The audio for this story is currently not available.
Ondongo na Apiyo ova kala moshilando na tate wavo. Ovali hava kala va hafela unene omafudo. Hakutya ashike ofikola oya pata. Ndele omolwaashi ohava kala vahala okuya vaka talelepo Meekulu wavo. Inakulu okwali momukunda hamu kwatwa eeshi wali uli popepi netale.
Odongo and Apiyo lived in the city with their father.
They looked forward to the holidays. Not just because school was closed, but because they went to visit their grandmother. She lived in a fishing village near a large lake.
Ondongo na Apiyo okwali va hafa unene shaashi oshali efimbo loku katalelapo Meekulu wavo vali. Onguloshi yatetekela ova longela eendjato davo ndele tava kala velilongekidila olweendo londjila lile okuya kuinakulu komukunda. Eemofi okwali devalondoka ndele ova kala ashike tava popi kombinga yefudo oufiku aushe.
Odongo and Apiyo were excited because it was time to visit their grandmother again.
The night before, they packed their bags and got ready for the long journey to her village. They could not sleep and talked the whole night about the holiday.
Early the next morning, they left for the village in their father’s car.
They drove past mountains, wild animals and tea plantations. They counted cars and sang songs.
Father woke up Odongo and Apiyo as they arrived in the village.
They found Nyar-Kanyada, their grandmother, resting on a mat under a tree.
Nyar-Kanyada in Luo, means ‘daughter of the people of Kanyada’. She was a strong and beautiful woman.
Nyar-Kanyada welcomed them into the house and danced around the room singing with joy.
Her grandchildren were excited to give her the presents they brought from the city.
“First open my gift,” said Odongo.
“No, my gift first!” said Apiyo.
Then Odongo and Apiyo went outside. They chased butterflies and birds.
Ova kala nokulonda komiti voo tava danauka nomeva metale.
They climbed trees and splashed in the water of the lake.
Eshi kwatoka ova alukila keumbo valye ouvalelo. Manga ina vamana okulya voo ova kwatwa keemofi, ovali tava nyongila!
When it was dark they returned to the house for dinner. Before they could finish eating, they were falling asleep!
Efiku la landulako, tate wavo okwa shinga ashune koshilando evafiyapo na Nyar-Kanyada.
The next day, the children’s father drove back to the city leaving them with Nyar-Kanyada.
Ondongo na Apiyo ova kala noku kwafela inakulu noilonga yomeumbo. Okwali hava katyava noku kateka omeva. Okwali yoo hava katoola omai noku kona oihape moshikunino.
Odongo and Apiyo helped their grandmother with household chores. They fetched water and firewood. They collected eggs from the chickens and picked greens from the garden.
One morning, Odongo took his grandmother’s cows to graze. They ran onto a neighbour’s farm.
The farmer was angry with Odongo. He threatened to keep the cows for eating his crops. After that day, the boy made sure that the cows did not get into trouble again.
On another day, the children went to the marketplace with Nyar-Kanyada. She had a stall selling vegetables, sugar and soap.
Apiyo liked to tell customers the price of items. Odongo would pack the items that customers bought.
But too soon the holidays were over and the children had to go back to the city.
Nyar-Kanyada gave Odongo a cap and Apiyo a sweater. She packed food for their journey.
When their father came to fetch them, they did not want to leave. The children begged Nyar-Kanyada to go with them to the city.
She smiled and said, “I am too old for the city. I will be waiting for you to come to my village again.”
Ondongo na Apiyo aveshe ova papatela inakulu ndele tave mulekele.
Odongo and Apiyo both hugged her tightly and said goodbye.
When Odongo and Apiyo went back to school they told their friends about life in the village. Some children felt that life in the city was good. Others felt that the village was better.
But most of all, everyone agreed that Odongo and Apiyo had a wonderful grandmother!
Violet Otieno
Catherine Groenewald
Fritz David
Oshikwanyama
Level 4
The audio for this story is currently not available.
