Maasai – ENKITEJO O ENKOLII (The Hare and the Antelope)

Written by: Dr. Naomi Kipuri  (For English translation see her great book: Oral Literature of the Maasai)

Netii apa, netii ena kitejo. Ore nabo olong’ eloolo tosero nedumu embae. Ore errinyo alo ang’ neinepu iltorrobo ooyieng’isho. Nejoki, “Lotorrobo kulo, enchooki enkiring’o peyie aisho ntae entoki natii ene.” Nejoki iltorrobo, “kainyioo ina?” Nejoki enkitejo, “Embae ai naishoo enkai.”     

Neishori naikitejo esunyai neishooyo sii ninye embae aisho iltorrobo. Nenap enkitejo enaduo sunyai nelo.

Ore eloolo neito atum ilmurran oonyaita olmuny nemeeta esunyai napiore. Nejoki, “Lomurran kulo, enchooki esaei peyie aisho ntae esunyai nipiorere.” Neisho ilmurran emporroi neisho ninye enaduo sunyai. Ore peyie eidip enkinyiang’a nelo ninye naikitejo. Neito ainepu enkoilii. Nejoki, “koilii, ing’ura sii iyie ena porroi ai.” Nejoki enkoilii, “Kang’ae nikinchoo.” Nejoki enkitejo, “Ilmurran lang’ laishoo?” Neikilikuan enkoilii ajoki, “Ilmurran linchoo nyoo?” Nejoki enkitejo, “Esunyai ai aishoo.” Neitoki ake enkoilii aikilikuan, “Esunyai nikinchoo nyoo?” Nejoki enkitejo, Eunyai ai aishoo.” Neitoki ake enkoilii aikilikuan, ‘Esunyai nikinchoo nyoo?” Nejoki enkitejo, “IItorrobo laishoo.” Nejoki enkoilii, “Iltorrobo linchoo nyoo?” Nejoki enkitejo, “Embae ai naishoo enkai ai.” Neing’or ake enkoilii ena porroi enkitejo nedol ajo keisidai oleng’ nejoki, “Nchooki siyie matetemakinoyu.” Neisho. Ore ake peyie epika enkoilii emporroi nejoki enkitejo, “Naikitejo kaanare?” Nejoki, “Ee pae kinare oleng’.” Ina taa oshi peyie ejo enkoilii pirkash. Nemir enkitejo nelaikino ainepu.

Ore ake peyie elo enkitejo, neinepu iltorrobo. Nejoki, “Lotorrobo kulo, entang’or ena koilii.” Neikilikuan iltorrobo, “Enkoilii nataasa aa?” Nejoki enkitejo, ”Enkoilii naawa emporroi ai, emporroi ai naishoo ilmurran lang’, ilmurran lang’ laishoo esunyai ai, esunyai ai naishoo oltorrobo lang’ , iltorrobo lang’laishoo embae ai, embae ai naishoo enkai ai.” Nejoki itorrobo, “Miking’or.”

Neitoki enkitejo alo neinepu enkima nayupuyup. Nejoki, ”Nakima, inosa kulo torrobo.” Nejoki enkima, “IItorrobo ootaasa aa?” Nejoki, “IItorrobo ootanyaita eng’or enkoilii.” Nejoki enkima, “Enkoilii nataasa aa?” Nejoki, “Enkoilii naawa emporroi ai, emporroi ai naishoo ilmurran lang’, ilmurran lang’ laishoo esunyai ai, esunyai ai naishoo iltorrobo lang’ iltorrobo lang’ laishoo embae ai, embae ai naishoo enkai ai.” Nejoki enkima, “manya”.  

Neing’ua enkitejo enkima. Neiloki alo ainepu enkare. Nejoki, “Nakima taara ena are.” Neikilikuan enkima ajoki, “Enkare nataasa aa?” Neliki enkitejo inaduo pooki naatiaka enkima. Ore peyie ening’ enkima nejoki, “Maar.” Negiroo enkitejo. Neito alo ainepu iltomia. Nejoki, “Lotomia kulo, entook ena are.” Nejoiki iltomia, ”Enkare nataasa aa?” Nejoki enkitejo, ”Enkare natanya ear enkima, enkima natanya enya iltorrobo, iltorrobo ootanyaita eng’or enkoilii, enkoilii naawa emporroi ai, emporroi ai naishoo ilmurran lang’, Ilmurran lang’ laishoo esunyai ai, esunyai ai naishoo iltorrobo lang’ iltorrobo lang’ laishoo embae ai, embae ai naishoo enkai ai.“ Nejoki iltomia, “mikiok.”

Nelo naikitejo, neitoki ainepu ilkeek, nejoki: “Lokeek kulo, enturokinoto kuldo tomia.” Nejoki ilkeek “IItomia ootaasa aa?” Nejoki, “iltomia ootanyaita eok enkare, enkare natanya ear enkima, enkima natanya enya iltorrobo, iltorrobo ootanyaita eng’or enkoilii, enkoilii naawa emporroi ai, emporroi ai naishoo ilmurran lang’, ilmurran lang’ laishoo esunyai ai, esunyai ai naishoo iltorrobo lang’, iltorrobo lang’ laishoo embae ai ,embae ai naishoo enkai ai.” Ore ake peyie ening’ ilkeek enejo naikitejo nejoki: “Mikiurokino iltomia.” Negiroo naikitejo neitoki alo ainepu iriri. Nejoki, “Loriri kulo, enturoi kulo keek.” Neikilikuan iriri aajoki, “IIkeek ootaasa aa?” Neliki enkitejo inaduo pooki naatolikio inkulie. Neitoki sii ninche iriri aany euroo ilkeek. Negoro enkitejo oleng’ kake eitu eiturraa osiligi.

Neitoki ake alo neinepu isirkon . Nejoki, “Losirkon kulo, entunyo kulo riri.” Nejoki, “Iriri ootaasa aa?” Neitoki ake enkitejo ainosaki isirkon inaduo pooki nainosaka inkulie .Ore ake peyie ening’ isirkon enetaasa araki eneitu eas iriri nejo sii ninche “mikiintuny.”

Negoro taa naikitejo oleng’ nenaura sii eloolo ade . Neitoki ake alo, neinepu ilng’ojinia. Nejoki, “Long’ojinia kulo, enosakulo sirken.” Nejoki ilng’ojinia, “Irsikon ootaasa aa?” Nejoki enkitejo, “Isirkon ootanyaita eituny iriri, iriri ootanyaita enya ilkeek, ilkeek ootanyaita eurokino iltomia, iltomia ootanyaita eek enkare ,enkare natanya ear enkima, enkima natanya enya iltorrobo, iltorrobo ootanyaita eng’or enkoilii, enkoilii naawa emporroi ai, emporroi ai naishoo iltorrobo lang’, iltorrobo lang’ laishoo embae ai, embae ai naishoo enkai ai.” Nejoki ilng’ojinia, “Aikinya.”

Ore pee edol isirkon ajo etaa kenyae nejo, “Aikiintuny iriri.” Nejo iriri, “Aikiuroo ilkeek.” Nejo ilkeek, “Aikiurokino iltomia.” Nejo iltomia, “Aikiok enkare.” Nejo enkare,”Kaar enkima.” Nejo enkima, ”Kanya iltorrobo.” Nejo iltorrobo, “Aiking’or enkoilii.” Nejo enkoilii, “Kashuku emporroi e naikitejo.” Neishori naikitejo emporroi enye. Neshipayu oleng’. Neiting’ enkatini ai eba neijia.

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