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Bana Babunzuka
Children of wax
Les enfants de cire
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.
Il était une fois une famille bien heureuse.
Tiibakali kulwana pe. Bakali kugwasya bazyali aŋanda akumuunda.
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.
Pesi tiibakali kuzuminzyigwa kuswena munsi-munsi amulilo.
But they were not
allowed to go near a
fire.
Mais ils n’avaient pas le droit de s’approcher d’un feu.
Bakali kubeleka milimo yoonse masiku. Nkaambo bakabambidwe aabunzuka.
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 !
Pesi umwi wabasankwa wakayandisisya kuti aunke muzuba.
But one of the boys
longed to go out in the
sunlight.
Mais un des garçons désirait se promener au soleil.
Bumwi buzuba kuyandisisya kwakakomena. Bapati bakwe basankwa bakamucenjezya…
One day the longing
was too strong. His
brothers warned him…
Un jour son désir était trop puissant. Ses frères l’avertirent…
Pesi bakaccelwa. Wakeenzemuka muzuba lipya.
But it was too late!
He melted in the hot
sun.
Mais c’était trop tard ! Il fondit au soleil brûlant.
Bana babunzuka bakausa kapati kubona mupati wabo kaenzemuka.
The wax children were
so sad to see their
brother melting away.
Les enfants de cire étaient si tristes de voir leur frère fondre.
Pesi bakajana muzeezo. Bakabweza bunzuka bwakeenzemuka akubumba ciyuni.
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.
Bakabikka cibumbwa atala amulundu.
They took their bird
brother up to a high
mountain.
Ils apportèrent leur frère l’oiseau jusqu’au sommet d’une montagne haute.
Nilyakazwa zuba, wakauluka kaimba nyimbo mumumuni wamafwumo-fwumo.
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: Chester Mwanza
