali tabalapwisha no kulya, baponeene umutulo!


Diyuwa dyo kurandako, wihagho gha hingire gha huke kuñurumbara no ghawa thiyire na Nyar-Kanyada.

The next day, the children’s father drove back to the city leaving them with Nyar-Kanyada.

Ubushiku bwakonkelepo, bawishi balibwelelemo ku kalaale. Baashile Odongo na Apiyo kuli ba Nyar-Kanyada.


Odongo naApiyo ha ghamwene nyakudyagho no yirughana yo padimbo. Awo nga havetanga meyu no kutja yikunyi. Nga ha shimbanga mahonyi gho shushwa no kughamwena muthinyamo.

Odongo and Apiyo helped their grandmother with household chores. They fetched water and firewood. They collected eggs from the chickens and picked greens from the garden.

Odongo na Apiyo baaleafwa banakulu imilimo yonse iyapaŋanda. Baaletapa ameenshi no kuteeba inkuni. Baaleetoola na mani ya nkoko no kusaba umusaalu ukufuma mwibala.


Nyar-Kanyada gha hongire hekurwendi kuponda dimbombo dyo kuditha no mberera. Gha wahongire ngepi gho kutereka ruvishi ro kuditha no thi dho kupona.

Nyar-Kanyada taught her grandchildren to make soft ugali to eat with stew. She showed them how to make coconut rice to eat with roast fish.

Banakulu bafundile abeshikulu baabo ifyakunaya ubwali ubwanaka. Baalibalangile ne fyakwipika umupuunga uwakuliila nesabi ilyakooca.


Mathikuthiku ghamweya, Odongo gha shwayire ngombe dha nyakudyendi gha kadithe. Ngombe dha ngenine mudipya dyo maparaghumbo. Ndjimi yu gha patire thikuma no gha himine kukwata ngombe dhi. Kutunda diyuwa di, mungaghu yu nga konekanga no mbadi gha karire karo mumurandu.

One morning, Odongo took his grandmother’s cows to graze. They ran onto a neighbour’s farm. The farmer was angry with Odongo. He threatened to keep the cows for eating his crops. After that day, the boy made sure that the cows did not get into trouble again.

Ubushiku bumo, Odongo aile mu kucema iŋombe sha banakulu. Iŋombe shabutukilile mwibala lya bena mupalamano. Umwine webala aafuliilwe Odongo pafyacitiike. Umulimi aebele Odongo ukuti alamupoka iŋombe pa kumuliila ifilimwa fyakwe. Ukufuma apo, umulumendo aaliposeleko amaano ukumona ukuti iŋombe tashileetele imilandu na kabili.


Diyuwa karo dimweya, hanuke hayendire kudyango dyo mughuro na Nyar-Kanyada. Gha ghurithire yiwarwidhi, shuka no murora. Apiyo gha hakire kutongwera haghuri maparo gho yinu. Odongo ye ne kurongera yinu eyi hana ghuru hanu.

On another day, the children went to the marketplace with Nyar-Kanyada. She had a stall selling vegetables, sugar and soap. Apiyo liked to tell customers the price of items. Odongo would pack the items that customers bought.

Ubushiku bumbi, abaana baile naba Nyar-Kanyada ku maliketi. Baalikwete incende apo aleshitiisha umusaalu, shuga elyo na sopo. Apiyo aatemenwe ukweba abantu umutengo wa fintu baaleshitisha. Odongo aatemenwe ukulonga ifintu ifyo abantu baaleeshita.


Kughura gho diyuwa awo kunwa koshiva pofotji. Haghamwene nyakudyagho mukutara masherenyi agha hana ghuritha.

At the end of the day they drank chai tea together. They helped grandmother to count the money she earned.

Icungulo baanwine tii na banakulu. Panuma, bayafwileko banakulu ukupenda indalama baapangile.


Ene, muruvedhe rorufupi maturumuthero gheyire kughuhura no hanuke ha hukire ku ñuru mbara. Nyar-Kanyada gha pire Odongo hutji no Apiyo djeshi. Gha wa rongere yidya yo muruyendo.

But too soon the holidays were over and the children had to go back to the city. Nyar-Kanyada gave Odongo a cap and Apiyo a sweater. She packed food for their journey.

Lelo tacaposele ne nshita iitali cuuti alipwile na baana baali no kubwelelamo ku tauni. Ba Nyar-Kanyada baapeele Odongo akasote elyo Apiyo baamupeele sweeta. Baabalongeele ne filyo ifyakulya pa buleendo.


Apa ghana kumine wihagho nawashimbe, mbadi hashanine kuhuka. Hanuke ha kandere Nyar-Kanyada gha yende nawo kuñurumbara. Gha hekire nokughamba eshi “Nomukuru keho me, ñanyi ni mutaterange mwa kwiye kokuno kudimbo karo.”

When their father came to fetch them, they did not want to leave. The children begged Nyar-Kanyada to go with them to the city. She smiled and said, “I am too old for the city. I will be waiting for you to come to my village again.”

Ilyo bawishi baishile mu kubasenda, tabaaleefwaya ukubwelelamo. Abaana bapaapaata ba Nyar-Kanyada ukuti baye nabo ku kalaale. Banakulu baamwentwilefye no kusosa ati, “Nalikota saana uwakwikala ku kalaale. Nkalamuloleelafye mpaka ilyo mukeesa kuno mushi na kabili.”


Odongo naApiyo waheya ha ndhondhere nyakudyagho no kumuragha.

Odongo and Apiyo both hugged her tightly and said goodbye.

Odongo na Apiyo bakumbatiile banakulu no kubashalikapo.


Apa hahukire ha Odongo naApiyo hakathimwetwedhire kwawaghendhawo yo kuhutera kuyipara yokumukunda. Hanuke hamweya ha kuyuvire eshi yipara yo muñurumbara ne yiwa. Hamweya hakuyuvire eshi yipara yo kumukunda ne hasha ya piterera. Ene tho mudyo po thikuma waheya hatawire eshi Odongo naApiyo ha kara no nyakudyagho gho muwa.

When Odongo and Apiyo went back to school they told their friends about life in the village. Some children felt that life in the city was good. Others felt that the village was better. But most of all, everyone agreed that Odongo and Apiyo had a wonderful grandmother!

Ilyo Odongo na Apiyo baabweleelemo ku sukulu bashimikileko abanaabo pa mikalile yaku mushi. Abaana bamo baamwene ukuti ubwikashi bwamukalaale bwawamapo ukucila ku mushi. Bambi nabo baamwene kwati ubwikashi bwakumushi bwawamapo. Nomba panuma, abaana bonse basumiine ukuti Odongo na Apiyo baalikwete nakulu uwa mutima uusuma.


Written by: Violet Otieno
Illustrated by: Catherine Groenewald
Translated by: Ruthgela Shawanga
Language: Mbukushu
Level: Level 4
Source: Holidays with grandmother from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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