Ehokololo olya tamekwa pethimbo lyonalenale sho aantu niinamwenyo ya li haa kala pamwe. Pethimbo ndyoka, aantu kaya li ye na uuthemba okulongitha omulilo. Oya li haa li iikulya iiyihu. Nkoshi oye awike a li e na uuthemba womulilo.
This story starts in the old times when animals and people lived together. In those days people did not have the right to fire. They ate their food raw. Only Lion had the power of fire.
Aantu niinamwenyo oya gongala ya konge ondunge. “Otatu ningeni ngiini tu mone omulilo kuNkoshi opo tu teleke iikulya yetu?” osho ya pula. Oya tokola ya tegelele sigo kwa toko e taa tameke okwiimba nokwiimba nokuhakela nokuhakela, taa ithanathana. “Ileni tu dhaneni. Ileni tu dhaneni. Ileni tu dhaneni.”
The people and the animals came together to make a plan. “What can we do to get the fire from Lion so that we can cook our food?” they asked.
They decided to wait until evening and started singing and singing, clapping and clapping, calling everyone together.
“Come dance with us.
Come dance with us.
Come dance with us.”
Iinamwenyo oyindji oya hituluka mo miihwa e tayi ya yi wayimine uudhano noondjimbo. Nkoshi okwa etelele iiti ye yokudhiga omulilo. Okwa dhigi nokudhiga. Mbalambala kohi yiiti okwa tameke okutsina okalwithi. Nkoshi okwa fudhile okalwithi, ta gwedhele po oomwiidhi gwa kukuta. Okamulilo oka tema nakehe gumwe okwa eta oshikuni a tule peziko. Omulilo ogwa yeta naayehe oya li taa ndanisa kooha dheziko.
Many animals came from the bush to join in the dancing and singing. Lion brought his fire sticks. He rubbed the sticks, rubbed and rubbed. Soon a little smoke appeared beneath the sticks. Lion blew on the smoke and added some dry grass.
A little flame appeared and everyone brought a piece of wood. Soon everyone was dancing around a fire.
Okalimba oka li ka kotoka ko ohaka endelele. Aantu oya lombwele Kalimba ya ti: “Manga tatu imbi ye mpano naNkoshi ta ndaanisa natse, ngoye yakula po iiti ye yomulilo e to fadhuka po nayo.” Kalimba okwa yakula po iiti yaNkoshi yokudhiga omulilo e ta fadhuka po. Ine shi pondola, shaashi Nkoshi okwe mu tidha e ta kutha ko iiti ye.
Rabbit was a cunning and fast animal. The people said to him, “While we are singing here and while Lion is dancing with us, you must take his fire sticks and run.”
So Rabbit grabbed Lion’s fire sticks and ran. He did not make it because Lion caught up with him and brought the fire sticks back.
Nkoshi okwa tameke ti imbi eimbilo tali negana: “Kungame kashi na naanaa eyooloko. Ngame kandi na uupyakadhi. Otandi vulu oku ku lya wu na omafufu, otandi vulu wo ndi ku lye po waa na omafufu. Ngame kandi na uupyakadhi. Kungame ne amuhe iikulya.
The lion sang a boastful song:
“To me it does not matter.
I don’t have a problem.
I can eat you with hair,
I can eat you without hair.
I don’t have a problem.
All of you are food to me.”
Omenye ohayi tondoka ondapo yo ohayi nuka. Aantu oya ti komenye, “Manga Nkoshi ta ndaanisa ye ti imbi pamwe natse, ngoye yakula po iiti ye yokudhiga omulilo e to fadhuka po.”
Springbok could run and jump very fast. The people said to him, “While Lion is dancing and singing here with us, you must grab his fire sticks and run.”
Manga taa dhana nokwiimba, omenye oya yakula po iiti yokudhiga omulilo e tayi nuka po e tayi thenene moluhwa. Ihe Nkoshi okwa ti, “Omolwashike kaandi uvite we okolokoto-kopa, kolokoto-kopa yomakondo gaMenye konima yandje?”
When they were dancing and singing, Springbok grabbed the fire sticks and jumped away into the veld. But Lion said, “Why do I not hear the clippety-clop clippety-clop of Springbok’s hooves behind me?”
Nkoshi okwa lengalenga e ta mono omenye tayi tondoka yu uka miihwa niiti yawo yokudhiga omulilo. Okwe yi tidha e te yi kwata, okwa kutha ko iiti ye yokudhiga omulilo. Okwa tameke ishewe okwiimba eimbilo lye tali negana.
Lion turned and saw Springbok running into the veld with his fire sticks. So he ran after Springbok, caught him and came back with his fire sticks.
Again, Lion sang his boastful song.
Aantu oya tameke taa nongonenathana e taa ti, “Natu puleni okapundja, okashona ko oke na ondapo.” “Kapundja,” osho ye mu lombwele “Manga Nkoshi ti imbi ye ta ndanisa mpaka, ngoye yakula po iiti ye yokudhiga omulilo e to fadhuka po nayo.”
Then the people whispered to each other. They said, “Let us ask Duiker. He is small and very fast.” “Duiker,” they said, “while Lion is dancing and singing here with us, you must grab his fire sticks and run away.”
Manga taa ndanisa pomulilo, Kapundja okwa yakula po iiti yaNkoshi yokudhiga omulilo e ta fadhuka po. Nkoshi okwa ti owala, omolwashike kaandi uvite we onkoloto-nkoloto yaKapundja konima yandje ngaashi shito?” Okwa lengalenga e ta tidha Kapundja ngoka a adhika ta lafauka melundu. Nkoshi okwe mu kwata e ta kutha ko iiti ye.
When they were dancing around the fire, Duiker grabbed Lion’s fire sticks and ran into the veld. But Lion said, “Why do I not hear Duiker snort-snorting behind me as before?”
He turned around and chased after little Duiker who was leaping into the veld. Lion caught up with him and returned to the fire with his sticks.
Natango Nkoshi okwa tameke okwiimba eimbilo lye tali negana. “Kungame kashi na unene sha. Ngame kandi na wo nando uudhigu. Otandi vulu oku ku lya wu na omafufu. Otandi vulu wo oku ku lya waa na omafufu. Ngame kandi na uupyakadhi. Kungame ne amuhe iikulya.”
Again, Lion sang his boastful song.
“To me it does not matter.
I don’t have a problem.
I can eat you with hair,
I can eat you without hair.
I don’t have a problem.
All of you are food to me.”
“Oh!” Aantu osho ya keme, “Nena oshinamwenyo oshini ihe ano tashi vulu oku tu kwatha? Ompo oyo yi na omagulu omale, natu yi puleni.” Oya fatululile Ompo ondungedhiladhilo, noya yakula po iiti.
“Oh,” sighed the people, “Which animal can help us now? Ostrich has the longest legs of all, let us ask him.” They explained the plan to Ostrich and he grabbed Lion’s fire sticks this time.
Onkoshi oya ti, “Omolwashike kaandi uvite we ewi lyompo tali imbi mokule konima yandje?” Okwa lengalenga e ta mono ompo e te yi tidha.
Lion said, “Why do I not hear Ostrich’s high singing voice behind me anymore?” He looked around, saw Ostrich and chased after him.
Konima yethimbo ele, Nkoshi okwa galuka noshipala tashi ulike eloloko, oshoka ompo ohayi matuka ondapo onene yi vule yayo. “Okuza tuu konena ndjika,” onkoshi tayi ti, “Itandi mu ethele we evululuko tuu nande. Otandi kala tandi mu kongo, e tandi mu tidha, e tandi mu li po!” Opo pwa za Nkoshi a ninga omutondi gwakehe gumwe, yo naantu ya mono wo oonkondo okulongitha omulilo.
After a long time, Lion returned with a tired face, for Ostrich ran too fast for him. “From this day on,” he said, “I will not leave any of you alone. I will hunt you and chase you and eat you!”
And this is how Lion came to be everyone’s enemy and how people got the power of fire.
Traditional San story
Manyeka Arts Trust
Rachel Nandjembo
Rachel Nandjembo
Oshindonga
Level 4
