Ahale hale bugali, ŋaaliŋo abahaana
badatu abatiina ohutenya ekwi.
A long time ago, three girls went
out to collect wood.
Ni bahena ohutenya ekwi,
olw’ebbugumu batiina mu lwabi
ohwebbomba.
Batagiha ohwebbomba n’ohugudula
ni baswanyusaniaho amaaji.
It was a hot day so they went down
to the river to swim.
They played and splashed and
swam in the water.
Baja ohuhebulira obwire ni bubitire.
Nga baŋiitaho ohwagama engo.
Suddenly, they realised that it was
late.
They hurried back to the village.
Ni baali ni banatere ohwola engo,
nga Nanjoosi geyabaaba mu
mamiro. Ng’afania ati gaali
gebiriyeyo embira jije! Ng’alomba
abahye ati, “Bahyange muuje
hwagameyo keje embira jange!”
Aye abameeri babe nga baloma
baati “Obwire bubitiriiye bugali.”
When they were nearly home,
Nozibele put her hand to her neck.
She had forgotten her necklace!
“Please come back with me!” she
begged her friends.
But her friends said it was too late.
Ng’aŋo Nanjoosi gaagamayo hu
lwabi yekani.
Gageene embira jije era geŋiitaho
ohwagama engo coka gaagota
engira mu hiirema.
So Nozibele went back to the river
alone.
She found her necklace and hurried
home.
But she got lost in the dark.
Ni gaali nagenda galengera enjase
ni yiŋwera mu hatiira.
Gaŋiitaho ohutiina eyaali enjase era
ni goola ng’akokona hu lwigi.
In the distance she saw light
coming from a hut.
She hurried towards it and knocked
at the door.
Ehyamweŋunjisa embwa
nj’eyegulaŋo olwigi. Era nga
yimubuusa yiiti, “Wenda hiina?”
Nga Nanjoosi agobolamo ati,
“Ngotire era nenda ehifo
aŋohuŋenyuha.” Ng’embwa
yimuloma yiiti, “Yingira mangu ni
kiri huhuluma!” Nga Nanjoosi
gengira.
To her surprise, a dog opened the
door and said, “What do you want?”
“I’m lost and I need a place to
sleep,” said Nozibele.
“Come in, or I’ll bite you!” said the
dog.
So Nozibele went in.
Ng’aŋo embwa yiroma yiiti,
“Piiyire!”
Nga Nanjoosi ayirima ati, “Ese
sipiiyarangaho mbwa,”
Ng’embwa yimuloma yiiti, “Nyiiya,
nyiiya ni kiri huhuluma!” Ng’aŋo
Nanjoosi anyiiyira embwa ebiryo.
Then the dog said, “Cook for me!”
“But I’ve never cooked for a dog
before,” she answered.
“Cook, or I’ll bite you!” said the dog.
So Nozibele cooked some food for
the dog.
Ng’embwa yiloma Nanjoosi yiiti,
“Njalire obuliri!” Nga Nanjoosi
ayiroma ati, “Ese sinalirangaho
mbwa obuliri.”
“ Ng’embwa yimuloma yiiti, “Yaala,
yaala obuliri, ni kiri huhuluma. Nga
Nanjoosi gaala obuliri.
Then the dog said, “Make the bed
for me!”
Nozibele answered, “I’ve never
made a bed for a dog.”
“Make the bed, or I’ll bite you!” the
dog said.
So Nozibele made the bed.
Every day she had to cook and
sweep and wash for the dog.
Then one day the dog said,
“Nozibele, today I have to visit
some friends. Sweep the house,
cook the food and wash my things
before I come back.”
Amangu dala embwa ni yahatiina,
Nanjoosi gahunyula obufiiri budatu
ohuŋwa hu mutwe gugwe. Ng’ata
halala mu makuliiti, ng’ata ahandi
egongo w’olwigi, n’ahandi mu
hiraalo. Ng’aŋo ko aŋwanjuha
embiro ng’olu aŋanga gaagama
engo.
As soon as the dog had gone,
Nozibele took three hairs from her
head.
She put one hair under the bed, one
behind the door, and one in the
kraal.
Then she ran home as fast as she
could.
Embwa ni yagaluha yendula
Nanjoosi ni yibbuhulya yiiti,
“Najoosi, oli ŋeena?” Ng’ahafiiri
ahaali mu makuliiti haloma haati,
“Ndi ŋano, ŋano mu makuliiti.”
Ng’ahafiiri ahandi hoosi haloma
haati, “Ndi ŋano, ŋano emugutu
w’olwigi.” “ Nga n’ahandi hoosi
haloma haati, “Ndi ŋano, ŋano mu
hiraalo. ”
When the dog came back, he looked
for Nozibele.
“Nozibele, where are you?” he
shouted.
“I’m here, under the bed,” said the
first hair.
“I’m here, behind the door,” said the
second hair.
“I’m here, in the kraal,” said the
third hair.
Ng’aŋo embwa yimanya yiiti
Nanjoosi aponyohire. Nga yiduluma
yirondaho. Aye yageene ababoojo
ba Nanjoosi ni bayeteegire
n’agasimbo ageene agabba!
Embwa ni yababona nga yicuuhaŋo
yiduluma yagamayo era ohuŋwa
hwolwo sebonehanga nundi.
Then the dog knew that Nozibele
had tricked him.
So he ran and ran all the way to the
village.
But Nozibele’s brothers were
waiting there with big sticks.
The dog turned and ran away and
has never been seen since.
