IKHAMBO
By Zama Zwane

Copyright -By African Storybook, 2025
This storybook is part of the African Storybook Project and is openly
licensed under a Creative Commons
Attribution.
Author - Zama Zwane
Illustrations - Skye Joseph
Translation - Kenneth Magobane
Copy editing - Lia P-Meyjes
Setting - Bernedette Etchells

UJoseph wehla ngama stepisi ngemva kokobana alindwe ngunina, bona bakhambe bayokuthenga ukudla ngeentolo.

Bathi nabasakhambo nje, kudlula umma ngesitulo esinamathaya sabantu abakhubazekileko. "Mma sihle isitulo lesa nami ngingasithabela" kutjho uJoseph ku nina.

Unina likaJoseph aqolise kumma lo ngesenzo somntwana wakhe, ngemva kwalokho aqale ngakuye amuhlathululele bona angeke akwazi ukumuthengelela isitulo lesi ngombana ngesabantu abaphila nokukhubazeka bokungakwazi ukuzikhambela ngeenyawo zabo bona nabo barhone ukuya lapho bafuna ukuya khona njengabanye. UJoseph avume ngehloko.

Bathe nabasakhambako njalo babona ubaba agadwe yinja yokuqondisa naye atjhinga ngeentolo.

UJoseph athabele inja le khulu begodu abawe kubaba lo bona akhambe adlala nayo ngendlela. Unina alandule amubambe ngesandla bakhambe batjhiye indoda engaboniko nenja yayo ngemva.

"Mma kubayini sikhambile?"kubuza uJosheph. "Msanami leya yinja yokuqondisa"kuphendula unina. UJoseph abonakale ararekile. "Iye msanami ubaba loya akaboni emehlweni kungakho atlhoga inja leya bona imuqondise endleleni nakiyo yoke into ayenzako kungakho bengingafuni bona ukhambe nayo inja leya"kuhlathulua unina. Ujoseph ubonakala azwisisa, baragele phambili nendlela.

Nabasakhambako nje uJoseph ngokumangala godu " mma kubayini abantu abanengi babonakala bangafani nathi?" atjho kunina.

Unina abonakale ahlukumezekile ngombuzo kaJoseph, amuhlalise phasi.

"Mntwanami ngibawa ungilale begodu ungizwisise"kutjho unina.

"Ukhe wazibuza bona kubayini sinawe singafani kodwana ngingumma wakho?Kungombana wamukelwa ngimi usemncani kodwana umntwanami begodu ngiyakuthanda, njengabantu esihlangene nabo namhlanje nabo kunendlela ebahluke ngayo kodwana lokho akutjho bona abakabaluleki" kutjho unina, UJoseph abonakale azwisisa bese unina uyamugona.