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Dendera Shiri yeMvura

The Ground Hornbill and the Rain Song
Difficulty: All Ages ยท Reading Time: 3 min
Sarungano: "Kare kare zvakako..."  ยท  Vateereri: "Dzepfunde!"
Scene 1 ๐ŸŒพ
Scene 1: Long ago, the tenth month arrived, yet the sky remained cloudless and the fields lay dusty and waiting.
Kare kare zvakako, mwedzi waGumiguru wakasvika asi denga rakaramba risina kana gore rimwe chete remvura.
Long ago, the tenth month arrived, yet the sky remained cloudless and the fields lay dusty and waiting.
Scene 2 ๐Ÿฆ
Scene 2: The small birds each sang alone at the top of their lungs, but their scattered chirping could not reach the heavens.
Shiri diki dzakatanga kuimba imwe neimwe oga-oga nesimba, asi ruzha rwacho rwaisanzwika mudenga.
The small birds each sang alone at the top of their lungs, but their scattered chirping could not reach the heavens.
Scene 3 ๐Ÿฆƒ
Scene 3: Wise old Ground Hornbill stepped forward calmly: "My friends, if we blend our voices into one steady rhythm, the sky will hear us."
Dendera mukuru akafamba zvinyoro-nyoro akati, "Hama dzangu, kana tikaimba pamwe chete nerwiyo rumwe, denga richatinzwa."
Wise old Ground Hornbill stepped forward calmly: "My friends, if we blend our voices into one steady rhythm, the sky will hear us."
Scene 4 ๐Ÿฅ
Scene 4: At the break of dawn, Dendera sounded his deep bass call like a resonant drum: "Huu-huu, let the gentle rains fall!"
Mambakwedza achisvika, Dendera akatanga kuridza inzwi rake dzamu kunge ngoma: "Huu-huu, mvura ngainaye!"
At the break of dawn, Dendera sounded his deep bass call like a resonant drum: "Huu-huu, let the gentle rains fall!"
Scene 5 ๐ŸŽถ
Scene 5: Dove, Guineafowl, and Prinia wove their melodies around Dendera's bass note until the whole forest resonated as one.
Njiva, Hanga, naTimba vakabatanidza manzwi avo pamwe naDendera, sango rose ndokuzara nerwiyo rwakanaka.
Dove, Guineafowl, and Prinia wove their melodies around Dendera's bass note until the whole forest resonated as one.
Scene 6 ๐ŸŒง๏ธ
Scene 6: A cool breeze swept across the hills, dark rainclouds gathered overhead, and the sweet first rains of summer poured down!
Mhepo inotonhora yakavhuvhuta, makore matema akaungana, ndokunaya mvura yemunhuruka yakazadza nzizi neminda!
A cool breeze swept across the hills, dark rainclouds gathered overhead, and the sweet first rains of summer poured down!
Scene 7 ๐ŸŒˆ
Scene 7: To this day, farmers rejoice when they hear Dendera calling at dawn before the rains. Moral: In unity there is great power!
Kusvikira nhasi, varimi vanofara pavanonzwa Dendera achiimba mambakwedza. Ndipo pakafira sarungano. Chidzidzo: Kubatana kune simba!
To this day, farmers rejoice when they hear Dendera calling at dawn before the rains. Moral: In unity there is great power!
๐Ÿ† Chidzidzo cheNgano (Moral of the Tale):
Kubatana nemwoyo mumwe chete kunounza makomborero kune vose.
English: When a community unites with one voice and patient heart, blessings follow.
๐Ÿ”ค Mashoko eMungano (Key Words)
ChiShona Pronunciation English
Dendera deh-NDEH-rah Southern Ground Hornbill
Makore mah-KOH-reh Clouds
Munhuruka moo-nhoo-ROO-kah First rains of the season
Rwiyo RWEE-yoh Song / Chorus
Munda MOO-ndah Field / Farmland
Kubatana koo-bah-TAH-nah Unity / Togetherness
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