A child’s illness causes fatigue to the child’s mother.
liyeti = fever.
vetembe = fatigue.
Iya = my mother; Mama.
njiya wuva = the way to a latrine; to go to a latrine
tande/li-tande = to carry someone on the laps.
Yasi nanu: Ngando was about twelve years old when he had a serious attack of fever.
He was restless. Groaning continuously, he said:
"Iya oo !
I am thirsty.
I want to drink water".
(“Iya oo ! e-nyisa maliva; ono mbgwe maliva ma li-nyo)
His mother helped him to drink water.
"Iya oo !
Let me rest on your laps".
(Iya oo ! ono tande”).
His mother complied.
"uu, uu !
Iya oo !
Carry me on your back".
His mother complied.
"Iya oo !
I want to go to the latrine".
(“Iya oo ! nasa lende o-njiya wuva”)
His mother carried him to the latrine.
"uu, uu, uuuu !
Iya oo !
I have pains in the stomach.
I need enema treatment quickly".
(“Iya oo ! luunga ! ono songe).
His mother complied
Ngando's mother, Ejose could not eat or fall asleep while Ngando was in pains. Within a week, she lost so much weight, that some of her friends who came to see Ngando inquired if Ejose too was very sick.
In response, the grandmother of Ngando the sick child explained quietly:
“Ejoso is not sick.
It is fatigue she is suffering as a consequence of the illness of her son that has caused her to loose much weight.
Since her son fell sick,
Ejose scarcely eat.
She does not fall asleep”).
“Ejoso aso-ka eki !
e-nyambe yamba mwa-ne-ni,
yondi emu ngise nau !
e-Mwaana ae-lembe-ya mosiyo nau,
Ejose ase-meya li-la moleli;
asa-nanga i-jo.
wenga a-veni li-gbwe-eya. !
liyeti la mwaana, vetembe ve Nyango !
nanu ndi ese eveli.
(“A child’s illness causes fatigue to the child’s mother. This how/what the World is”).
"Liyeti la Mwaana, vetembe ve Nyango"
Literally:
The misfortunes, the mistakes and the reckless behaviour of children cause serious suffering in various forms, such as fatigue, disappointment, disgrace, stress to their parents.
Oma nanu.
Imba
Mola Mbua Ndoko
P.o Box 38 Buea, South West Province
Cameroon, West/Africa.
Email:[email protected]
Website: http://www.mbuandoko.com
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