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Bana ba bulota
Children of wax
Les enfants de cire
Southern African Folktale
Wiehan de Jager
Christabel Songiso, Akombelwa Muyangana
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Kale kale koo, nekunani lubasi lone lupila mwa tabo.
Once upon a time,
there lived a happy
family.
Il était une fois une famille bien heureuse.
Nebasa lwanangi. Nebatusanga bashemi babona kwa ndu ni kwa masimu.
They never fought with
each other. They helped
their parents at home
and in the fields.
Ils ne se disputaient jamais. Ils aidaient leurs parents à la maison et dans les champs.
Kono nebasa lumelezwi kusutelela fakaufi ni mulilo.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Mais ils n’avaient pas le droit de s’approcher d’un feu.
Nebanani kubelekanga misebezi yabona kaufela ka nako ya busihu kakuli nabapangilwe fa bulota.
They had to do all their
work during the night.
Because they were made of wax!
Ils devaient faire tout leur travail pendant la nuit. Puisqu’ils étaient faits de cire !
Kono yomuñwi kwa bashimani na nyolezwi kuya mwa lizazi.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Mais un des garçons désirait se promener au soleil.
Zazi leliñwi linyolwa lahae selitoba lelituna hahulu. Mizwale bahae bamufa mamela…
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Un jour son désir était trop puissant. Ses frères l’avertirent…
Kono nesekuliyehile! Hashengunukela mwa lizazi lenelicisa.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Mais c’était trop tard ! Il fondit au soleil brûlant.
Bana ba bulota nebaswabile hahulu kubona muhabo bona inge ashengunuka cwalo.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Les enfants de cire étaient si tristes de voir leur frère fondre.
Kono baba ni mulelo. Babupa nyunywani fa sikoto sa bulota bone bushengunukile boo.
But they made a plan.
They shaped the lump
of melted wax into a
bird.
Mais ils firent un plan. Ils façonnèrent le morceau de cire fondue en oiseau.
Baisa munyenaabona wa nyunywani fa lilundu leli pahami luli.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Ils apportèrent leur frère l’oiseau jusqu’au sommet d’une montagne haute.
Lizazi haselipazuzi, afufa inge aopela mwa liseli la kakusasani.
And as the sun rose, he
flew away singing into
the morning light.
Et lorsque le soleil se leva, il s’envola vers la lumière du matin en chantant.
Written by: Southern African Folktale
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Translated by: Christabel Songiso, Akombelwa Muyangana
SiLozi (Zambia)
Level 2
