The audio for this story is currently not available.
Ehungi ndi ra za kokure rukuru tjinene ngunda ovandu novipuka ava turire pamwe. Omayuva ngo ovandu kava ri nousemba wokuyakisa omuriro. Ovikurya vyavo aave ri kauvihu. Ongeyama aiyerike ondja ri nousemba wokuyakisa omuriro.
This story starts in the old times when animals and people lived together. In those days people did not have the right to fire. They ate their food raw. Only Lion had the power of fire.
Okutja ovandu novipuka otji ve ya pamwe okupaha ondunge. “Matu yenene okutjita vi kutja tu kambure omuriro kongeyama kutja tu tereke ovikurya vyetu?” ovo va pura. Ovo va undja ngandu ngurova nave utu okuimbura nokuimbura, okutona ozongwise nokutona ozongwise amave isanasana. “Indjee tu punde pamwe! Indjee tu punde pamwe! Indjee tu punde pamwe!”
The people and the animals came together to make a plan. “What can we do to get the fire from Lion so that we can cook our food?” they asked.
They decided to wait until evening and started singing and singing, clapping and clapping, calling everyone together.
“Come dance with us.
Come dance with us.
Come dance with us.”
Ovipuka ovingi vye ya okuza movihwa navi utu okuimbura nokupunda. Ongeyama ya eterera outi wayo womuriro. Oyo ya zeya outi, ai zeye nokuzeya. Tjimanga pa uta okupita okamwise okaṱiṱi. Ongeyama ya rurumisa inga okamwise nu ai twa po ehozu ekukutu. Okamuriro okaṱiṱi ka uta okuyaka nu ovandu avehe ave twa ko ozonguṋe. Tjimanga ovo va uta okupunda okukondoroka omuriro.
Many animals came from the bush to join in the dancing and singing. Lion brought his fire sticks. He rubbed the sticks, rubbed and rubbed. Soon a little smoke appeared beneath the sticks. Lion blew on the smoke and added some dry grass.
A little flame appeared and everyone brought a piece of wood. Soon everyone was dancing around a fire.
Okapi oku ka ri novineya notjikara. Ovandu ave ke raere, “Ngunda eṱe amatu imbura nu ongeyama amai pundu pamwe na eṱe, ove hakana imbwi outi wongeyama womuriro nu u tupuke. Ouhumandu eye ke na pa kaseka tjinga Katjikeama e mu kambura na kotora imbwi outi we womuriro.
Rabbit was a cunning and fast animal. The people said to him, “While we are singing here and while Lion is dancing with us, you must take his fire sticks and run.”
So Rabbit grabbed Lion’s fire sticks and ran. He did not make it because Lion caught up with him and brought the fire sticks back.
Ongeyama ya imbura amai rihivi: “Ku ami kape novirwi. Ami hi nouzeu. Ami me yenene okumurya nomainya, ami me yene okumurya nokuhina omainya. Ami hi nouzeu. Amuhe oweṋe ovikurya vyandje.”
The lion sang a boastful song:
“To me it does not matter.
I don’t have a problem.
I can eat you with hair,
I can eat you without hair.
I don’t have a problem.
All of you are food to me.”
Omenye ondjaai yenene okutupuka nokutuka. Ovandu ve i raera, “Ngunda indji ongeyama amai pundu nokuimbura pamwe na eṱe, ove hakana imbwi outi wayo womuriro nu u tupuke.”
Springbok could run and jump very fast. The people said to him, “While Lion is dancing and singing here with us, you must grab his fire sticks and run.”
Ovo ngunda amave imbura nokupunda, Kamenje wa hakana imbwi outi womuriro neye wa tuka na hiti mokuti. Nungwari Katjikeama wa tja, “Ongwaye tji mbi hi na okuzuva oukoti wa Kamenje mbu mau tja Klepeti-klop klepeti-klop kongotwe yandje.
When they were dancing and singing, Springbok grabbed the fire sticks and jumped away into the veld. But Lion said, “Why do I not hear the clippety-clop clippety-clop of Springbok’s hooves behind me?”
Ongeyama ya vinguruka nu ai munu omenye ndji mai tupuka okuyenda mokuti na imbwi outi wayo womuriro. Oyo ya rambera indji omenye, ai i kambura nu ai kotora imbwi outi wayo womuriro.
Lion turned and saw Springbok running into the veld with his fire sticks. So he ran after Springbok, caught him and came back with his fire sticks.
Again, Lion sang his boastful song.
Kuzamba ovandu ave hokorisasana. “Ngatu ningire Kambambi. Eye okaṱikona nu u tupuka tjinene. “Kambambi,” ovo va tja, “ngunda Katjikeama ama pundu nokuimbura pamwe na eṱe, ove hakana imbwi outi womuriro nu u tupuke okukazenga.”
Then the people whispered to each other. They said, “Let us ask Duiker. He is small and very fast.” “Duiker,” they said, “while Lion is dancing and singing here with us, you must grab his fire sticks and run away.”
Ngunda amave pundu okukondoroka omuriro, Kambambi wa hakana imbwi outi womuriro na tupuka mokuti. Katjikeama wa tja, “Ongwaye tji mbi hi na okuzuva Kambambi ama wono-nokuwona kongotwe yandje?” Eye wa vinguruka na munu inga okambambi ku make tukatuka okuyenda mokuti. Ongeyama ye ke kambura nu ai kotora imbwi outi wayo womuriro.
When they were dancing around the fire, Duiker grabbed Lion’s fire sticks and ran into the veld. But Lion said, “Why do I not hear Duiker snort-snorting behind me as before?”
He turned around and chased after little Duiker who was leaping into the veld. Lion caught up with him and returned to the fire with his sticks.
Rukwao, ongeyama ya imbura eimburiro rayo rokurihiva. Ku ami kape novirwi. Ami hi nouzeu. Ami me yenene okumurya nomainya, Ami me yenene okumurya nokuhina omainya. Ami hi nouzeu. Amuhe oweṋe ovikurya vyandje.”
Again, Lion sang his boastful song.
“To me it does not matter.
I don’t have a problem.
I can eat you with hair,
I can eat you without hair.
I don’t have a problem.
All of you are food to me.”
Oh, ovandu va tjeme, “Otjipuka tji matji tu vatere ootjiṋe? Ombo ondji na omarama omare pu eṱe atuhe, ngarire ndji twa ningire.” Ovo va handjaura ondunge aihe kombo noyo otjikando hi arire ndja hakana imbwi outi wa Katjikeama womuriro.
“Oh,” sighed the people, “Which animal can help us now? Ostrich has the longest legs of all, let us ask him.” They explained the plan to Ostrich and he grabbed Lion’s fire sticks this time.
Ongeyama ya tja, “Ongwaye tji mbi hi nokuzuva okaraka kombo ku make imbura okuṱina rukwao? Eye wa yevayeva, a munu indji ombo na rambere.
Lion said, “Why do I not hear Ostrich’s high singing voice behind me anymore?” He looked around, saw Ostrich and chased after him.
Kombunda yoruveze orure, ongeyama ya kotokere nomurungu mbwa urwa, ingwi Kambo wa ri notjikara pu ye. “Okuza peyuva ndo,” eye wa tja, “Ami hi nakumwesa. Ami me mu yeve nokumuramba nokumurya!” Okutja ongeyama opu ya utira okurira omunavita waavehe novandu opu va mwina ousemba wokukara nomuriro.
After a long time, Lion returned with a tired face, for Ostrich ran too fast for him. “From this day on,” he said, “I will not leave any of you alone. I will hunt you and chase you and eat you!”
And this is how Lion came to be everyone’s enemy and how people got the power of fire.
Traditional San story
Manyeka Arts Trust
Angelika Tjouṱuku, Asnath Mundjindjiri
Otjiherero
Level 4
The audio for this story is currently not available.
