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The death of children – Ekegusii, spoken
A translation of Richard Berengarten’s poem ‘The death of children’
by Jane Bosibori Marando Obuchi
The death of children – Ekegusii, spoken
A note on the translation: Ekegusii is the language of the Abagusii people of Western Kenya. The Abagusii, also known as the Kisii, are a Bantu ethnic community. (Read more about this translation over at the Appendix)
The death of children – Ekegusii, spoken
Ogokwa kw’Abana
Nogokwa kw’abana gokogechia kegima
Obotongi n’oboronge. Teri ngencho koboria naseki.
Keria kere oboronge, onde taiyo omanyete.
Ngesusuro ki kerabe egesonsoro?
Getaamero tikeri, gose koegerera gose gotuntuba.
Nogokwa kw’abana gokogechia kegima.
Onde bwensi okoamereria eke nigo agoekora
gosoma emecherere y’egesio. Korende goika totiane ase
Keria kere oboronge, onde taiyo omanyete
buna omoerio gose egesio gekoeagacha. Oria okoegerera
ebirenga biabo n’ebirengererio ebiya noborimo akoria.
Nogokwa kw’abana gokogechia kegima.
Makweri tari na ibaga ri’okonyora ebitoki buna ebi
korwa as’aba, abwo bataigete komenya, abaibori babo bakorera.
Keria kere oboronge, onde taiyo omanyete
Bono reta obotoereru, n’okoremia. Abageni, abasani
intwe twensi titori abaibori ekero abana bagokwa?
Keria kere oboronge, onde taiyo omanyete
Nogokwa kw’abana gokogechia kegima.
Translated by
Jane Bosibori Marando Obuchi