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A boy singing in front of a woman.

Dimbo dyaSakima Sakima's song

Written by Ursula Nafula

Illustrated by Peris Wachuka

Translated by Ruthgela Shawanga, Servasius M. Ndjunga

Read by Ruthgela Shawanga

Language Thimbukushu

Level Level 3

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A man, a woman, a boy and a girl standing outside a hut and some trees.

Sakima ghatungire nawakuru wendi naminendi ghomukamadi. Awo hatungire pananda dhakatughuru ghonyami. Ndhuwo dhawo dhomuhonyi dhakarere kughuhura ghombadi dhomiyira dhoyitondo yokukuranda.

Sakima lived with his parents and his four year old sister. They lived on a rich man’s land. Their grass-thatched hut was at the end of a row of trees.

A boy thinking about when he was ill in bed.

Apa ghakarire Sakima myaka dhihatu, ghakorwire noghatuyukire meho ghendi. Sakima ghakarire mungaghu ghoghutari thikuma.

When Sakima was three years old, he fell sick and lost his sight. Sakima was a talented boy.

A boy talking to three women.

Sakima ngatendanga yinu yoyingi eyi ngapiranga kutenda harumyana homyaka kwokofotji. Thitamenedhi, aye ngahungamananga nohakuru homumukunda nokukuvureka yinu yomudyo.

Sakima did many things that other six year old boys did not do. For example, he could sit with older members of the village and discuss important matters.

A boy and girl waving to a man and woman leaving.

Hakuru waSakima ngaharughananga mudighughumbo dyanyami. Ngahatundanga mudighumbo mathikuthiku nokahuka runguro thikuma. Sakima ngathigharanga naminendi ghomukamadighana.

The parents of Sakima worked at the rich man’s house. They left home early in the morning and returned late in the evening. Sakima was left with his little sister.

A boy singing to a woman.

Sakima ghahakire kwimba membo. Diyuwa dimweya nyina ghamwipurire, “Kupi ghunakuhongeranga agha membo, Sakima?”

Sakima loved to sing songs. One day his mother asked him, “Where do you learn these songs from, Sakima?”

A boy talking with a woman.

Sakima ghahuthire eshi, “Ghakushughumuka ghakunigheranga vene, nawe. Ame kughayuva mumutwi wange nokughemba.”

Sakima answered, “They just come, mother. I hear them in my head and then I sing.”

A boy singing to a girl smiling.

Sakima ghahakire kwimbera minendi, thikumapo, apa ngafanga kanyombwe. Minendi ngamuteghereranga edi ghanakwimba dimbo dyendi edi ghahakire thikuma. Aye ngakunyunganyunganga kodi dimbo dyomungeya ghokumuhengaghura.

Sakima liked to sing for his little sister, especially, if she felt hungry. His sister would listen to him singing his favourite song. She would sway to the soothing tune.

A boy sitting and a girl standing next to him.

“Sakima, kukona ghudinimbire karo ndi,” dyongamukandereranga minendi. Sakima ngatawanga nokudimuhukurukera karo rorwingi.

“Can you sing it again and again, Sakima,” his sister would beg him. Sakima would accept and sing it over and over again.

A sad-looking man and woman sitting with their heads in their hands and a boy and girl next them.

Runguro rumweya apa hakahukire hakuru wendi kudighughumbo, mbadi haghambaghurire. Sakima ghadimukire eshi poyidi yoyiyi eyi yinakakahokoka.

One evening when his parents returned home, they were very quiet. Sakima knew that there was something wrong.

A boy talking to a man and woman and a girl standing next to them.

“Ukutu munye ghudipo, nawe, tate?” Dyoghepuririre Sakima. Sakima ghayuvire eshi mwana nyami ghomungaghu ne ghanayongara. Oyu nyami ghayuvire dingungwa noghatokotire.

“What is wrong, mother, father?” Sakima asked. Sakima learned that the rich man’s son was missing. The man was very sad and lonely.

A boy talking to a woman with her arms crossed and a man.

“Ame kukona nikamwimbere. Pamweya ñanyi ghakashamberere karo,” dyoghatongwerire Sakima hakuru wendi. Ene hakuru wendi hamunuthire. “Ayene mutungi thikuma. Owene ghomungaghu ghomukunga vene. Edi ghunakughayara eshi dimbo dyoye ñanyi dikamughamwene ndi?”

“I can sing for him. He might be happy again,” Sakima told his parents. But his parents dismissed him. “He is very rich. You are only a blind boy. Do you think your song will help him?”

A girl with her hand on her tummy talking to a man, a woman and a boy.

Ngambikemo, Sakima mbadi ghakuhupwerire. Minendi ghamukwatithireko. “Membo ghaSakima ne kunihengaghura shemwa ngeshi amene ndhara. Membo ghapo ñanyi ghakahengaghure oya katughuru yoshemwa, kukona ghakahengaghure oya katughuru ghomutungi.”

However, Sakima did not give up. His little sister supported him. She said, “Sakima’s songs soothe me when I am hungry. They will soothe the rich man too.”

A girl leading a blind boy with a stick through a forest.

Diyuwa dyokurandako, Sakima ghepuririre minendi ghamutware kunanda dhamutungi.

The following day, Sakima asked his little sister to lead him to the rich man’s house.

A boy standing outside a building singing to a man looking out of the window, and a girl standing next to him.

Ghemanine pamuve dhodikende dyodikuru dyondhugho noghatangire kwimba dimbo dyendi edi ghahakire thikuma. Katekandhi, mutungi ghashwaghithire mutwi wendi padikende diya dishokuru.

He stood below one big window and began to sing his favourite song. Slowly, the head of the rich man began to show through the big window.

A boy singing outside a building singing to a man looking out of the window, and a girl and some workers standing next to him.

Harughani hashaghekire eyi harughanine. Hateghererire kudimbo dyoditowi dyaSakima. Ene katughuru yofotji ghaghambire eshi, “Noyofotji temba oyu ghatwetha kuhengaghura nyami. Oyu mungaghu ghomukunga ne kunakughayara eshi ñanyi ghatwethe kumuhengaghura ndi?”

The workers stopped what they were doing. They listened to Sakima’s beautiful song. But one man said, “Nobody has been able to console the boss. Does this blind boy think he will console him?”

A man standing outside a building calling a boy and girl walking away.

Sakima ghamanine kwimba dimbo dyendi noghapirukire ghathighuke. Ene mutungi ghashwaghire wangu nokuninga eshi, “Nakanderera, wimbe karo.”

Sakima finished singing his song and turned to leave. But the rich man rushed out and said, “Please sing again.”

Two men carrying a boy on a stretcher towards a man standing next to a boy and girl.

Panako dhodho, hatutughuru hawadi heyire hanadhamuna munu pathirongo. Awo hashekire mwana mutungi hanandasha nokumuthigha kumbadi dhombadi dhothitavura.

At that very moment, two men came carrying someone on a stretcher. They had found the rich man’s son beaten up and left on the side of the road.

A man standing between two boys in hospital beds and a girl standing in front of him.

Mutungi ghashamberire thikuma pakumona mwanendi karo. Gharuwerire Sakima kumahengawero. Munyima, ghatwarire mwanendi naSakima kuthipangero podigho eshi mboghamone karo.

The rich man was so happy to see his son again. He rewarded Sakima for consoling him. He took his son and Sakima to hospital so Sakima could regain his sight.

Written by: Ursula Nafula
Illustrated by: Peris Wachuka
Translated by: Ruthgela Shawanga, Servasius M. Ndjunga
Read by: Ruthgela Shawanga
Language: Thimbukushu
Level: Level 3
Source: Sakima's song from African Storybook
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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