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Tom mughurithi ghopanana
Tom the banana seller
Tomu kashitisha wa nkonde
Humphreys Odunga
Zablon Alex Nguku
Maria M Dikuua
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Tom ghana shimbi thikote tho mapanana ghopyuu.
Tom carries a tray of ripe bananas.
Tom alasenda ulupe lwa nkonde ishapya.
Tom kuna kuyenda kudyango dyokughurithera ghaka ghurithe mapanana.
Tom goes to the market to sell bananas.
Tom alaya ku maliketi mu kushitisha inkonde.
Hanu awa ha di pa dyango dyokughurithera kuna kughura mbuyo.
People at the market are buying fruit.
Abantu pa maliketi baleeshita ifitwalo.
Ene noghofotji temba oyu ghana kughura mapanana ghaTom. Awo ne kuna kughura mbuyo edhi hana kughuritha hambuyama ngenyu.
But no one is buying
Tom’s bananas.
They prefer to buy fruit from women.
Nomba tapali nangu umo uuleshita kuli Tomu.
“Mumukunda wetu, hambuyama pithagho ngenyu ha ghurithanga mbuyo,” hanu haghamba. “Katughuru munye yu?” Hanu hepura.
“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.
Ene Tom yene mbadi wa kuhupura. Aye kwitha ghukugherera, “mughure mapanana ghange! Mughure mapanana ghange ghomatowi ghopyuu!”
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!”
Mbuyama ghofotji ghana tumbura dindjombo dyopanana pathikote. Kokugha kengurura mapanana gha thiwanathiwana.
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.
Mbuyama gho ghana ghuru mapanana.
The woman buys the bananas.
Uyu namaayo ashita inkonde.
Hanu hongengi kuna kwiya kumaghurithero ghendi. Kokughuru mapanana gha Tom no kughadya.
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.
Kapupi kamanana, thikote kare nga thi kara mukunguru. Tom kuna kutara masherenyi agha ghana wanamo apa ghana ghuritha.
Soon, the tray is empty.
Tom counts the money he earned.
Ukwabula ukupoosa inshita, inkonde shapwa mu lupe. Tomu apenda indalama apanga.
Tom gho ghana ghuru murora, shuka noghuroto. Gho ghana yitura pathikote.
Then Tom buys soap, sugar, and bread.
He puts the things in his tray.
Tomu ashitamo isopo, shuga no mukate. Afibiika mu lupe.
Tom ghana tengena thikote no kuyenda kudighumbo.
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: Maria M Dikuua
