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Civwubwe Ncatajisi Boya
Why hippos have no hair
Ico imfubu ishakwatila umushishi
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Bumwi buzuba, Sulwe wakali kweenda munsi aamulonga.
One day, Rabbit was walking by the riverside.
Ubushiku bumo, kalulu aile aleenda mu lulamba lwa mumana.
Civwubwe wakaliko awalo, kayaa kweendeenda akulya twakulya bubotu bwa nyanzabili.
Hippo was there too, going for a stroll and eating some nice green grass.
Imfubu nayo eko yaali, yaletandala no kulya umulemfwe uusuma saana.
Civwubwe taakalizyi kuti Sulwe wakali munsi-munsi, mpoona wakamulyata kumaulu. Sulwe wakatalika kubwentela Civwubwe, “Ebo Civwubwe, tobwene kuti wandilyata kumaulu?”
Hippo didn’t see that Rabbit was there and she accidentally stepped on Rabbit’s foot.
Rabbit started screaming at Hippo, “You Hippo! Can’t you see that you’re stepping on my foot?”
Imfubu tayamwene ukuti Kalulu nao eko ali, epakumunyanta pa kuulu. Kalulu ayambile ukupundilila imfubu. “Iwe Mfubu! Taulemona ukuti naunyanta pa kuulu?”
Civwubwe wakalomba kulekelelwa kuli Sulwe, “Tiindakubwene. Ndalomba kondilekelela.” Sulwe taakayanda kuteelela. “Wacita caali kundilyata! Bumwi buzuba, uyoocibona! Uya kucibbadelela ncoocita sunu.”
Hippo apologised to Rabbit, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you. Please forgive me!”
But Rabbit wouldn’t listen and he shouted at Hippo, “You did that on purpose! Someday, you’ll see! You’re going to pay!”
Imfubu epakulomba ubwelelo kuli Kalulu. “Njelelako, nshacikumona. Napaapaata njelelako!” Nomba Kalulu taaleefwaya no kumfwa ifyo yaaleelanda, epakukalipila Mfubu ati, “Wacicitafye umufulo! Ubushiku bumo ukacimona, nkakulimuna!”
Sulwe wakaunka kuya kuyandaula mulilo akumwaambila kuti “Koya, umuumpe Civwubwe azwa mumeenda kuya kukucela bwizu. Wakandilyata!” Mulilo wakavwuwa, “Kwiina penzi mweenzuma. Ndilacita Mbubwenoobo.”
Rabbit went to find Fire and said, “Go, burn Hippo when she comes out of the water to eat grass. She stepped on me!”
Fire answered, “No problem, Rabbit, my friend. I’ll do just what you ask.”
Kalulu epakuya mukufwaya Mulilo no kumweba ati, “Kabiye oce Mfubu nga afuma mu meenshi aisa mu kulya icaani. Acinyanta!” Mulilo epakwasuka ati, “Takuli bwafya mune Kalulu, nalacita ifyo fine.”
Civwubwe wakali kulya bwizu kule amulonga. “maawe!” Mulilo wayakisya. Mulilo wakatalika kuumpa boya bwa Civwubwe.
Later, Hippo was eating grass far from the river when, “Whoosh!” Fire burst into flame. The flames began to burn Hippo’s hair.
Panuma ya kashita akanoono, imfubu yaleelya icaani ukutali na mumana, “uuuu” Mulilo abilimuka mu lubingu. Ulubingu epakwamba ukooca umushishi wakwa Mfubu.
Civwubwe wakatalika kulila akutijaanina kumeenda. Boya bwakwe boonse bwakapya amulilo. Civwubwe wakali kuyaa bulila. “Boya bwangu bwaumpwa amulilo. Boya bwangu bwaunka. Boya bwangu bubotu.”
Hippo started to cry and ran for the water. All her hair was burned off by the fire.
Hippo kept crying, “My hair has burned in the fire! My hair is all gone! My beautiful hair!”
Imfubu epakwamba ukulila no kubutukila ku menshi. Mulilo alyoceele umushishi wakwa Mfubu onse. Mfubu akonkenyepo ukulila ati, “Umushishi wandi wapya! Umushishi wandi onse waya! Umushishi wandi ubusuma!”
Sulwe wakakkomana kubona kuti boya bwa Civwubwe bwakapya. Kusikila sunu, Civwubwe taunki kule ameenda akaambo kakuyoowa mulilo.
Rabbit was happy that Hippo’s hair was burned.
And to this day, for fear of fire, the hippo never goes far from the water.
Kalulu alitemenwe ukuti umushishi wa mfubu walipya. Mpaka na leelo, mukutina umulilo, imfubu taiya kutali na meenshi.
Written by: Basilio Gimo, David KerIllustrated by: Carol LiddimentTranslated by: Chester Mwanza
