Sikunino somama kwa kere somutaro, kwa zulire yilya, rukokotwa, ntani kawandja. Nye yoyiwa unene eyi ya vhulire kukara mo kwa kere mabanana. Nampili ngomu va kere omama asi kwa kere novatekuru wovanzi, na divire mokahorehore asi nyame va here po unene. Nkenye siruwo ngava zigida nge kembo lyawo. Awo va vhulire kutantera nge ko yimwe yemehoramo. Nye ko li li ehoramo limwe eli va dilire kutantera nge: oku ngava pungura mabanana yipo ga pye.
Grandma’s garden was wonderful, full of sorghum, millet, and cassava.
But best of all were the bananas.
Although Grandma had many grandchildren, I secretly knew that I was her favourite. She invited me often to her house. She also told me little secrets.
But there was one secret she did not share with me: where she ripened bananas.
Ezuva limwe tani mono sikumba sosinene vana tura pomutenya ponze zembo lyomama. Apa na pulire asi yisinke yangoso, elimbururo tupu na gwene kwa kere asi, “Esi kuna kara sikumba sange soupure.” Pepi nosikumba, kwa kere ko yihako yomabanana eyi va piragwira omama mwaza siruwo. Ame kwa here kudiva asi yisinke. “Yihako yasinke, mama?” Yimo na pulire. Elimbururo eli na gwene kwa kere, “Ayo yihako yange youpure.”
One day I saw a big straw basket placed in the sun outside Grandma’s house. When I asked what it was for, the only answer I got was, “It’s my magic basket.”
Next to the basket, there were several banana leaves that Grandma turned from time to time. I was curious. “What are the leaves for, Grandma?” I asked. The only answer I got was, “They are my magic leaves.”
Eyi kwa kere sili yininke yoyiwa kutarera omama, mabanana, yihako yomabanana ntani sikumba sosinene. Nye omama tava tumu nge ni ze ugenda konane. “Mama, nina kanderere pulisireni nge yipo ni vhure kutarere apa muna kurongikida…” “Wa ha kara muhezuvhu, munona, rugana moomu vana kukutantera,” yimo va pamperekedere. Yipo na tamekere kuduka.
It was so interesting watching Grandma, the bananas, the banana leaves and the big straw basket. But Grandma sent me off to my mother on an errand.
“Grandma, please, let me watch as you prepare…”
“Don’t be stubborn, child, do as you are told,” she insisted. I took off running.
Apa na ka tengwire, omama awo kuna hingire ponze nye kapi vana kara nosikumba ndi mabanana. “Mama, kupi ko sikumba, kupi ko mabanana nagenye, ntani kupi…” Nye elimbururo eli na gwene kwa kere, “Nayinye mo yi li mevega lyange lyoupure.” Eyi kwa gusire nge sili mukumo unene.
When I returned, Grandma was sitting outside but with neither the basket nor the bananas.
“Grandma, where is the basket, where are all the bananas, and where…”
But the only answer I got was, “They are in my magic place.” It was so disappointing!
Konyima zomazuva gavali, omama tava tumu nge ni ka rete mpango zawo zokugendesa monzugo zawo. Tupu na zegurura ngesi muvero, kwa tambura nge edumba lyenene lyomabanana gana pi nawa. Monzugo zomonda kwa kere mo sikumba sosinene soupure somama. Aso kwa si horekere sili nawa konhi zonguho zokukurupa. Ame tani si damuna nokufumbwira edumba eli lyorupekwa.
Two days later, Grandma sent me to fetch her walking stick from her bedroom.
As soon as I opened the door, I was welcomed by the strong smell of ripening bananas. In the inner room was grandma’s big magic straw basket. It was well hidden by an old blanket. I lifted it and sniffed that glorious smell.
Omama ezwi lyawo kwa zigidire nge nosinka, “Yisinke ono ku ya rugana? Genderera ko nokureta mpango zange.” Ame yipo na genderere kupwaga ni tware mpango zokugendesa. “Yisinke ono kumenya-menyena?” Yimo va pulire nge omama. Epuro lyawo kwa ninkisire nge ni dimburure asi ame kwa menya-menyene, morwa menongonono lyevega lyawo lyoupure.
Grandma’s voice startled me when she called, “What are you doing? Hurry up and bring me the stick.”
I hurried out with her walking stick. “What are you smiling about?” Grandma asked.
Her question made me realise that I was still smiling at the discovery of her magic place.
Ezuva lya kweme ko apa va wizire omama va ya dingure onane, Ame yipo na zire usimbu kembo lyawo ni ka tare nawa hena mabanana. Ago kwa kere moyitungu yago nagenye gokupya nawa. Tani damuna limwe ntani tani li horeke mohema zange. Apa na swikire sikumba hena nawa, tani zi usimbu konyima zembo ntani tani li usimbu. Eli kwa kere ebanana lyoutovara unene na dira kumakera rumwe.
The following day when grandma came to visit my mother, I rushed to her house to check the bananas once more.
There was a bunch of very ripe ones. I picked one and hid it in my dress. After covering the basket again, I went behind the house and quickly ate it. It was the sweetest banana I had ever tasted.
Ezuva lya kweme ko, awo omama mosikunino kuna kutoragura yikwahidi, ame tani henduka hena yipo ni ka zunze mabanana. Momu-momu tupu hambara nagenye gana pi. Eyi kwa tumangedere nge ni guse nagenye gane, monzira zange zokundjakaika ngano ni ze kevero, tani zuvhu omama vana kukohora ponze. Ame na vhulire kuhoreka nawa mabanana monda zohema zange ntani tani lipiti nawo.
The following day, when grandma was in the garden picking vegetables, I sneaked in and peered at the bananas.
Nearly all were ripe. I couldn’t help taking a bunch of four.
As I tiptoed towards the door, I heard grandma coughing outside. I just managed to hide the bananas under my dress and walked past her.
Ezuva lya kweme ko kwa kere ezuva lyoyirandeswa. Omama kwa pindukire kulivinduka. Awo nkenye apa ngava twara mabanana gokupya ntani kawandja va ka randese komarandesero. Kapi na kere mongenderera zoku ka va dingura ezuva olyo. Nye eyi kapi ya vhulire kuninkisa nge asi ni dire ku ka va dingura siruwo sosire.
The following day was market day. Grandma woke up early. She always took ripe bananas and cassava to sell at the market.
I did not hurry to visit her that day. But I could not avoid her for long.
Konyima zongurova zina ame kwa zigidire onane notate, ntani omama. Ame na yi divire nare asi morwasinke. Masiku gezuva lina neyi na zire ni ka rare, na yi divire asi ngani lifira hena kuvaka, kapisi komama, ntani hena kapisi kovakurona vange, ntani nokovantu tupu wokulikarera.
Later that evening I was called by my mother and father, and Grandma. I knew why.
That night as I lay down to sleep, I knew I could never steal again, not from grandma, not from my parents, and certainly not from anyone else.
Ursula Nafula
Catherine Groenewald
Valentin Mpasi
Rukwangali
Level 4
