The audio for this story is currently not available.
Ehokololo eli ola tameka mefimbo lonale eshi ovanhu noinamwenyo vali valumbakana mokukala. Pefimbo opo omunhu kali ena oufemba womundilo. Okwali hava li oikulya yahawiishu. Onghoshi oyo aike yali ina 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.
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.”
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 okwali omunamakoto yee oshinamwenyo hasheendele. Ovanhu ovatya kuye, “Manga hatu imbi apa yoo onghoshi tai ndaanisa nafye, ove kufapo oiti yayo yomundilo ndele tofadukapo.” Ineshi pondola shaashi onghoshi oyemukwata ndele tai alulako oiti yomundilo.
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.
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 otai dulu oku lotoka noku nuka tayeendelele. Ovanhu osho vemulombwela, Manga Onghoshi taindanisa yoo tai imbi pamwe nafye, ove oto nyangulapo oiti yayo yomundilo ndele tofadukapo.”
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?”
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.
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 ndanisa tava dingilile omundilo, Mundja okwa nyangulapo oiti yomundilo ya Nghoshindele tafadukapo ayuka momufitu.. Ashike Onghoshi oyatya, “Oshike ndiheudite nande Mundja tati tyaa tyaa monima yange ngaashi shito?” Okwa tanauka ndele ta taataa Okapundja oko kali taka ndjobauka kafinda momufitu. Nghoshi okwe mukwata ndele taalikako noiti yaye yomundilo.
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.
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 ovafuda mokule, “Oshinamwenyo shilipi tashidulu oku tukwafela paife?” Omho oyo ina omaulu male edule aeshe, natu mupule.” Ova hokololela Omho omangela ndele tai nyangulapo oiti yomundilo yo Nghoshi 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.
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, Onghoshi oya aluka noshipala shaloloka, Omho oya lotoka yamanamo imudule. “Okudja tuu nena eli,“osho atya, “Itandi muefa vali. Indian oku kala ndemu konga noku mu taataa ndele handi mulipo!” Apa opo nee padja Onghoshi yaninga omutondi wakeshe umwe novanhu vamona eenghono domundilo.
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.
