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Nyimbo ya Sakima Sakima's song

Written by Ursula Nafula

Illustrated by Peris Wachuka

Translated by Sitwe Benson Mkandawire

Read by Christine Mwanza

Language Nyanja

Level Level 3

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Sakima anali kukhala ndi makolo ake ndi mlongo wake wa zaka zakubadwa zinai. Anakhala pa malo a munthu wolemera, Nyumba yao inali ya udzu pothera pa mzere wa mitengo.

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.


Pamene Sakima anali ndi zaka zitatu, anadwala ndipo anakhala wa khungu. Sakima anali ndi matalanta.

When Sakima was three years old, he fell sick and lost his sight. Sakima was a talented boy.


Sakima anali kukwanitsa kuchita zinthu zambiri zomwe ana a zaka zisanu ndi cimodzi sankakwanisa kuchita. Mwachisanzo, anali kukhala ndi anthu akalu a m’mudzi ndi kukamba zinthu zofunikira.

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.


Makolo a Sakima anali kusewenza pa nyumba ya bambo wolemera. Anachoka panyumba m’mamawa ndi kubwelela kunyumba. Sakima anali kukhala ndi mlongo wake.

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 anakonda kuimba nyimbo. Tsiku lina, amai ake anamufunsa, “kodi uphunzira kuti nyimbo izi, Sakima?”

Sakima loved to sing songs. One day his mother asked him, “Where do you learn these songs from, Sakima?”


Sakima anayankha, “zimabwela chabe, amai. Ndimazimvela m’mutu mwanga ndipo ndimaziimba.”

Sakima answered, “They just come, mother. I hear them in my head and then I sing.”


Sakima anakonda kuimbira mlongo wake wam’gono, makamaka ngati anali wokwiya. Mlongo wake anamvelera ku nyimbo yake yapa mtima. Anatothozedwa.

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.


“Imbanso, Sakima,” mlongo wake anamupempha. Sakima ankavomela ndi kuimbanso mobwelezera.

“Can you sing it again and again, Sakima,” his sister would beg him. Sakima would accept and sing it over and over again.


Tsiku lina pamene makolo ake anbwelera ku nyumba, anakhala chete. Sakima anadziwa kuti kunali vuto.

One evening when his parents returned home, they were very quiet. Sakima knew that there was something wrong.


“Kodi nichani chalakwika, amai, atate?” Sakima anafunsa. Sakima anamvela kuti mwana wa bambo wolemera anasowa ndi bambo wake anali ndi chisoni.

“What is wrong, mother, father?” Sakima asked. Sakima learned that the rich man’s son was missing. The man was very sad and lonely.


“Ndingawaimbire. Angakondwerenso,” Sakima anaudza makolo ake. Koma makolo ake sanamuvokeze naye. “Ndi munthu wolemera kwambiri. Iwe uli wa khungu chabe. Uganiza kuti nyimbo yako izamuthandiza?”

“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?”


Angakhale conco, Sakima sanaleke. Mlongo wake wamng’ono anamupatsa mphamvu. Iye anati, “Nyimbo za Sakima zimandirimbikitsa pamene ndiri okwiya. Zizalimbikitsanso bambo wolemera.

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.”


Tsiku lotsatirapo, Sakima anapempha mlongo wake kumupeleka ku nyumba ya bambo wolemera.

The following day, Sakima asked his little sister to lead him to the rich man’s house.


Anaimirira pa pafupi ndi dzenera ndi kuyamba kimba nyimbo yake yapa mtima. Posachedwa, mutu wa bambo wolemera unayamba kuonekela pa dezenera lalikulu.

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.


Anchito analeka zomwe anali kuchita. Anamvesela ku nyimbo ya Sakima yabwino. Koma bambo wina anati, “Kulibe omwe anakwanisapo kutonthoza akulu anchito. Kodi mnyamata wakhungu uyu aganiza kuti azawatonthoza?”

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?”


Sakima anasiriza kuimba nyimbo yake ndipo anatembenuka kufuna kubwerera kunyumba. Koma bambo wolemera atuluka naumuuza nati, “Chonde, imbanso nyimbo.”

Sakima finished singing his song and turned to leave. But the rich man rushed out and said, “Please sing again.”


Pa nthawi yomweyo, amuna awiri anabwera apo anyamula munthu. Anali anapeza mwana wa bambo wolemerayo atamenyedwa ndi kusiyidwa pambali pa mseu.

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.


Bambo wolemera anakondwera kwambiri kuona mwana wake. Anapatsa mphatso kwa Sakima powatonthoza. Anapereka mwana wao ndi Sakima ku chipatala kuti Sakima akayambe kuonanso.

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: Sitwe Benson Mkandawire
Read by: Christine Mwanza
Language: Nyanja
Level: Level 3
Source: Sakima's song from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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