Simu ya miloho ya bokuku neli yemakaza, neitezi mabele, mauza ni mwanja. Kono zende kufitisisa kaufela neli makonde. Nihaikekuli bokuku babasali nebanani baikulu babañata, kwamukunda neniziba kuli nebalata na hahulu. Nebanimemanga kwa ndu yabona hañatañata. Neba nibulelelanga nitukunutu. Kono nekunani kunutu iliñwi yene basikanibulelela: kone babuzwisezanga makonde.
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.
Zazi leliñwi, nabona sizuma sene sibeilwe fa lizazi fande andu ya bokuku babasali. Haneni buzize bokuku za musebezi wa sona, kalabo feela yeneni fumani kikuli, “ki kazuma kaka ka mabibo.” Kwatuko ya kazuma, nekunani matali a makonde amañata ao bokuku babasali nebafetulanga nako ni nako. Neni bataluli kuziba. “Matali kiyañi kuku?” Nabuza. Kalabo yene nifilwe fela neli, “Kimatali amabibo.”
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.”
Neku tabisa kubuha bokuku, makonde, matali a makonde ni sizuma sesituna. Kono bokuku baniluma ku boma kuyoeza sesiñwi. “Kuku, nakupa, munisiye ni buhe inge mulukisa…” “Usike waba mwanana wa mahanyi, eza zeu bulelelwa,” batundamena. Senifunduka inge ni mata.
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.
Hanenikutile, bokuku nebainzi fande kusina sizuma kapa makonde. “Kuku, sizuma sikai, makonde kaufela akai mi likai…” Kono kalabo yeneni filwe feela neli, “liinzi mwa sibaka saka sa mabibo.” Neli nto yeneswabisa.
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!
Hase kufitile mazazi amabeli, bokuku baniluma kuyo shimba mulamu wa bona kwa musiyo wa bona. Onafo hanikwaulula sikwalo, naamuhelwa ki munko wobuhali wa makonde asweli kubuzwa. Mwa musiyo nekunani sizuma sesituna sa bokuku sa mabibo. Nesipatilwe hande ki kubo yakale. Seni iapula ni kununka munko womunde kufitisisa.
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.
Linzwi la bokuku lani pundumuna hase banibiza, “ueza sikamañi moo? Uankufe unitiseze mulamu.” Seniakufela fande ni mulamu wa bona. “Kiñi zeumenya?” Bokuku babuza. Puzo yabona yanilemusa kuli nisa menya kabaka la zeniboni mwa sibaka sabona sa mabibo.
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.
Lizazi leli tatami bokuku habataha kutopotela boma, na matela kwandu yabona kuyobona makonde hape. Nekuna ni sikocela sa makonde abuzwize luli. Seninopa li liliñwi nikulipata mwa ndelesi. Hase nikwahezi sizuma hape, naya kwa mulaho wa ndu nikuyoca likonde kabubebe. Neli likonde lelimunati le nisamba nabe nice fateni.
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.
Lizazi lelitatama, bokuku hanebayonga miloho, seni ikuzwa ni nikukena kuyo nangela makonde. Kaufela ona nasabuzwize. Nenisakoni kutuhela kusashimba siñata sa makonde amane. Haninze ni nanalela kwa munyako, nautwa bokuku bahotola fande. Senikona fela kupata makonde mwa ndelesi ni kuba fitelela.
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.
Lizazi lenelitatami neli lizazi la musika. Bokuku nebapakezi. Neba isanga makonde abuzwize ni mwanja kuyo lekisa kwa musika. Neni sikaitahanela kuyo bapotela zazi leo. Kono nenisakoni kuicanganisa bona ka nako yetelele.
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.
Nako yamanzibwani lizazi leo, nabizwa ki boma, bondate ni bokuku. Nenizibile zene banibizeza. Busihu bohaninze nilobezi, naziba kuli anisakona kuuzwa hape, isiñi kubo kuku, isiñi kwa bashemi baka mi hape sihuluhulu kwabatu basili.
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.
