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Nani atahesabu mpaka kumi?
Brigid Simiyu
Salim Kasamba
Kiswahili
Hapo zamani, Mfalme Chui alianza kuwaza juu ya maisha ya usoni.  Alitafakari, "Ninazeeka, na siku moja, nitakufa. Mfalme nwenye busara, anastahili kumchagua mrithi wake akiwa angali kijana na mwenye afya."

Lakini, Mfalme Chui atafanya uchagazi namna gani? Aliwapenda wanyama wote!
Mfalme Chui alipata wazo. Aliwaalika wanyama wote kwenda katika ikulu. Wajumbe walikimbia kila sehemu ya kichaka wakiwaalika wanyama.

Alipanga kuwa na sherehe kubwa kisha awatangazie mpango wake.
Usiku wa sherehe, wanyama wote walikuwa katika ikulu. Waliimba, wakacheza  wakawa na wakati mzuri. Usiku wa manane, Mfalme Chui alisimama katikati ya ikulu.

Wanyama waliacha kuimba na kucheza. Walisikiliza kwa makini mfalme wao alipoanza kuzungumza.
Alisafisha koo akasema, "Nilikuwa nikiwaza na wakati umetimia wa kumchagua mrithi wangu. Kwa sababu ninawapenda nyote, siwezi kuamua nani anayefaa zaidi. Nimepanga mashindano yatakayoamua."
Mfalme Chui alishika mkuki akasema, "Wa kwanza miongoni mwenu atakayerusha mkuki angani kisha ahesabu mpaka kumi kabla ya mkuki huo kutua chini, ndiye atakayekuwa mrithi wangu."
Mfalme Chui alipomaliza kuzungumza, wanyama walisikia sauti kubwa ikitoka nyuma yao. Walipogeuka, walimwona Tembo akielekea mbele kwa kishindo. "Tokeni njiani. Mimi ni mkubwa zaidi, ninastahili kuwa mfalme," Tembo alisema.
Tembo aliuchukua mkuki, akaushika kwa mkonga wake. Alikirudisha kichwa chake nyuma kisha akaurusha mkuki angani. "Moja! Mbili! Tatu! Ah!" Tembo alilia. Mkuki uligonga chini alipofikisha nne. Tembo alikasirika akaanza kufoka.

Mfalme Chui alimwambia, "Ulipata nafasi
yako." Tembo alilazimika kuondoka.
Baada ya Tembo kuondoka, wanyama walianza kuzungumza miongoni mwao kwa msisimuko. Walisikia tena sauti kubwa ikitoka nyuma yao.

Ngiri alikuja kwa kishindo akisema, "Niondokeeni. Niondokeeni. Nitakuwa mfalme. Nina misuli mikubwa zaidi. Nina nguvu kuliko wote. Lazima niwe mfalme."
Ngiri aliinama, akaukamata mkuki kisha akaurusha angani. "Moja! Mbili! Tatu! Nne! Tano! Ah!" Alipiga kelele. Mkuki ulianguka alipofikisha sita. Alirusha uchafu hewani kwa hasira.

Chui alimwambia, "Ngiri, unapata nafasi mara moja tu ya kurusha mkuki. Umeshaipata." Ngiri pia alilazimika kuondoka.
Baadaye, wanyama walianza kutoa maoni yao na kusema, "Mashindano hayo ni magumu! Tembo, ingawa ni mkubwa, hakufaulu. Ngiri, ingawa ana nguvu sana, pia hakufaulu. Hakuna atakayeshinda mashindano haya!"

Wakati huo huo, walisikia sauti nyingine kutoka nyuma yao. Walipotazama, hawakuamini macho yao.
Walimwona Sokwe mkubwa akienda mbele. Alikuwa akiimba, "Ninaweza. Najua ninaweza. Ninaweza." Sokwe aliuchukua mkuki akasonga nyuma hatua kadhaa. Aliuvuta mkono wake nyuma, akarudi mbele kisha akaruka hewani na kuurusha mkuki angani. "Moja! Mbili! Tatu! Nne! Tano! Sita! Saba! Ah!" Sokwe alilia.
Mkuki uligonga chini alipofikisha nane. Sokwe alikasirika akazungukazunguka akilalamika.

Lakini, Mfalme Chui alimwambia, "La, Sokwe, unapata nafasi mara moja tu." Ilimbidi Sokwe pia aondoke.
Baadhi ya wanyama walianza kuondoka kwenda nyumbani. Walipokuwa wakiondoka, walimwona Swara mdogo akija kujaribu bahati yake. Swara alisema, "Subirini! Subirini! Hebu nijaribu. Ninaweza kufaulu. Ninaweza. Nipeni nafasi nijaribu."

Wanyama wengine walianza kumcheka Swara.
Mfalme Chui aliwashauri wanyama, "Acheni kumcheka Swara! Ni nani aliyesema kwamba wanyama wadogo hawawezi kufanya kazi ambayo wale wakubwa wanafanya? Lazima Swara apewe nafasi sawa kama wanyama wengine. Rudini nyuma ili Swara atupe mkuki."
Swara alimwinamia mfalme, akauchukua mkuki mdomoni. Akitumia nguvu zote, alikimbia mpaka katikati ya uwanja. Aliruka juu akavuta pumzi kisha akaurusha mkuki huku akisema kwa sauti kubwa, "Tano na tano ni kumi." Mkuki ulitua chini.
Wanyama wote walichanganyikiwa. Mfalme Chui aliwaeleza, "Ndiyo, Swara! Tano na tano ni njia nyingine ya kupata kumi. Kuna zaidi ya njia moja ya kuhesabu mpaka kumi." Mashindano hayakuwa kumpata mnyama mkubwa wala mwenye nguvu. Bali lilikuwa kumpata mnyama mwerevu! Hivyo ndivyo Swara alivyokuwa malkia baada ya chui kufariki.
You are free to download, copy, translate or adapt this story and use the illustrations as long as you attribute in the following way:
Nani atahesabu mpaka kumi?
Author - Athieno Gertrude and Owino Ogot
Translation - Brigid Simiyu
Illustration - Salim Kasamba
Language - Kiswahili
Level - Longer paragraphs
© African Storybook Initiative 2017
Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
Source www.africanstorybook.org
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  • Translations and adaptations
    • Ndiani anogona kuverenga kusvika ku gumi?
      ChiShona (Translation)
    • Kodi nindani angawelenge kufika kumi?
      CiNyanja (Translation)
    • Ŋa Ma Nyalo Kwano Kir Iy Apar?
      Dhopadhola (Original)
    • Ning'o orobare goika ikomi?
      Ekegusii (Translation)
    • Who can count to ten?
      English (Translation)
    • Who is the next ruler?
      English (Adaptation)
    • Moye waawi limugo haa sappo?
      Fulfulde Mbororoore (Translation)
    • Ninaani engapeenda ukufika kucipendo ikumi?
      IciBemba (Translation)
    • Ngubani ongabala afike eshumini?
      isiZulu (Translation)
    • Nũũ ũmba gũtara mwanka ĩkũmi?
      Kῖmῖῖrũ (Translation)
    • Nũũ ũtonya kũtala nginya ĩkũmi?
      Kikamba (Translation)
    • Ni nani atakuwa mfalme?
      Kiswahili (Translation)
    • Nani akoki kotanga tii na zomi?
      Lingala (Translation)
    • Nanu onyala khuubala koola liikhumi?
      Lubukusu (Translation)
    • Naani omufuzi anairirira?
      Lusoga (Translation)
    • Ng'ai imari tanang ng'atomon?
      Ng’aturkana (Translation)
    • Ne wina ounyala okhubala okhula ekhumi?
      Oluwanga (Translation)
    • Ni ga adze t̯ala mpaka kumi?
      Pokomo (Translation)
    • Quem pode contar até dez?
      Portuguese (Translation)
    • Ke mang yo a ka balago go fihla go lesome?
      Sepedi (Translation)
    • Ke mang ya ka balang ho fihla ho leshome?
      Sesotho (South Africa) (Translation)
    • Ke mang a ka balang go fitlha go lesome?
      Setswana (Translation)
    • Ndi nnyi ane a nga vhala u swika kha fumi?
      Tshivenḓa (Translation)
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