โ—€ Back to Story Family & Classroom Printable Folktale
Learn Shona ยท Ngano dzeChiShona
๐Ÿข

Kamba neDziva reMvura

Tortoise and the Sacred Water Pool
Difficulty: All Ages ยท Reading Time: 3 min
Sarungano: "Kare kare zvakako..."  ยท  Vateereri: "Dzepfunde!"
Scene 1 โ˜€๏ธ
Scene 1: Long ago, the sun blazed fiercely until all the streams dried up and the animals had no water to drink.
Kare kare zvakako, zuva rakapisa zvikuru hova dzose dzikapwa, mhuka dzikashaya mvura yekunwa.
Long ago, the sun blazed fiercely until all the streams dried up and the animals had no water to drink.
Scene 2 โ›๏ธ
Scene 2: Lion called a work party to dig a deep well. Elephant, Eland, and Tortoise dug tirelessly, while lazy Hyena refused to help.
Shumba akadana nhimbe yekuchera tsime guru. Nzou, Mhofu, naKamba vakashanda nesimba, asi Bere akaramba achiti ane nyota.
Lion called a work party to dig a deep well. Elephant, Eland, and Tortoise dug tirelessly, while lazy Hyena refused to help.
Scene 3 ๐Ÿ’ง
Scene 3: When cool clear water bubbled up from the well, the animals agreed that Hyena could not drink since he refused to dig.
Mvura yakachena payakabuda mutsime, mhuka dzakabvumirana kuti Bere asanwe nekuti haana kubatsira kuchera.
When cool clear water bubbled up from the well, the animals agreed that Hyena could not drink since he refused to dig.
Scene 4 ๐ŸŒ™
Scene 4: Every night under the moonlight, Hyena crept to the well, drank his fill, and muddied the clean water.
Usiku hwoga hwoga Bere ainyangira mwedzi uchivheneka, achinwa mvura uye achisvibisa tsime nematope.
Every night under the moonlight, Hyena crept to the well, drank his fill, and muddied the clean water.
Scene 5 ๐Ÿข
Scene 5: Tortoise volunteered to guard the well. He coated his shell with sticky tree resin and sat silently like a stepping stone at the water's edge.
Kamba akazvipira kurinda tsime. Akazora unonwe pamusana pake ndokugara chinyararire semutombo pamucheto pemvura.
Tortoise volunteered to guard the well. He coated his shell with sticky tree resin and sat silently like a stepping stone at the water's edge.
Scene 6 ๐Ÿพ
Scene 6: When Hyena stepped onto Tortoise thinking he was a flat rock, his paws stuck fast to the resin and he could not escape!
Bere paakatsika Kamba achifunga kuti idombo, makumbo ake akanamatira zvakasimba akatadza kutiza!
When Hyena stepped onto Tortoise thinking he was a flat rock, his paws stuck fast to the resin and he could not escape!
Scene 7 โš–๏ธ
Scene 7: At dawn the animals praised wise Tortoise, and Hyena was made to dig and clean the well. That is where our story ends. Moral: Share in the community's work!
Mangwanani mhuka dzakarumbidza Kamba, Bere ndokunzi achere rake gombe. Ndipo pakafira sarungano. Chidzidzo: Shanda pamwe nevamwe!
At dawn the animals praised wise Tortoise, and Hyena was made to dig and clean the well. That is where our story ends. Moral: Share in the community's work!
๐Ÿ† Chidzidzo cheNgano (Moral of the Tale):
Asingashandi nevamwe haafaniri kuba zvabuda mudziya revamwe.
English: One who refuses to share the work must not steal the fruits of others' labor.
๐Ÿ”ค Mashoko eMungano (Key Words)
ChiShona Pronunciation English
Tsime TSEE-meh Well / Water spring
Chirimo chee-REE-moh Dry spring season
Nyota NYOH-tah Thirst
Kurinda koo-REE-ndah To guard / keep watch
Kushandira pamwe koo-shah-NDEE-rah PAH-mweh Working together
Mbavha MBAH-vhah Thief
Dzidza ChiShona ยท Free Shona Learning for Little Ones ยท learnshona.com