The audio for this story is currently not available.
Ehokololo eli ola hovela momafimbo onale eshi ovanhu noinamwenyo va li hava kala pamwe. Pomafimbo enya, omunhu ka li e na oufemba wokulongifa omundilo. Okwa li hava li oikulya yahawiishu. Onghoshi oyo aike ya li i na oufemba womundilo.
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.
Ovanhu noinamwenyo ova ongala opo va ete po ondungefaneko. “Otu na okuninga ngahelipi opo tu kufe ko omundilo kuNghoshi opo nafye yo tu kale hatu teleke oikulya yetu?” Osho ve lipula. Ova tokola va teelele fiyo kwa toka ndele tava hovele okwiimba nokwiimba, nokupandula omake noku pandula omake, tava ifana keshe umwe a ongale. “Ileni tu ndanisheni. Ileni tu ndanisheni. Ileni tu ndanisheni.”
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.”
Oinamwenyo ihapu oya shitutuluka moixwa i waimine ondanisha neendjimbo. Nghoshi okwa etelela oiti yaye yokutaka omundilo. Okwa taka oiti, ta take nokutaka. Divadiva koshi yoiti otaku twima okamwifi. Nghoshi okwa fudila pokamwifi nokuweda po omwiidi wa kukuta. Okamundilo oka tema kanini keshe umwe okwa eta oshikuni. Divadiva keshe umwe ota ndanisha ta dingilile omundilo.
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.
Ndiba okwa li a kotoka ye oha endelele. Ovanhu ova lombwela Ndiba va ti: “Manga fye hatu imbi apa ye Nghoshi ta ndanisha, ove vakula po oiti yaNghoshi yomundilo ndele to faduka po.” Ine shi pondola shaashi onghoshi oye mu kwata ndele ta kufa ko oiti yaye.
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.
Onghoshi okwa imba eimbilo tai penya: “Kuame kashi na oshilonga. Ame kandi na oupyakadi. Ohandi dulu oku ku lya po nolududi, ohandi dulu oku ku lya po uhe na olududi. Ame nghi na oupyakadi. Nye amushe oikulya yange.”
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 ohai tondoka nokunhuka tai endelele. Ovanhu ove i lombwela, Manga Nghoshi ta ndanisha ye ta imbi pamwe nafye, ove vakula po oiti yaye yokutaka omundilo ndele to faduka po.”
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.”
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?”
Nghoshi okwa tanauka ndele oya mona Omenye tai tondoka ya yuka moixwa noiti yokutaka omundilo. Okwa taataa Omenye, okwe i kwata ndele ta kufa ko oiti yaye yomundilo. Natango, Onghoshi oya imba eimbilo layo lokupenya,
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.
Ovanhu ova tameka okunongofolelafana. Tava ti, “Natu pule Mhundja. Oye munini ye oha endelele.” “Mhundja,” osho va ti, “Manga Nghoshi ta ndanisha fye hatu a imbi naye, ove vakula po oiti yaye yokutaka omundilo ndele to faduka po nayo.”
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.”
Manga vali tava ndanisha tava dingilile omundilo, Mhundja okwa vakula po oiti yokutaka omundilo yaNghoshi ndele ta faduka po a yuka momufitu. Ashike Onghoshi oya tya, “Oshike ndihe udite nande Mhundja ta ti tyaa tyaa monima yange ngaashi shito?” Okwa tanauka ndele ta taataa Okapundja oko ka li taka ndjobauka ka finda momufitu. Nghoshi okwe ka kwata ndele ta kufa ko noiti yaye ndele ta alukile komundilo.
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.
Natango, Nghoshi okwa imba eimbilo laye lokupenya. “Kwaame kashi na oshilonga. Ohandi dulu oku ku lya po nolududi, ohandi dulu oku ku lya po uhe na olududi. Ame nghi na oupyakadi. Nye amushe oikulya yange.”
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,” ovanhu ova fuda mokule, “Oshinamwenyo shilipi tashi dulu oku tu kwafela paife?” Omho oyo i na omaulu male e dule etu aeshe, natu i pule.” Ova hokololela Omho ondungefaneko nomho oya vakula oiti yokutaka omundilo yaNghoshi oshikando eshi ndele tai fadukapo.
“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.
Nghoshi okwa ti, “Omolwashike ndihe udite nande vali ewi lOmho tali imbi mokule konima yange?” Okwa tanauka ndele okwa mona Omho ndele te i taataa.
Lion said, “Why do I not hear Ostrich’s high singing voice behind me anymore?” He looked around, saw Ostrich and chased after him.
Konima yefimbo lile, Nghoshi okwa aluka noshipala sha loloka, Omho oya tondoka onhapo yoshidudu ya mana mo i mu dule. “Okudja tuu nena eli,” Nghoshi ta ti, “Itandi mu efele vali emanguluko Ondi na okukala handi mu taataa, ndele handi mu li po!” Apa opo nee pa dja Onghoshi ya ninga omutondi wakeshe umwe novanhu va mona eenghono dokulongifa omundilo.
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
Fritz David
Oshikwanyama
Level 4
The audio for this story is currently not available.
