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Hana ho yindana yo muka
Children of wax
Abaana bepula
Southern African Folktale
Wiehan de Jager
Ruthgela Shawanga
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Pakarekare, pakarire didhiko dyo kuhafa.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Patiile akantu, kwali ulupwa ulwaikeele mu mutende ne nsansa.
Mbadi ha kurwithangire. Ha ghamwenine hakuru wawo mudighumbo no mumapya.
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.
Ene, mbadi ha wa tawedhere kuhenyena pepi no mudiro.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Nomba tabaaleebasuminisha ukupalama ku mulilo.
Nga harughananga yirughana yawo ghuthiku. Yoyishi, awo kwa wa tendithire ku yindana!
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.
Ene, mungaghu yofotji gha karire no dirura dyo kushwagha pa nunda ku thishe.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Nomba umo pa balumendo aaleefwaisha ukuya panse mu kasuba.
Diyuwa dimweya dirura di dya kuwedherire. Hakurwendi ha mu konekithire…
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Ubushiku bumo icakufwaya ukuya pa kusuba cacilamo. Bandume yakwe baalimusokele…
Ene, ha karire maranga! Gha yenyumukire ku ghughenyu gho diyuwa.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Nomba balicelelwe. Asunguluka mu kasuba kaakaba.
Hana ho yindana ha tokotire thikuma mukumona minagho gha kuyenyumuka.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Abaana bepula baali no bulanda pa kumona uko ndume nabo aleesunguluka.
Ene, ha karire no dighano. Hombire thindana thi tho kuyenyumuka mu thishwi tho thinyunyi.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
Nomba baalyumfwene. Baapangile icuuni ukufuma kwipula ilyasungulwike.
Ha twarire minagho gho thinyunyi kudirundu dyo dire.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Baasendele ndume nabo bapangile mu cuuni pa muulu wa lupili ulutali.
Apa dya vire diyuwa, gha tukire kokayenda wimba mu thishe tho diyuwa.
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: Ruthgela Shawanga
