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Khalai Ulabandika Kuzyisyango
Khalai talks to plants
Khalai Alasosha Icaani ne Fimuti
Ursula Nafula
Jesse Pietersen
Chester Mwanza
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Oyu ngu Khalai. Ujisi myaka yakuzyalwa iili ciloba. Izyina lyakwe lipandulula kuti “mubotu” mucisyobo cakwe ca Lubukusu.
This is Khalai. She is seven years old. Her name means ‘the good one’ in her language, Lubukusu.
Uyu ni Khalai. Ali na imyaka cine-lubali. Ishina lyakwe mu lulimi lwakwe, ulwa Cilubukusu lipilibula “umusuma”.
Khalai ulabuka akwaambaula kucisamu camafwuleenke. “Ndakukomba ocisamu camafwuleenke, kokomena ukatupe mafwuleenke manji aabizwide.”
Khalai wakes up and talks to the orange tree. “Please orange tree, grow big and give us lots of ripe oranges.”
Lyonse Khalai nga ashibuka alasosha icimuti ca macungwa ati: “We cimuti ca macungwa, napaapaata kula, utwaale na macungwa ayaapya ayeengi.”
Khalai uleenda kuya kucikolo. Munzila, Khalai ulaambaula abwizu. “Ndakukomba obwizu, kokomena ukabe aamubala wanyanzabili akutayuma.”
Khalai walks to school. On the way she talks to the grass. “Please grass, grow greener and don’t dry up.”
Khalai nga aleenda lyonse pa kuya ku sukuulu alasosha icaani ati: “We caani, napaapaata moneka uwayemba elyo kabili wilauma.”
Khalai wainda amaluba amusyokwe. “Ndakomba nomaluba, kamutolelela kukomena kutegwa kandimubikka mumasusu aangu.”
Khalai passes wild flowers. “Please flowers, keep blooming so I can put you in my hair.”
Khalai nga asaanga amaluba ya mpanga nayo alayeba ati: “Mwe maluba muleebalula bwino-bwino pakuti ndeswako no kubiika mu mushishi wandi.”
Kucikolo, Khalai ulaambaula acisamu cili akati kalubuwa lwacikolo. “Ndakukomba ocisamu, kokomena akubikka mitabi minji kutegwa katubala mucimvwule cako.”
At school, Khalai talks to the tree in the middle of the compound. “Please tree, put out big branches so we can read under your shade.”
Khalai nga afika ku sukulu, lyonse alasosha icimuti icabeela pakati ka lubansa lwe sukulu ati: “We cimuti, napaapaata kula utwale ne misambo iyakutupeela icintelelwe icakuti tuleikalamo pa kubelenga.”
Khalai ulaambaula kulukwakwa lwacikolo lya hisamu. “Ndakomba, amukomene akulesya bantu babi kunjila mukati.”
Khalai talks to the hedge around her school. “Please grow strong and stop bad people from coming in.”
Elyo kabili, Khalai alasosha utumuti utwacingilila isukulu ati: “Mwe tumuti mube abakosa saana pakuti mulelesha ifipondo ukwingila mukati ke sukulu lyesu.”
Apiluka kuzwa kucikolo, Khalai ulaunka kucisamu camafwuleenke. “Sena mafwuleenke akabizwa kale?” wabuzya Khalai.
When Khalai returns home from school, she visits the orange tree. “Are your oranges ripe yet?” asks Khalai.
Khalai nga ainuka lyonse, alaya mu kupempula icimuti ca macungwa no kucipusha ati: “Bushe amacungwa yobe na nomba tayalapya?”
“Mafwuleenke taaninga bizwa.” waamba Khalai. “Ndiyakuboola kukubona juunza ocisamu camafwuleenke “. Waamba Khalai. “Ndiza kuya kujanika lyomwe libizwide!.”
“The oranges are still green,” sighs Khalai. “I will see you tomorrow orange tree,” says Khalai. “Perhaps then you will have a ripe orange for me!”
“Amacungwa yacili ayabishi!” efyasosa Khalai. “Nkesa kumonako mailo we mucungwa” efyasosa Khalai. Limbi lyena nkasanga naukwata icungwa ilyapya.”
Written by: Ursula Nafula
Illustrated by: Jesse Pietersen
Translated by: Chester Mwanza
