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Hapo zamani za kale, paliishi familia yenye furaha.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Patiile akantu, kwali ulupwa ulwaikeele mu mutende ne nsansa.
Hawakugombana hata kidogo. Watoto waliwasaidia wazazi nyumbani na shambani.
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.
Lakini, walikatazwa kwenda karibu na moto.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Nomba tabaaleebasuminisha ukupalama ku mulilo.
Walifanya kazi zao zote usiku. Hii ni kwa sababu walikuwa wameumbwa kwa nta.
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.
Lakini, kijana mmoja alitamani kwenda nje wakati wa mchana.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Nomba umo pa balumendo aaleefwaisha ukuya panse mu kasuba.
Siku moja tamaa ya kwenda nje ikazidi. Wenzake wakamwonya asiende juani. Lakini, hakusikia.
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Ubushiku bumo icakufwaya ukuya pa kusuba cacilamo. Bandume yakwe baalimusokele…
Aliyeyuka kwa sababu joto lilikuwa kali.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Nomba balicelelwe. Asunguluka mu kasuba kaakaba.
Watoto wa nta walihuzunika walipoona kaka yao akiyeyuka.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Abaana bepula baali no bulanda pa kumona uko ndume nabo aleesunguluka.
Wakapanga jambo fulani. Walichukua nta iliyoyeyuka wakatengeza ndege.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
Nomba baalyumfwene. Baapangile icuuni ukufuma kwipula ilyasungulwike.
Wakamweka ndege huyo juu ya mlima mrefu.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Baasendele ndume nabo bapangile mu cuuni pa muulu wa lupili ulutali.
Jua lilipochomoza asubuhi, akapeperuka akiimba kwa furaha.
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: Mutugi Kamundi
Read by: Lauwo George
