Nǂoosi xabe kare are Orphans need love too
Kandume Ruusa, Sennobia-Charon Katjiuongua, Eliaser Nghitewa
Jamanovandu Urike
Cwi Debe, Tsemkxao Cwi, Gǂkao J. B. Kxao, Kileni A. Fernando, Festus Soroab, Sylvia Fernandu, Kaqece Khallie N!ani
Cwi Debe, Gǂkao J. B. Kxao, Kaqece Khallie N!ani, Kileni A. Fernando, Sylvia Fernandu, Tsemkxao Cwi
Ju|’hoansi
Level 5
Nǃoma nǀui wece ka Hilifa koh ǂxai he tsau, ha totoo ǀ’an ha taqe ko nǃoma ‘ma. Ha taqe koh kaice ǀkae te Hilifa nǃaroh ha ǀ’ae ko ha taqe ǃ’uin kota ha ǀ’aeha. Ka ǀkae kaice tahn ha taqe Hilifa hin tsau ka du da’a ka ǁu qǃu ka du ti. Ha tani ua ha taqe ko ti ka gǀae nǀoan marisoan o ǁoakxam hia. ǁ’Ae gesin ha taqe ǀkae tahn ka ha ǀoa xoana ‘m. Hilifa nǃoo ha taqe tcioa. Ha ba ǃai barah tsan sa koh ǂaun, te ǁama ha taqe ce te ku ǀkae. Ha taqe kaice jaqm, te khoe tca to’a ha ba koh o khuian.
Every morning Hilifa woke up early to prepare breakfast for his mother. She had been sick a lot recently and Hilifa was learning how to look after his mother and himself. When his mother was too ill to get up he would make a fire to boil water to make tea. He would take tea to his mother and prepare porridge for breakfast. Sometimes his mother was too weak to eat it. Hilifa worried about his mother. His father had died two years ago, and now his mother was ill too. She was very thin, just like his father had been.
Nǃoma nǀui ha tsitsa’a ha taqe. “Ha-tce re o tih aia? ǁ’Aea nere a o nǀaba? A ǁ’aike ǀoa nǀoan. Te ǀoa ǁkoa tzi kana tjunǃang ǁxai. A ǀoa totoo na mi meddah ‘ma, ǀoa ǁka mi skore ǃxaiasi…” “Hilifa mi ǃ’han, a sin o barah sa o nexe te ǁau ku ǃ’uin mi.” Ha se ǃarikxao, are ha ǂ’angsi ko tca ha ǃoa ha. Ha re tsa’aǀ’ua? Mim kaice ǀkae. Are koh tsa’a radio nǃang ko ǀkae nǀuia ju ǃ’aua nǃore ǀkaia, “Mi kxae ǀkaea to’a,” ha ǃoa ha. Hilifa ǂom tcima. “Te kare nǁan tca a te ce ka ǃai ǂoa mba?” “Nǃore ǀkaia koara nǂoma.”
One morning he asked his mother, “What is wrong Mum? When will you be better? You don’t cook anymore. You can’t work in the field or clean the house. You don’t prepare my lunchbox, or wash my uniform…” “Hilifa my son, you are only nine years old and you take good care of me.” She looked at the young boy, wondering what she should tell him. Would he understand? “I am very ill. You have heard on the radio about the disease called AIDS. I have that disease,” she told him. Hilifa was quiet for a few minutes. “Does that mean you will die like Daddy?” “There is no cure for AIDS.”
Hilifa nǂhao ua skore ǀxoa ko ǂ’anganǃa’an. Ha ǀoa ǁkoa ǀxoa ǃka nǀang khoe ka siǃa cu he ku nǂhao. “Hatcere kxuia?” siǃa tsitsa’a ha. Xabe Hilifa ǀoa nǁan tcinǀui, te ha taqe kokxuisi ǃahina ha ǀ’hui nǃangsi, “Koara nǂoma. Koara nǂoma.” Ha re naun ǃ’uian ha ǀ’ae ko ka ha taqe ǃai, Ha nǃoo. Koere ha ǃxoana? Koere ha hoa mari kota ‘m?
Hilifa walked to school thoughtfully. He couldn’t join in the chatter and games of his friends as they walked along. “What’s wrong?” they asked him. But Hilifa couldn’t answer, his mother’s words were ringing in his ears, “No cure. No cure.” How could he look after himself if his mother died, he worried. Where would he live? Where would he get money for food?
Hilifa koh nǀanga ha banga khoea. Ha nǀang ǀxoa banga ǃ’o nǃaoa sa ǁaq’in ha nǀang te kui ǀxoa ha gǃausi. “Koara nǂom. Koara nǂom.” “Hilifa? Hilifa, a re ge ǀxoa eǃa?” Hilifa se tsau, Ms Nelao koh nǃunga ha ǁ’hansi. “Tsau Hilifa mi tsitsa’a re koh o hatce?” Hilifa se khauru ha ǀkaisih. “A ǀoa hoa ǁoaqsi ko koa gǂaehke!” Ha nǁa ǀxoa ka ko nǃhai kokxuia, “Magano, ǃoa Hilifa ko ǁoaqsi.” Hilifa tokhom. Ms. Nelao cinniha ǀoa ǃxahin ha ko ǁ’ae sa o Kxaice.
Hilifa sat at his desk. He traced the worn wood markings with his finger, “No cure. No cure.” “Hilifa? Hilifa, are you with us?” Hilifa looked up. Ms. Nelao was standing over him. “Stand up Hilifa! What was my question?” Hilifa looked down at his feet. “You won’t find the answer down there!” she retorted. “Magano, tell Hilifa the answer.” Hilifa felt so ashamed, Ms. Nelao had never shouted at him before.
Hilifa ǁ’ha tih ko nǃo’oma. Pause ǁ’aea ha koh nǀanga klasnǃang. “Mi kxae nǃang ǁ’an” ha ji ǀ’an ha ǂarasi. Ka koh ǀoa o jia nǃa’an, ha tsa’a ǀkae ta’msi, ha nǃoo ta’msi ku nǂai ǃahian ha nǀai nǃang nǃana zoo sa taun. Ms. Nelaoa ǂ’auce se ha. Ha tsitsa’a ha te ko hatce re o tih? “ǀoa o tci nǀui ,” ha koe nǁae. Ha ǀ’huisi tsa’a ǁ’hui kota nǃoo t’amsi ko ha dohmnǃang. Ha gǀa’asi ho koaq to’a he ha koh ǂ’aun gǃam.
Hilifa struggled through the morning. At break time he sat in the classroom. “I have a stomach ache,” he lied to his friends. It wasn’t a big lie, he did feel sick, and his worried thoughts buzzed inside his head like angry bees. Ms. Nelao watched him quietly. She asked him what was wrong. “Nothing,” he replied. Her ears heard the tiredness and worry in his voice. Her eyes saw the fear he was trying so hard to hide.
Ka Hilifa nǁuri du somarasi okaa nommerasi khu ǁ’uhmi nǁhoo ha nǀai. Ha ǀoa ǁaea ka ko tca gǂa’in ko ka ha gǃoa ka. Ha nǃo’o ka ǂani. Oka ha cinniha ǂ’ang ha taqe. Ha gǃausi coa ka nǂaisea tcia ha ǂ’ang. Ha kurua ha taqe ko ha gǃahm khoea. Ha kuru ha ǀ’ae ka ha nǃua ha taqe ǁ’ao. “Somarasi se se kxao, nǀhui ǁkaeǁkae ǂxaunusi,” ǃ’au nǃarohkxao di, Nelao. Hilifa hoa ha ǂxaunu ko tcia kuru ka ǀ’aesi te kare ǂxaunu ǃahbia toa ǁae ǁaq’in gǃxa. Xabe nǂoan ka koara. Jua ku se koh ha ǂxaunu te tani ua nǃarohkxao di, Nelao.
When Hilifa tried to do his maths the numbers jumped around in his head. He couldn’t keep them still long enough to count them. He soon gave up. He thought of his mother instead. His fingers began to draw his thoughts. He drew his mother in her bed. He drew himself standing beside his mother’s grave. “Maths monitors, collect all the books please,” called Ms. Nelao. Hilifa suddenly saw the drawings in his book and tried to tear out the page, but it was too late. The monitor took his book to Ms. Nelao.
Nǃarohkxao di Nelao se Hilifa ǁ’a ha tekensi. Ka da’abi ǂ’aun ua tjuǀho ha ǃ’au, “Hoe gǀae Hilifa. Mi kare a nǂoahn ǀxoa.” “Hatce re o tih?” Ha tsitsa’a ha. Aia ǀkae. Ha ǃoa mi te ko ha te kxae AIDS. Ha re ǃai?” “Mi ǀoa ǃ’han Hilifa, xabe ha nǃobe ǀkae ka, ha kxae AIDS. Nǂom koara. “Ko kxuisa ke ce te,” Nǂom koara. Nǂom koara.” Hilifa coa te tjin. ” Ua tju, Hilifa,” ha koe nǁae, ” Mi gǀae ǀhoo a taqe.”
Ms. Nelao looked at Hilifa’s drawings. When the children were leaving to go home she called, “Come here Hilifa. I want to talk to you.” “What’s wrong?” she asked him gently. “My mother is ill. She told me she has AIDS. Will she die?” “I don’t know, Hilifa, but she is very ill if she has AIDS. There is no cure.” Those words again, “No cure. No cure.” Hilifa began to cry. “Go home, Hilifa,” she said. “I will come and visit your mother.”
Hilifa ua tju te gǀae ho ha taqe te ha ge te nǀoan ‘msa o gǁore gasi. “Mi koh nǀoan ǀ’an a ko ǀam-a he, Hilifa, xabe mi ka nǃobe nǁhuin. Se nǃuubu ǁxara nǀang nǀhui ka gesin nǀang tani ua tamate gesin ko tora. Siǃa ku nǂai ǁ’ama ǀ’an mh ko ka,” Ka gǁore ǂuan Hilifa ua nǃu’ubu ǁxara khoea. Ha se nǂuhnkxaia toa o nǃuubu ǂ’uasia, nǂuhnkxaia gǃan o tamate kota kherri ga, caǃhu sa gǂa’ina ǀauhn kota spinashi sa ǀauhn, nǀuubuǀauhn sa o ca gasi kota camaga ǃae gǂa’ina sa gǀan ǂaqbe. Ha tcaq ka te khau tamate nǀai ǃae ko tani ua tora.” Hatcere nǃa’an ǀxoa ǁxara ka ha taqe ǃai?” Ha ko nace.
Hilifa went home and found his mother preparing lunch. “I’ve cooked for you today, Hilifa, but now I am very tired. Look after the vegetable garden and take some tomatoes to the shop. They will sell them for us.” After lunch Hilifa went to the vegetable plot. He looked at the bright colours of the vegetables, bright red tomatoes and chillies, long green beans and dark green spinach, the green leaves of the sweet potato and tall golden maize. He watered the garden and picked a bag full of ripe red tomatoes to take to the shop. “What would happen to their garden if his mother died?” he wondered.
Nǃarohkxao di, Nelao kua tsi gǀae ko ǁ’ae to’a he Hilifa koh u. Ha tsi gǀae ge te nǂoahn ǀxoa ha taqe ko ǁ’aea gǂa’in. Ha tsitsa’a Hilifa ǁ’a ha taqe “Aia Ndapanda a re ku tchi nǀom sa ke o AIDS gasi woa?” “ǁ’Aea to’a he mi ǃ’hoan ǃai mi koh kaice tokhom ǀ’an doko ua,” ha koe ǃoa kxui nǃarohkxao di, Nelao. “Mi koh cinniha ǂom tca mi te ǀoa gu ka. Te ǁ’aea mi koh ǀkae he ua doko ha ǃoa mi te ko mi te kaice lata. Nǀom te kaa ǀoa hui mi.” Nǃarohkxao di, Nelao ǃoa aia Ndapanda ko tca ha ǂ’au do ka hui Hilifa.
Ms. Nelao arrived soon after Hilifa left. She spent a long time talking to his mother. She asked Hilifa’s mother, “Meme Ndapanda, are you taking the medicine for AIDS?” “After my husband died I was too ashamed to go to the doctor,” she told Ms. Nelao. “I kept hoping I wasn’t infected. When I became ill and went to the doctor she told me it was too late. The medicine would not help me.” Ms. Nelao told Meme Ndapanda what to do to help Hilifa.
ǁ’Aea Hilifa gǃa tjuǀho ha taqe tsitsa ha, “Hilifa, mi ǃ’han, mi kare ka mi nǂhao ǀxoa a. Are ca hui mi? “Hilifa gu ha taqe ǂ’han te ha taqe gǀani ha. Sa nǂhao ua koa ǃahin sa kxae tsausih gǃai’a. Ha tsitsa’a ha, “Are ciniha ǂ’ang ǁ’ae sa a ǁu’un ǀxoa a tsu Kunuu ko buru ko khuinke? A koh ǁu ǀ’ua buru ko ǃahin ǃka te buru gǀae nǃham ǁua ǃ’hu. A ba gǀae du khauru ǀ’an itsa ko ha.”
When Hilifa came home his mother asked him, “Hilifa, my son, I want to take a walk with you. Will you help me?” Hilifa took his mother’s arm and she leaned on him. They walked to where the tall thorn trees grew. She asked him, “Do you remember playing football here with your cousin Kunuu? You kicked the ball into the tree and it got stuck on the thorns. Your father got scratched getting it down for you.”
“Se, nǀang nǂaq to’a. Gǀae khau ka gesin nǀang tani ua tjuǀ’ho.” Ka Hilifa khau nǀang, ha taqe ko, “A re ǂ’ang ce ǁ’aea a koh o da’amǃo he koh sin ‘m ǀxoa nǀang ko ka ǃosi. A ǀoa ua tzi ko beke nǀe’e!” “Ee, mi gǃu ko nǃobe khui,” ǂ’ang ce Hilifa, ha dshi.
“Look, there’s an omandjembere bush. Go and pick some to take home.” When Hilifa was picking the sweet berries, she said, “Do you remember when you were small you ate the berries and the seed inside. You didn’t go to the toilet for a week!” “Yes, my stomach was sooo sore,” remembered Hilifa, laughing.
ǁ’Aea sa ua tjuǀ’ho Hilifa ǁ’a taqe koh kaice ǁ’hain. Hilifa nǀoan ti. A Ndapanda gu gǀxa boksi ma ko gǃahm ǂaba nǃang. “Hilifa ka ke o a ga. Tcisa gea boksia he ǁ’a nǃang ku nǂai ǂ’ang a ko kore a ǁama.”
When they got home Hilifa’s mother was very tired. Hilifa made some tea. Meme Ndapanda took a small box from under her bed. “Hilifa, this is for you. In this box are things that will help you remember where you come from.”
Ha gǃxa ǁ’aua ko boksi nǃang, te nǀhui coe tci nǀe’e nǀe’esi. “Fotoa ke a ba ǁ’ae. A hin ko o ha ǃ’han o kxaice. Fotoa ke o ǁ’aea mi ko gu a he tani ua a ko a txun sa a ǃu-nǃa’an si ǃkasi koh kaice nǀang. Ka ke a tzaua o kxaice gǀai. A re ǂ’ang tca a koh oo tjian he mi koh ǀoa tca ka gesin te ceka gǀa’i, khuin a ba koh oo ǁ’aea mi koh ko barah o kaice ǁama ǁ’aea tsa nǀhuia khoe.”
She took the mementos out of the box one by one. “This is a photo of your father holding you. You were his firstborn son. This photo is when I took you to see your grandparents, they were so happy. This is the first tooth you lost. Do you remember how you cried and I had to promise you that more would grow. This is the brooch your father gave me when we were married for one year.”
Hilifa ǁae ǂe’a ha ǀ’ae ko boksi te tjin. Ha taqe nǃahma ǂ’ea ha ǀ’ae ko ha ǁae ǀxoma te koe nǁae. “Ka ni kxoe nǀang ǃxu ge ǀxoa a nǀang ǃ’uin a.” Ha nǃahma ha te koe nǁae. “Hilifa mi ǃ’han. A ǃ’han tca mi te ho mi ǀ’ae te ǀkae, ǁ’ae to’a mi ka gǀae ge ǀxoa a ba. Mi ǀoa kare ka a ǃka ta’am ǀkau. ǂ’Ang tca mi koh oo area a. ǂ’Ang nǀang ǃ’han ko a ba te ho ha ǀ’ae te are a.”
Hilifa held the box and began to cry. His mother held him close by her side and said a prayer, “May the Lord protect you and keep you safe.” She held him as she spoke. “Hilifa, my son. You know that I am very ill, and soon I will be with your father. I don’t want you to be sad. Remember how much I love you. Remember how much your father loved you.”
Ha taqe cinniha nǂoahn, “A tsu Kave he gea Oshakati ku xoana ǁkoa ǀ’an m ko mari. Ha ǃoa mi te ko ha te ku ǃ’uin a. Mi nǂoahn ǀxoa ha ko ka tci oa. A m ku ua ǀxoa skore ko Kanuu, ha ǃ’han. Kanuu gea xraat 4 nǃana a. Si ǁau ka ǃ’uin a.” “Mi are mi tsu Kave kosin gǁaq Muzaa,” Hilifa koe nǁae. “Mi are Kanuu kui ǀxoa. A re nǃhae jan ka si ǃ’uin a?” “In’in, mi ǃ’han. Mi ǀu gǀae jan. A ǁau te ǃ’uin mi. Mi ǃka nǀa’ng ko ka mi kxae ǃ’han jan.”
His mother continued, “Uncle Kave from Oshakati sends us money when he can. He told me that he will care for you. I have talked to him about it. You’ll go to school with Kunuu, his son. Kunuu is in Grade 4 like you. They will take good care of you.” “I like Uncle Kave and Aunt Muzaa,” said Hilifa. “And I like playing with Kunuu. Would you become well if they look after you?” “No, my son. I won’t become well. You look after me very well. I am proud to have such a good son.”
Nǃoo ko skore Ms. Nelao nǃaroh si ko HIV kosin AIDS. Da’abi koqa. Siǃa koh tsa’a tca ke ko radio nǃang, Te ju ǀoa nǂoahn ka ko tjuǀho. “Kore ka ǁama?” Magano koe tsitsa’a. “Ju re noun gua ka?” Hidipo tsitsa’a Ms. Nelao nǂoahn ǂ’asara ǀ’an siǃa ko tca HIV te o ka ǀkae ǃu. Te ka ju kxae HIV ǀkaea, ka gea ǀ’ang ǃka ka ǃkuia nǃang sin. “Ka sin ku ǀkau u kahin ju ko ha te kxae AIDS.”
The next morning at school Ms. Nelao taught them about HIV and AIDS. The learners looked afraid. They heard about this illness on the radio, but no-one spoke about it at home. “Where does it come from?” asked Magano. “How do we catch it?” asked Hidipo. Ms. Nelao explained that HIV is the name of a virus. When a person has the HIV virus in their blood they still look healthy. “We say they have AIDS when they become ill.”
Ms. Nelao nǂoahn ǂ’asara ǀ’an siǃa ko tcin ǁ’a ǀkaea ku oo gǃa’am ju. “Ka ju nǀui kxae HIV kosin AIDS ju ǃ’ha ǁama ǁ’a ǀkaea ko ǀ’ang khoea. Kahin m ǀu ǁkaea ǀ’arisi kosi tzausi ǃaiansi. Ka m nǂai ǁkoa ǂarasi, naqnisi, ǀ’ari kosin ǁaqma ǁkae. Ha nǂoahn ǂ’asara tca kahin ju oo nǂai ǁkoa ǀ’arisi kosin naqni te ju ǂ’aun nǂai gaqaua ka.” Ka mi kxae ǀ’habihe ka tcaq ǀ’ang ǂ’aun ka ju ǃaeǃae se ǀxoa a ko ka. “Ju ǂ’aun ka ju ǃ’o ǀ’habi tzi, ko kaǃ’uian,” ha koe nǁae.
Ms. Nelao explained some of the ways we can be infected with HIV. “If someone has HIV or AIDS we can catch the virus from their blood. We should never share razors or toothbrushes. If we get our ears pierced we must use sterilised blades and needles.” She explained how needles and blades should be sterilised. “If we hurt ourselves and there is blood we must ask an adult to clean the wound. We must cover the wound to protect it,” she told them.
ǁAma ha nǂai sea siǃa ko ǂxaunu ǃahbi nǃa’an. “Nǃam woanqn sa ke ku nǁae ka a ǀoa gu HIV.” Ha koe ǃoa siǃa. “Ha ǀoa gu HIV ko ǁama tzi tju nǀe’e nǂai ǁkoa, kana gǃu ǁka tjua nǀe’e. Nǃahma khoe, tzi ǂ’oma kana tzxama khoe ko gǃausi ǁkae ǀxoa jua kxae HIV kosin AIDS ka to’a ciniha sin jan. Ka sin jan ko ku nǂai ǁkoa kopisi kosin nǀusi ǁkae ǀxoa jua kxae HIV kosin AIDS. Te a cete ǀoa ho ka ko ǁama nǂhai kosin gǃo’o khoea. A cete ǀoa ho ǁama ka ko ǁama gǃunǃangzaqni nǃaisi gǂuha kosin tzin kana tcaqau.”
Then she showed them a chart. “These are all the ways you can’t catch HIV,” she told them. “You won’t get HIV from using the toilet, or sharing a bath. Hugging, kissing or shaking hands with someone with HIV or AIDS is also safe. It’s OK to share cups and plates with someone who has HIV or AIDS. And you can’t catch it from someone who is coughing or sneezing. Also, you can’t get it from mosquitoes or other biting insects like lice or bedbugs.”
“A re du hatce ko a ho ka?” Magano tsitsa’a. “Nǀang tia iǃa ǃ’uin iǃa ǀ’aesi nǀang ǁau ku ‘m ‘m jansin. Se ‘msi ǂxaunua nǃa’an,” ha koe nǁae. “Hajoe re ǂ’ang ce ‘msa jan ǀ’an ha?” Ha koe nǁae.
“What do you do if you’ve got it?” asked Magano. “Well, you must take care of yourself and eat lots of healthy food. Look at our food chart,” she said. “Who can remember what food is good for you?” she asked.
Ka Hilifa gǃa tjuǀho ha ǃoa ha taqe ko tca ha nǃaroh ko ǀama to’a. “Nǃaroh kxaodi Nelao koh ǃoa siǃa ko HIV kota AIDS kota tca ju oo ǃ’huian jua ǀkae. Magano kota Hidipo ku u hui ǀxoa ha ko ǃaoh ǁkxoasi ka kahin siǃa gǀae du ǁxae skore ǁkxoasi,” khuian ha oo ǃoa ha.
When Hilifa got home he told his mother what he had learned at school that day. “Ms. Nelao told us about HIV and AIDS and how to look after someone who’s ill. Magano and Hidipo are going to help me with my chores and we will do our homework together,” he told her.
Gǃoa he hin toa Magano tcoh tsi huia Hilifa ko gǃu haqre. Hidipo hui ǀxoa ha ko da’a ǃ’hu. Te kahin siǃa gǀae gǃoo ǁxaea kaqe din ka du skore ǁkxoasi.
That afternoon Magano came and helped Hilifa to fetch water. Hidipo helped him to gather firewood. Then they sat and did their homework in the shade of the marula tree.
Nǃarohkxao di Nelao xabe ǃoa jusia ǃxoana toma Hilifa tca ha te xabe ǃ’huin ha taqe. Siǃa xabe ǃoa ha te ko siǃa te hui ha. Gǀu nǀui waqnke ju ǁaqinǁaqin gesin sa ǃxona toma hoh gǀae ǀxoa ‘msa ǁ’un ka si ‘m. Hilifa ǁ’ae nǀui waqnke ku ǀ’an siǃa ku nǃwu’ubumisa ǁama ha ǁxara.
Ms. Nelao had also told Hilifa’s neighbours that he was looking after his mother. They had promised to help him. Every night a different neighbour came with hot food for them to eat. Hilifa always gave them some vegetables from the garden.
ǀAm o skore toansi Hilifa ǁ’a ha ǃka koh nǃobe nǀang. Ha koh ǃaah gǃa tjuǀho ǁ’a ha gǃa nǂai sea ha taqe ko skore raportah. Ha ǃaah gǃama darah nǃang te ǃ’au, “Aia. Aia. Se mi skore raportah. Mi ho ‘A’, ‘A’, kota ‘A’ sa ǂ’hai.” Hilifa ho ha taqe te ha cua gǃahm ǀho. “Aia!” ha ǃ’au. “Aia! Tsau!” Ha ǀoa tsau.
On the last day of the school term Hilifa was very happy. He ran home to show his mother his report card. He ran into the yard calling, “Mum. Mum. Look at my report card. I have got ‘A’, ‘A’, and more ‘A’s’.” Hilifa found his mother lying in bed. “Mum!” he called. “Mum! Wake up!” She didn’t wake up.
Hilifa ǃaah ua jusa ǃxoana toma sa. “Mi taqe. Mi taqe. Ha ǀoa tsau,” ha tjin. Jusa ǃxoana toma u ǀxoa Hilifa ko ǃaoh te hoa Ndapanda di nǃa’an ko gǃahm ǀho. “Ha ǃai, Hilifa,” siǃa koe nǁae ǀxoa ǃka ta’m ǀkai.
Hilifa ran to the neighbours. “My Mum. My Mum. She won’t wake up,” he cried. The neighbours went home with Hilifa and found Meme Ndapanda in her bed. “She is dead, Hilifa,” they said sadly.
Nǃoosi nǂoahn gǃai ko tca Ndapanda di nǃa’an te ǃai. ǃAoh gǃaian kxae juasi, jusa ǃxoana toma kota ǂarasi. Siǃa ǀxom ǀ’an Hilifa ǁ’a ha taqe te ge’e tsisi. Siǃa nǂoahn tci jansisa siǃa koh ǃhan ǀxoa ha.
Very quickly the news spread that Meme Ndapanda was dead. The house was full of family, neighbours and friends. They prayed for Hilifa’s mother and sang hymns. They talked about all the good things they knew about her.
ǁAq Muzaa nǀoa ǀ’an ǀoo kxao wecesi. Tsu Kave ǃoa Hilifa te ko siǃa te tani ce ua ha ko Oshakati ko ka kxuni ku toan. Ha txun koh nǂoahn ǀ’an ha ko ha taqe ko ka ha koh o dshauma.
Aunt Muzaa cooked for all the visitors. Uncle Kave told Hilifa that they would take him back to Oshakati after the funeral. His Grandfather told him stories about his mother when she was a little girl.
Ko kxuni khoara Hilifa koh ua kerka gǀa’a nǃang te ǃoa ju nǀui wece ko ha taqe tci ooa. “Aia koh are mi te koh ǁau ku ǃ’uin mi. Ha ǃoa mi te ko mi ǁau nǃaroh nǀang khoa ho ǁkoa jansin. Ha koh kare ka mi ǃka nǀang. Mi nǃaroh gǀaoha ka ǁkoa gǀaoha ka ha ǃka nǀang ǀxoa mi.”
At the funeral Hilifa went to the front of the church and told everyone about his mother. “My mother loved me and looked after me very well. She told me to study hard so that I could get a good job. She wanted me to be happy. I will study hard and work hard so that she can be proud of me.”
Kxuni toansi tsu Kave kota ǁaq Muzaa hui Hilifa ko tcisi ǁxaeǁxae ka tani ua Oshakati. “Kunuu ku kxoa ǂara ze ko gǀa’a nǃang,” si ǃoa ha, “E ǃ’huin ǂoan a ko e ǀ’aeha ǃ’han.” Hilifa ǁau nǂai ge tju te ǂxuru ǀxoa siǃa ko teksi.
After the funeral Uncle Kave and Aunt Muzaa helped Hilifa to pack his things to take to Oshakati. “Kunuu is looking forward to having a new friend,” they told him. “We will care for you like our own son.” Hilifa said goodbye to the house and got into the taxi with them.
Written by: Kandume Ruusa, Sennobia-Charon Katjiuongua, Eliaser Nghitewa
Illustrated by: Jamanovandu Urike
Translated by: Cwi Debe, Tsemkxao Cwi, Gǂkao J. B. Kxao, Kileni A. Fernando, Festus Soroab, Sylvia Fernandu, Kaqece Khallie N!ani
Read by: Cwi Debe, Gǂkao J. B. Kxao, Kaqece Khallie N!ani, Kileni A. Fernando, Sylvia Fernandu, Tsemkxao Cwi
Language: Ju|’hoansi
Level: Level 5
Source: Orphans need love too from African Storybook
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