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Bana Babunzuka
Children of wax
Abaana bepula
Southern African Folktale
Wiehan de Jager
Chester Mwanza
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Kaindi, kwakali mukwasyi wakali kukkala cakukkomana.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Patiile akantu, kwali ulupwa ulwaikeele mu mutende ne nsansa.
Tiibakali kulwana pe. Bakali kugwasya bazyali aŋanda akumuunda.
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.
Pesi tiibakali kuzuminzyigwa kuswena munsi-munsi amulilo.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Nomba tabaaleebasuminisha ukupalama ku mulilo.
Bakali kubeleka milimo yoonse masiku. Nkaambo bakabambidwe aabunzuka.
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.
Pesi umwi wabasankwa wakayandisisya kuti aunke muzuba.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Nomba umo pa balumendo aaleefwaisha ukuya panse mu kasuba.
Bumwi buzuba kuyandisisya kwakakomena. Bapati bakwe basankwa bakamucenjezya…
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Ubushiku bumo icakufwaya ukuya pa kusuba cacilamo. Bandume yakwe baalimusokele…
Pesi bakaccelwa. Wakeenzemuka muzuba lipya.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Nomba balicelelwe. Asunguluka mu kasuba kaakaba.
Bana babunzuka bakausa kapati kubona mupati wabo kaenzemuka.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Abaana bepula baali no bulanda pa kumona uko ndume nabo aleesunguluka.
Pesi bakajana muzeezo. Bakabweza bunzuka bwakeenzemuka akubumba ciyuni.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
Nomba baalyumfwene. Baapangile icuuni ukufuma kwipula ilyasungulwike.
Bakabikka cibumbwa atala amulundu.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Baasendele ndume nabo bapangile mu cuuni pa muulu wa lupili ulutali.
Nilyakazwa zuba, wakauluka kaimba nyimbo mumumuni wamafwumo-fwumo.
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: Chester Mwanza
