Uyu ni Khalai. Afite impala irindwi. Izina rye risobanuye “umwiza” mu ururimi rwe, Lubukusu.
This is Khalai. She is seven years old. Her name means ‘the good one’ in her language, Lubukusu.
Khalai abyuka akavugana n’igiti cy’icunga. “Mbabarira giti cy’icunga, kura ubunini unaduhe amacunga ahiye menshi.”
Khalai wakes up and talks to the orange tree. “Please orange tree, grow big and give us lots of ripe oranges.”
Khalai ajya kw’ishuri. Munzira avugisha icyatsi. “Mbabarira cyatsi, kura uba icyatsi kurushaho kandi ntiwume.”
Khalai walks to school. On the way she talks to the grass. “Please grass, grow greener and don’t dry up.”
Khalai aca ku indabyo zagasozi. “Mbabarira ndabyo, komeza mushibuke (muzane indabyo) mbashyire mu umusatsi wange.”
Khalai passes wild flowers. “Please flowers, keep blooming so I can put you in my hair.”
Kw’ishuli, Khalai avugisha avugisha igiti hagati mu mbuga. “Mbabarira giti, mera amashami manini kugirango tuge dusomera mutsi y’igicucu cyawe.”
At school, Khalai talks to the tree in the middle of the compound. “Please tree, put out big branches so we can read under your shade.”
Khalai avugisha uruzitiro iruhande ry’ishuri rye. “Mbabarira ukure ukomere ukomere abantu ntibinshire.”
Khalai talks to the hedge around her school. “Please grow strong and stop bad people from coming in.”
Iyo Khalai agarutse murugo kuva kw’ishuli, asura igiti cy’icunga. “Amacunga yawe yari yera?” Khalai arabaza.
When Khalai returns home from school, she visits the orange tree. “Are your oranges ripe yet?” asks Khalai.
Khalai ariruhutsa, “Amacunga yawe aracyari icyatsi.” “Nzakubona ejo giti cy’amacunga,” Khalai aravuga. “Wenda uzaba unfitiye icunga rihiye!”
“The oranges are still green,” sighs Khalai. “I will see you tomorrow orange tree,” says Khalai. “Perhaps then you will have a ripe orange for me!”
Ursula Nafula
Jesse Pietersen
Patrick Munyurangabo
Kinyarwanda
Level 2
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