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Kufuukula
Decision
Ursula Nafula
Vusi Malindi
Ruth Kapamba, Mwitila Ntabo
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Pamuzhi wetu panjinga makatazho aavula bingi. Twaimananga mumunongo walepa pakuuba amba tutapule mema kufuma kumupompi umotu.
My village had many problems.
We made a long line to fetch water from one tap.
Twapembelelanga byakuja bitupanga bantu.
We waited for food donated by others.
Twashinkanga mazubo etu bukiji namambo akuchiina bangivi.
We locked our houses early because of thieves.
Baana bavula balekele masukuulu.
Many children dropped out of school.
Banyike babakazhi baingijiilnga makito mumizhi ya bukaboyi.
Young girls worked as maids in other villages.
Banyike babalume bapitañanangatu mumizhi bino bamo baingilanga mumajimi abantu.
Young boys roamed around the village while others worked on people’s farms.
Inge mwela wapuupa, ndochi ya bipepala yanyamukanga nekwikala kubichi ne kuluvimba.
When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.
Bantu bekozhezhenga kumabotolo alajikilenga obatailenga kitaye taye.
People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
Juuba jimo, uno mupompi wameema waumine kabiji tunchinyi twetu twajingatu kwakubula meema.
Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.
Ba taata bapitañene kumazubo abantu nakwibabula amba batanwe kumbuñano ya muzhi.
My father walked from house to house asking people to attend a village meeting.
Bantu basambakenejile pamo munshi yakichi kikatampe kabiji nekuteleka.
People gathered under a big tree and listened.
Ba taata baimene nekwamba amba,” Twafwainwa kwingijila pa kuuba amba tupwishe ano makatazho.”
My father stood up and said, “We need to work together to solve our problems.”
Mwana wa myaka itanu na isatu aye Juma wabijikile amba,” Nakonsha kwimukwasha kuwamisha.”
Eight-year-old Juma, sitting on a tree trunk shouted, “I can help with cleaning up.”
Inetu umo waambile amba,” bainetu bafwainwa kunkwasha kujima byakuja.”
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
Shetu umo waimene nekwamba amba, “ateba babalume tusa kupoya mushima.”
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
Bonsetu twabijikile najiwi jimo amba, twafwainwa kupimpula bwikalo bwetu.” Kufumatu pajoja juuba twaingijilenga pamo nekupwisha makatazho amumuzhi wetu.
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: Ruth Kapamba, Mwitila Ntabo
