Kalekale koo, basizani babalalu nebaile kwa kulwalela likota.
A long time ago, three girls went
out to collect wood.
Neli lizazi lenelicisize hahulu konakuli sebaya kwa nuka kuyotapa. Neba bapala ni kufasaula ni kutapa mwa mezi.
It was a hot day so they went down
to the river to swim.
They played and splashed and
swam in the water.
Hañi hañi, seba lemuha kuli seli likela. Sebaankufela kwahae.
Suddenly, they realised that it was
late.
They hurried back to the village.
Hase basutelezi kwandu, Nozibele aswala mwa mulala wahae. Nalibezi sifaha sahae sa mwa mulala! “Nikupa kukuta nina!” akupa balikani bahae. Kono balikani bahae babulela kuli seli busihu.
When they were nearly home,
Nozibele put her hand to her neck.
She had forgotten her necklace!
“Please come back with me!” she
begged her friends.
But her friends said it was too late.
Konakuli Nozibele akuta kwa nuka anosi. Ayofumana sifaha sa hae niku akufela kwa ndu. Kono alateha mwa lififi.
So Nozibele went back to the river
alone.
She found her necklace and hurried
home.
But she got lost in the dark.
Kwahule abona liseli lene lizwelela mwa situngu. Saankufela kwateni ni kungongota fa sikwalo.
In the distance she saw light
coming from a hut.
She hurried towards it and knocked
at the door.
Kakukomokisa, Nja yakwalula sikwalo ni kubulela, “Kisikamani seubata?” “Nilatehile mi nibata malobalo,” Nozibele abulela. “Kena, kusicwalo ni kakuluma!” Nja yabulela. Konakuli Nozibele akena mwahali.
To her surprise, a dog opened the
door and said, “What do you want?”
“I’m lost and I need a place to
sleep,” said Nozibele.
“Come in, or I’ll bite you!” said the
dog.
So Nozibele went in.
Cwale Nja seibulela, “Niapehele!” “Kono hanisika apehela kale nja,” a alaba. “Apeha, kusicwalo ni kakuluma!” Nja yabulela. Konakuli Nozibele saapeha lico zeñwi za Nja.
Then the dog said, “Cook for me!”
“But I’ve never cooked for a dog
before,” she answered.
“Cook, or I’ll bite you!” said the dog.
So Nozibele cooked some food for
the dog.
Then the dog said, “Make the bed
for me!”
Nozibele answered, “I’ve never
made a bed for a dog.”
“Make the bed, or I’ll bite you!” the
dog said.
So Nozibele made the bed.
Zazi ni zazi naapehenga, kufiyela ni kutapiseza Nja. Cwale lizazi lelimu Nja yabulela, “Nozibele, kacenu niswanela kupotela balikani baka. Ufiyele ndu, uapehe lico ni kutapisa lika zaka nisikakuta kale.”
Every day she had to cook and
sweep and wash for the dog.
Then one day the dog said,
“Nozibele, today I have to visit
some friends. Sweep the house,
cook the food and wash my things
before I come back.”
Onafo Nja hase ile, Nozibele azusa milili yemilalu kwa toho yahae. Abeya mulili ulimuñwi mwatasi a mumbeta, ulimuñwi kwa mulaho wa sikwalo ni ulimuñwi mwa mulaka. Nikumatela kwandu ka bubebe mwana konela.
As soon as the dog had gone,
Nozibele took three hairs from her
head.
She put one hair under the bed, one
behind the door, and one in the
kraal.
Then she ran home as fast as she
could.
Nja haseikutile, yabata Nozibele. “Nozibele, ukai?” ya huwa. “Kinayo mwa tasi a mumbeta,” mulili wapili wabulela. “Kinayo kwa mulaho wa sikwalo,” mulili wa bubeli wabulela. “Kina yo mwa mulaka,” mulili wa bulalu wabulela.
When the dog came back, he looked
for Nozibele.
“Nozibele, where are you?” he
shouted.
“I’m here, under the bed,” said the
first hair.
“I’m here, behind the door,” said the
second hair.
“I’m here, in the kraal,” said the
third hair.
Nja seilemuha kuli Nozibele na ipumile. Kiha seimata kumatela kwa hae. Kono bahulwani ba Nozibele nebailibelezi ni lipafa zetuna. Nja seifetuha nikubaleha mi haisika bonwa hape kuzwelela foo.
Then the dog knew that Nozibele
had tricked him.
So he ran and ran all the way to the
village.
But Nozibele’s brothers were
waiting there with big sticks.
The dog turned and ran away and
has never been seen since.
