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.
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.
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.
Sakima answered, “They just come, mother. I hear them in my head and then I sing.”
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.
“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.
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.
“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?”
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.”
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.
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?”
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.
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
Ursula Nafula
Peris Wachuka
Ruthgela Shawanga, Servasius M. Ndjunga
Thimbukushu
Level 3
