Ngingumbala

woju

Le ncwadi ngeka

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Ngingumbala woju
Original title: I’m the colour of honey
Illustrated by Caroline Faysse
Written by Maïmouna Jallow
Designed by Charné Casey
Edited by Alison Ziki
Translated by Nonkululeko Nhlapo
with the help of the Book Dash participants in Johannesburg on 26 October 2019.
ISBN: 978-1-77623-067-9
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Caroline Faysse     •     Maïmouna Jallow     •     Charné Casey

Igama lami ngingu-Amanda. Ngihlala noMama noBaba wami kanye nenja yami uPorsha.
UBaba wami uthi ngingumbala woju.
UMama yena uthi ngimuhle kuhle kwelanga liyoshona.

Kodwa angifani nabo bobabili. UPorsha nje kuphela unombala omdaka njengami!

Uma sizikhiphile abantu bavame ukusibuka, noma babuze imibuzo eminingi.

“UBabekazi wakho lowo?” kubuza owesimame esitolo.

Cha!

UMama wami.

“Ngabe uThisha wakho?” kubuza owesilisa epaki.

UBaba wami.

“Kungani ungafani nabo?”

“Yingoba ngingumbala woju. Futhi ngimuhle kuhle kwelanga liyoshona.”

“Kodwa uBaba wakho ngathi isibhakabhaka ebusuku,” kusho lo wesimame esitolo.
“Kanti uMama wakho umhlophe kuhle kwephepha elingabhaliwe,” kusho owesilisa epaki.

“Kungani  wena uhlukile?”

Ngosuku olulandelayo ngithwala ithawula ekhanda, ngiligoqa kahle njengoba uMama ahlale enza ngezinwele zakhe.
“Ubabekazi wakho lowo?” kubuza owesimame esitolo.

“Cha! UMama wami.”

Ngigijime ngaya ekhaya ngathola upende omnyama. Ngawubhixa ebusweni bami.

“Wamuhle upende ebusweni,” kusho owesilisa epaki. Ukhomba ubaba wasebuza, “Ngabe uthisha wakho?” kubuza owesilisa epaki.

“Cha!  UBaba  wami.”

Izinyembezi zami zivele zawususa upende.

“Kungani ngingafani  nani, mama  nawe baba?”

“Amanda, ngibonise ukumamatheka kwakho, lokhu okufana nokukaBaba wakho.”
Angifuni ukumamatheka.
“Hawu Amanda, buka isifaca sakho, sihle, njengesikaMama wakho!”

UMama noBaba bangenza ngimamatheke kanti nami ngibenza bamamatheke!
“Buka!” kusho mina, “Amazinyo ami amhlophe njengawenu.”
“Yebo, futhi inhliziyo yakho ibomvu, njengezethu.”

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