Transcript for "Life of the girl child"
Speaker: Celestine Muhuyi
Sawa.
Okay
Muriena.
How are you?
Esese mumasina bandanga bali Celestine Natenge Muuyi.
My name is Celestine Natenge Muuyi.
Omukhana omusonge.
From the Basonge clan.
Omuliche namwe nokana omumwalie.
From the Baliche or Bamwalie clan.
Ngamwa ebakiabi balia nelikenda saine kumusi cha asubui.
I am married to the Bakiabi who are strong people.
Esese nenyile ndosiekho limenya lia sai khubana besikhana.
I want to talk about the girls' life at the moment.
Yaba khale.
Long ago.
Abele bana besikhana bamenya bulayi.
Girl's used to live very well.
Bakhula bola enju.
They could mature to marriage age.
Ata babakholela kimilukha nebacha enju.
They would even perfom some rituals for them to get married.
Lakini khulimenya lia sai.
But in the current life.
Bana be sikhana batibishe mwelekeo.
Girls' have lost the direction.
Bana sabamanya bakhole sina ta.
The children (girls') they don't know what to do.
Esese nga wamenya nekukhu wase.
Me, as someone who lived with my grandmother.
Omuloosi.
Old woman.
Kanjikiakho namwe kangeleseliangakho nga omwana wesikhana akhoye amenye.
She showed me how a girl child should live.
Kaba kasima sana.
She loved me very much.
Sikila esese ewefwe naba namba sita.
Because I was the sixth child in my family.
Mala naba omwana omwangu oli ekhisi.
And I was as fast as an antelope.
Abele ndumikha
I would be depended on..
Ata nekichile engo mubasiange boosi.
When she would come home and among my peers.
Nalomakho ali kamechi musongo mbamo.
When she would say there was no water in the water pot.
Aba mbukule kumupira
I would immediately take the jerrican.
Ndimile chimbilo paka musebele nderere kukhu kamechi.
I will rush to the stream and bring water to grandmother.
Nono liakila kasima.
That made her to love me.
Mala lundi kasomia bindu bikali.
And she taught me so many things.
Bilanjetanga musibala sia sai.
Which are helping me in the current world.
Nangendosia ndi seli bali esese ndi omundu omukhulu ta.
I am not a mature person as I speak.
Ndosia busa endindi khubela nasoma bindu bikali.
I speak this way because I have learnt many things.
Khwama khukukhu wase.
From my grandmother.
Mala kanjeta akila nengenda.
She helped me because when I take a walk.
Bandu baloma bali omwana oyu kakhula mungila eli endayi.
People say that that child was brought up in a good way.
Yaba khale
Long ago.
Kukhu wase kakhubolelenga.
My grandmother used to tell us.
Mala nakhusomia akhusomia oli okhusomeselia mulukano.
And when taught, she would teach through tales.
Kanja mwekhale amaika aba mwarere bisokori mumaika.
She would start while we would be seated near the cooking stones fire using the maize cobs.
Liisi liafundelile munju.
Because of lot of smoke in the house.
Naloma ali khwakhikhalekho anje.
She would request we sit outside.
Liisi likholekho oli libomba nekhwicha munju.
For the smoke to reduce then go back in the house.
Oli mucha anje nono yaba khale abele kamafura kano.
When we went outside, long ago something like paraffin.
Khulia busa sakumi na moja anje sa kara.
We would it at 5pm when it was still early.
Nono sakhwinana bali khutime kamafura ta.
We would not care to look for paraffin.
Oli khwarura khwekhala mumusala.
When went to sit under the tree.
Musinyenya
Umbrella tree.
Kuli sibi amuliango wakukhu kumukhono kumukhasi.
Which was close to the door at my grandmother' houses on the left.
Nakukhu aloma ali kukhu yicha khubone.
My grandmother would call me.
Ali niwe omwana niye nasima mubechukhulu bange.
She would say that I was her favourite in her grandchildren.
Na nakhusima busa ta.
I don't just like you for free.
Ewe oli omwana omwangu.
You are a child who is fast.
Oli omwana omurekerefu.
You are a child who pays attention.
Oli omwana orumikha.
You are a dependable child.
Oli omwana oli ne sisa.
You are a kind child
Nekatasango ali ewe onyala walela bafubi.
She would add that I was capable of taking care of orphans.
Nakanja ali eeeh kukhu.
She would begin by saying, eeeh my grandchild
Nachakha ali heeeeh
She would laugh heeeeh!
Kukhu sibala sino.
My grandchild, this world.
Ali yabao khaale.
She would say, long ago
Khaale sana.
Very long ago.
Ali omwana kabao omukhana.
That there was a girl child.
Ali mala omwana omukhana yuno.
That the girl child.
Sakakholanga ekasi ta.
She did not work.
Ali omwana nabenyokha asubui.
That in the morning when they woke up.
Bali singakho bindu.
When asked to wash the utensils.
Ali nono bindu sa bikali bino ese ndamala.
She would complain that the utensils were too many for her to wash.
Acha asinga sikombe silala silala.
She would wash one cup at a time.
Asinga paka yola lanji ata akhalia ta.
She would wash until lunch time without eating
Akhatekha ta.
Not cooked.
Nono kukhu kalomanga ali neyuno mulukano akhamanye arie?
So my grandmoter used to wonder through the tale how she would live.
Ali kakelao mayi wewe kamukhusia nelutende.
It reached a point where her mother brought her up in a delicate way.
Omwana abele bamutelembesia busa oli liki.
The child was handled delicately as an egg.
Omwana satilanga khukasi ta.
The child would not do any work.
Omwana ekasi yewe khukhwinyaa busa biakoko.
The child's work would only to play childish games.
Omwana oli kakhula karura mubiakoko nono akona busa.
The child just started sleeping afer maturing from childish games.
Nakama khukona.
When she got up from sleep.
Nacha busa enje.
She would go outside.
Yesi kemayo busa nga basie nabakhemayo mala kesinga.
Just to hang around like her peers and take a bath.
Nayukha munju.
And come back to the house.
Nono enyanga busia bwasia nako.
They say a new day comes with new things.
Mala esuku yecha nga kakhapangibwe ta.
A day can come different from the expectations.
Bwasia omwana yuno maayi wewe afwa.
The mother to this child died the following day.
Omwana yuno maayi wewe nga kafwa.
When this child's mother died.
Naba papa wewe ayila omukhasi okundi.
The father married another wife.
Arera omubwani onyala kamulinda.
He brought in a woman who would take care of him.
Namwe omubwani onyala kamulolelakho emali yewe.
Or a woman who would take care of his wealth.
Nono nga kecha kanyola omubwani okundi yuno.
When he got another wife.
Omwana yuno kanyola wa.
This child found.
Abele sanyala akhole ariena ta.
She didn't know how to survive.
Sikila omubwani yuno kenya ekasi ya khangu.
Because the new woman wanted work to be done fast.
Kenya omwana orumikhaka.
She wanted a flexible child.
Nomwana omukhana yuno abele sarumikha ta.
This girl child was not flexible.
Nono ali bamuwa bulime bali chawake.
When she was land to go and cultivated.
Nacha kola khumukunda.
She got to the farm.
Anyola bulime bukali.
She found a lot of land.
Nakema nelichembe.
She stood with a hoe/jembe.
Ali buno ndakhola ndie.
She wondered what to do.
Omwana wabene kesinga.
She was beautiful.
Karoba busa oli enyanya namwe endula.
Brown like a tomato or a sodom apple.
Kacha kema muukunda oli kalola eyi kalola eyi.
She went stood in the farm and looked at all the directions.
Sabona ta.
She did not see.
Na maayi wewe kasikha.
And she had burried her mother.
Aba mung'ani.
In the grave.
Nekanja khwimba ali.
She started singng that.
"Maayi nawamba litende bira olime"
"Mother since you brought me up delicately, come and cultivate"
Nga akhola ario.
As she was doing that
Nabona busa maayi kama musilindwa alola eyi neneyi nakama musilindwa.
She saw her mother looking at all the directions and rose up.
Natima chimbilo kecha namuyeta khulima bulime.
She ran over and helped her cultivate the land.
Oli acha engo abolela maayi wewe ali eeh maayi.
When she went home and told her other mother that.
Ali ese kholile khale ekasi nakhalima bulime.
She said,"I have already done the work by cultivating the land."
Maayi wewe ali tawe.
Her other mother did not believe.
"Sowalimilekho bulime ta."
You have not cultivated any land.
"Bulime obwo ewe somala ta."
You cannot finish cultvating that land.
Ali malile.
She said," I completed"
Oli bacha khucheka bulime.
When they went to check the land.
Kang'ali bulime bwawele.
It was true the portion of land was complete.
Oli papa wewe kama khumikhalabani kiewe kiesiku kikila nebanyola ekorokoro abele acha khurunda.
When the father came back from hustling for the daily bread.
Namubolela ali mala musakhulu.
The wife told the husband that.
Bulime nibwo mbele busa omwana we sikoko woo.
The piece of land I gave to your daughter.
Niye olomanga oli omukara yuno.
The one you normaly say is lazy.
Semanyilekho ndi anyala kalima ta.
I did not know she could cultivate.
Ali mala alimile bulime kamala.
That she completed cultivating the land.
Naba aloma.
He then said.
Alimile bulime obwo kamala?
She completed cultivating that portion of land?!
Ali salima kamala ta.
It was impossible to complete it.
Ali muchuli muwekho lundi burio busa nga nibwo omuwele okhatasakho ta.
He demanded her to be given same portion like that day without adding any etra.
Na okharusiakho ta.
"And you should not reduce"
Naba babusia.
When the ollowing day came.
Nawamua bulime obwobwo.
They gave her that portion of the land.
Omwana oyo kecha.
That child came.
Kacha kanywa kamabele ke mumuka.
She went and took calabash milk.
Narekukha nono aba kekule nache alie.
She was satisfied and left to go and cultivate.
Omwana kacha kema khumuka.
The child went and stood on the farm.
Omwana we sikoko yuno kalola eyei kalola eyi sanyala ta.
This girl child looked at all he direction and knew she could not do it.
Nalolela eyi lundi sabona ta.
She looked again but she still realized she could not do it.
Naba kanja ndi alalanganga maayi wewe tu.
She ten started calling on her mother as usual.
Nakanja.
She begun.
"Maayi nawamba litende bira olime"
"Mother since you brought me up delicately, come and cultivate"
"Maayi nawamba litende bira olime"
"Mother since you brought me up delicately, come and cultivate"
Na maayi wewe kecha amulimila bulime.
Her mther came and cultivated the land for her.
Nono baendeleanga sa bario.
So she continued that way.
Mala becha bagundua bali.
And they came to realize that.
Omwana yuno sakholanga khumani kewe ta.
This child did not do the cultivating herself.
Bamuyetanga busa mala aba sisieno.
She used to get help from a ghost.
Nono kukhu nga kenyanga khumbolela namwe khunjokesia.
When grandmother wanted to teach me.
Karumikhilanga chingano.
She used tales.
Balosi bekhale.
Old women from long ago.
Abele sakanja busa ta.
She would not just start.
Awenja lukano lulayi kabisa.
She would look for a good tale.
Nakhwikhasia asi.
She would sit you down.
Nakhupila lukano luno.
Whe she tells you the tale.
Nakhubolela.
She would tell you.
Nono nga kakhupilanga lukano.
When she would tell the tale.
Nakambolela ali wabone kukhu.
She would tell me that.
Nokhuula.
When you grow up.
Nyinga bali okhula ese senyala nabao namwe sekhabeo ta.
Later when you grow up, I might not be around.
Kimiaka kiase kachile.
I am getting old.
Enywe ninywe khamucha ebindu.
You are the ones going to enjoy life.
Okhaba omukara ta.
You should not be lazy.
Sawabona owasio nga kakholanga sisa khumukunda.
"You saw how your peer was struggling on the farm"
Paka kanja khurumikhila bisieno.
Until she started using ghosts.
Ali okhabakho orio ta.
That I should not be like that.
Nono ese nakhekombile khubise bino.
I would like at this moment.
Mbolelel basasi khabarekeria sahi lubukusu luno.
To tell those parents listening to this Bukusu.
Sikila manyile ndi sai bana besikhana bakali batiba.
Because I know at this time many girls are lost.
Sabanyola chisa cha khwikhala ata barekeresie lulomo luno ta.
They do not get the time to listen to these teachings.
Yesiyesi okhoulila nga khendomaloma esuku yaluno.
Anyone who is listening to me speak today.
Esese omukhana mumwalie.
I am from the Bamwalie clan.
Akhoye amanye ali omwana we sikhana seketoratosia ta.
She should know that a girl child should not be weak.
Seketoratosia mukhumbo ta.
She should not be weak in the elbows.
Omwana akhoye akhole ekasi.
A child should work.
Muchui muri nacha enju yewe.
When she gets married tomorrow.
Acha busa enju yewe.
She should get married.
Mala kakhola ekasi.
And work.
Nio ali bayila chikhafu.
So that when they take cows there ( pay dowry)
Bayila busa chikhafu chiunwa chimbofu chola khuno.
They should take strong bulls.
Sabayila bimosi.
They should not take calves.
Bili oli bibusi ta.
That looks like goats.
Omwana nali ali akenda munju.
When a child walks in the house.
Yabechanga khale baloma bali we ndumbu.
Long ago they would say the one with strong legs.
Okenda mungo.
You walk in the home compound.
Sokenda nawibeleteshe ta.
You do not walk weakly.
Kukhu wase kambolelanga ali.
My grandmother used to tell me that.
Okendaka busa araka.
You walk very fast.
Okunya wama muchikoni ocha mubedirumu.
Matching from the kitchen to the bedroom.
Ata omusecha yesi nalolakho aba khosiebula busa enyuma eno ali yuno nanyola.
So that the husbad will look at your shaking behind and say he secured the bag.
Nalola sa nabona.
"I picked the best"
Aba okhomenya limenya lilayi.
You will be living a good life.
Kamechi sekakhoya katamba musongo ta.
Wtater should never lack in the water pot.
Lelo sembara nandi alikhoo sa omwana we sikoko onyala kenyokha sa kacha khusoko.
I do not think there is any girl child who can wake up and go to the market.
Mala kakula busa esongo endayi.
And buy a good water pot.
Kecha sa kara munju.
And put it in the house.
Mala kauna busa.
And wake up early.
Musebele kasomba sa kamechi nende engara yekamaru karuka busa.
To the stream, fetch water and carry it while supporting it with a babana leaf wrap.
Kecha sa karera kamechi munju.
To bring water in the house.
Kenyokha busa asubui kakhasia kamechi.
To wake up in the mornig and warm water.
Kayilila omusecha mwibafu ali yisinga.
And take it to the bathroom for the husband to bathe.
Kalungile chinyenyi namwe katekhile namasaka.
To have prepared traditional vegetables.
Nakhapa epicha yase sembona ta.
I cannot imagine that happening.
Mala sieniesio silakilanga khakhuchenja busa basecha bano oli chingubo chekhumubili.
And that it why we are changing men like body clothes.
Oli muchuli muri.
When tomorrow comes.
Khwanja khuli khaukha kha muniafu.
We will start saying it is HIv/Aids.
Khane fwabene nga khwakhula.
But it will be our upbringing.
Bali yikhala asi.
When they ask you to sit down.
Oli nja wa nani.
You want to go to someones place.
Bali yetakho ekasi.
When they ask you to help with some work.
Oli nabirire.
You say you are past that.
Nono wabirire nosili mwamao!
How can you be past that yet you still live at your mother's place!
Aba okholamo si?
What will you be doing there?
Nosili wiika kimilimo kino.
When you are still young you learn this work.
Nese nga mukhana mukambisi.
Me as an advisor.
Maayi wa babana.
A mother.
Lundi kukhu we babana.
A grandmother.
Lundi omundu umurekerefu.
And someone who pays attention.
Waulilanga chindomo cha babandu banyoa ebuyumbo.
Who listened to stories of the people who wewe born before us.
Ndoma ndi.
I say that.
Sai chino omwana we sikhana nakenya khumenya.
Right now when a girl child wants to live.
Akhoya abe nende ekazi.
She should have a job.
Akhoye atile embako.
She should know how to farm.
Akhoye abe nesikono.
She should have a woven basket.
Akhoye abe nelichembe.
She should have a hoe/jembe.
Akhoye abe neemuka.
She should have a calabash.
Nio nebusia buri.
So that when tomorrow comes.
Yesi kekhala mungo nga omukhasi we mungo.
She should be able to sit at home like a woman of the house.
Nasendabaluilisia nekamakali ta.
I will not make you tired by saying much.
Ese ndi busa ano.
I am just here.
Mbenjanga sa ndi nesomiakho benya kamasomo bamenye muchingo chiabwe.
I look and teach those who want the teachings to help them stay in their marriages.
Ndaendelea busa khusomia.
I will continue teaching.
Muchuli kuri ndaba wa Sudi.
I will be a Sudi's place tomorrow.
Bali simbi yicha mundekereshe.
Those who are close should come and listen to me.
Ese Natenge busa.
I am Natenge.
Lisiina limanisia lili omukhana waloba kumwinyawe okholanga busa ekasi.
The name which means a no nonsense girl who just works.
Ache ebweni.
Moves forward.
Asanti.
Thank you.