Play time: 02:47 minutes. Recorded in Shiru, Kenya, February 19, 2014.

Kusya

Linet Mmbone

Lita lyange vananganga Linet Mmbone, nembe mwana wa Dara Agosa kutoka Sabatia, na ndahula vakeere vavola vakeere vali va kale vatsitsa mu lugina tawe. Kusha gwavo vali na lugina lwa vasyela ku. Ma vakeere vene yava vasyetsanga mmbere vatsuganya mu ovuro. Alafu amaganda valomba omuduya avaragila kandi kale vakeere vali na tsisahani tsya valagila ku dave, varagila ku vindu vya varanga videru ne vya varagila ku. Kandi si vikala kuri sya kutse kwikara kuzindeve ndi dave varaa amatuu, avikala ku avaragila kandi guku yavolanga, vana vakana. Guku yavugura vana vakana vakamala kurya avavugula atanga kuvegitsa tsingano. Na kuri vayala kutsya mu kidaho na kuri vanyala kwega kusha ku lugina lwa vashera ku.

Kandi kare avakere yava vagona ku matuu. Alafu vatula ku matuu vatsya ku magunia. Alafu vakere yava variku na tsinguvu dawe, varangi na kesengeka vagenda mundu naturire imberi, vafuma imberi ma vamenya maisha khuri gene yago ndyo. Vakere va kare vatsira tsisiongo mu kedaho. Ndavola ku lugano. Kitendawili? Tega kitendawili? Tega. Vusi vwari vwenyu mwaluga? Kwaluga legoke. Kitendawili? Tega mbe na varina vange vavaga mulala nature ku vandi yava vakora igasi dawe? Mashiga. Kitendawili? Tega mbe na murina wange yamenya mu nyumba wonyene lakini muryango kuvura mu? Livuyu. Sande vamburitse ku nyasaye avagasitse.

To make flour

My name is Linet Mmbone, as the child of Dara Agosa from Sabatia, and I used to here old women were no going to the posho mill. They had their own type of mill that they used. These women used to grind wheat and then they used to prepare bean stew then they eat. Again long time the old women did not have plates for eating, they used what we call "ludelu" they were not seating the way we are seating now. They were seating round on the ground, which they covered with leaves. They sat there and eat. Again grandmother used to tell girls stories. Grandmother used to take girls after eating then she told them stories. And the way they can go to the well and the way they can learn to make flour.

Long time these women used to sleep on the dried banana leaves. Then they left dried banana leaves and started sleeping on the sacks. They did not have clothes. They had a small piece of cover made from skin of a cow that they covered the front part whenever someone comes from the front side. They used to live that life. They used pot to fetch water. Riddle: did you cook the flour? We cooked ash. Riddle: I have my three friends if one is removed they do not work? Three stones used for cooking. Riddle: I have a friend who stays in a house alone, but the house does not have a door? Egg. Thank you those who have listened to me may God bless you.