Zazi leliñwi, Shakame neizamaya kwa munanga wa nuka.
One day, Rabbit was walking by the riverside.
Kubu niyona neiliteni, mi neiya kwa kuzamaya-zamaya ni kuyo fula bucwani bobunde bobutala.
Hippo was there too, going for a stroll and eating some nice green grass.
Kubu neisikabona kuli Shakame neiliteñi mi aihata fa lihutu kakusaziba. Shakame yakala kuomanya Kubu, “Wena Kubu! Hauboni kuli unihatile fa lihutu, nji?”
Hippo didn’t see that Rabbit was there and she accidentally stepped on Rabbit’s foot.
Rabbit started screaming at Hippo, “You Hippo! Can’t you see that you’re stepping on my foot?”
Kubu yakupa swalelo ku Shakame. “Uniswalele. Nenisikakubona! Nakupa, uniswalele luli.” Kono Shakame nasalati kuteeleza zeo mi azwelapili kuhuweleza ni kuomanisa Kubu, “Uezize kamabomu! Zazi leliñwi ukabona! Ukalifa!”
Hippo apologised to Rabbit, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you. Please forgive me!”
But Rabbit wouldn’t listen and he shouted at Hippo, “You did that on purpose! Someday, you’ll see! You’re going to pay!”
Shakame yayobata mulilo ni kuubulela kuli, “Zamaya, uyocisa Kubu aikazwa mwa mezi kuyofula bucwani. Neinihatile!” Mulilo waalaba, “Hakuna butata, Shakame mulikani. Nikaeza kamo kupezi.”
Rabbit went to find Fire and said, “Go, burn Hippo when she comes out of the water to eat grass. She stepped on me!”
Fire answered, “No problem, Rabbit, my friend. I’ll do just what you ask.”
Kasamulaho, Kubu neifula bucwani kwahule ni nuka mi, “Mawee!” Mulilo wa lyakama kutuka hahulu. Malimi a mulilo akala kucisa booya bwa Kubu.
Later, Hippo was eating grass far from the river when, “Whoosh!” Fire burst into flame. The flames began to burn Hippo’s hair.
Kubu yakala kulila mi yamatela mwa mezi. Booya bwa yona kaufela nebucisizwe ki mulilo. Kubu yaekeza kulila, “Booya bwaka bucisizwe ki mulilo. Booya bwaka kaufela buile. Booya bwaka bobunde!”
Hippo started to cry and ran for the water. All her hair was burned off by the fire.
Hippo kept crying, “My hair has burned in the fire! My hair is all gone! My beautiful hair!”
Shakame neitabile kuli booya bwa Kubu nebucile. Mi ni kacenule, kakusaba mulilo, Kubu aiyangi kwahule ni mezi.
Rabbit was happy that Hippo’s hair was burned.
And to this day, for fear of fire, the hippo never goes far from the water.
Basilio Gimo, David Ker
Carol Liddiment
Christabel Songiso, Akombelwa Muyangana
SiLozi (Zambia)
Level 2
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