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Etokolo
Decision
Ursula Nafula
Vusi Malindi
Fritz David
The audio for this story is currently not available.
Omukunda wange omu na omaudjuu mahapu. Ohatu kala momikweyo dile ngeenge twa ka teka omeva. Okapomba oko, oko akeke oko tu na momukunda wetu.
My village had many problems.
We made a long line to fetch water from one tap.
Ohatu kala twa teelela oikulya yeeshali twe i pewa kovafinghenda.
We waited for food donated by others.
Ohatu pate momaumbo etu kuyele omolweembudi.
We locked our houses early because of thieves.
Ounona vahapu ova fiya po ofikola.
Many children dropped out of school.
Ounona voukadona ohava longo ongovanailonga vomomaumbo komikunda dimwe.
Young girls worked as maids in other villages.
Ounona voumati ohava endaenda oipwaendo manga vakwao hava longo momapya ovanhu vamwe.
Young boys roamed around the village while others worked on people’s farms.
Omhepo ngeenge ya pepe, oimbodi yeembapila ohai kala ya hakela komiti nokomaluumbo eedalate.
When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.
Luhapu ovanhu ohava tetwa koitandu yomakende oyo ya ekelwashi nouhasha.
People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
Fikulimwe okapomba okwa li ka pata itaka di omeva yo vali oikwatelwa yetu yomeva nayo okwa li ya pwa.
Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.
Tate okwa enda eumbo neumbo ta shivi ovanhu koshoongalele shomukunda.
My father walked from house to house asking people to attend a village meeting.
Ovanhu ova ongala momuti umwe wa kula va pwilikine etumwalaka.
People gathered under a big tree and listened.
Tate okwa fikama ndele ta ti, “Otwa pumbwa okulongela kumwe mekandulepo lomikundu detu.”
My father stood up and said, “We need to work together to solve our problems.”
Juma weedula hetatu oo a li omutumba kendangalati lomuti okwa ingida, “Ame ohandi dulu okukwafela kombinga yewapaleko.”
Eight-year-old Juma, sitting on a tree trunk shouted, “I can help with cleaning up.”
Omukulukadi umwe okwa ti: “Ovakulukadi otava dulu oku waimina nge tu ka longe oikulya.”
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
Omushamane umwe okwa fikama ndele ta ti: “Ovalumenhu ohatu ka xupa ondungu.”
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
Atushe otwa ingida newi limwe, “Otwa pumbwa tu lundulule eenghalamwenyo detu.” Okudja efiku olo otwa tameka okulongela kumwe mokukandula po omikundu detu.
We all shouted with one voice, “We must change our lives.”
From that day we worked together to solve our problems.
Written by: Ursula Nafula
Illustrated by: Vusi Malindi
Translated by: Fritz David
