Maasai – ENKOLONG’ NATOMONIRE ESIPOLIOI (The day a woman minded the loss of her oxen)

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

Netii apa, neiriamari nabo olong’ olpayian inkishu o esiankiki enye naa enarikorie, enoshi nesej eji enkaibartani araki esipolioi. Ore eirrita nkishu neponu ilmurran aare, netoni aashil nkishu. Nejoki olpayian: “Papaai, amaa imonira tenikiya kulo mong’i linono?” Nejoki olpayian: “Oi mamonira nanu ilasho lainei, tenememonira ake ninye enda sipolioi, ewaita.” Nening’ ake ilmurran enetejo olpayian nejo: “Ijo metapaashari olpayian, amaa tenememonira olee ijo kenkitok namonira? Mawaita ilmong’i.” Neshilu ake ilmong’i aare oisul nkishu neboinaa. Nejoki olpayian esiankiki meshomo ayiolou ajo kaja ilmong’i oowaki naa loong’ae oowaita. Neya ilmurran ilmong’i nepuo.

Nelusoo ilarin kumok. Neisho esiankiki neiu olayioni. Neitoki ake aisho neitoki ake aitusuj likae ayioni. Ore eishoi e uni neiu ilmao naa ilayiok. Nebulu kulo ayiok pokira oong’uan O metumurati, nebarni, niaku ilmurran. Neisho menye olkiteng’ oshomo aayieng’ tolpul. Ore peyie emut ilo neishori likae. Nenya taa ake iyie ilmong’i looikash nesapuku oleng’. Meeta taa aikata oltung’ani otolikio ilayiok enyamu.

Ore ake peyie edol olpayian ajo etasapukita ilmurran lenyenak oleng’ neipot pooki nejoki meterretenata. Nerrik enkop natii ilapa murran oowaita ilmong’i. Etaa taa apa ilpayiani, oluati etii aar enkeshui. Neirorokino ake pooki nejoki olpayian, menye taa ilmurran, ilkulikae meshomo olkiu amu eeta enkiti bae nayieu neigwanare.

Ore ake peyie eiturrurro pooki tolkiu neipot olpayian olmurrani obo toolapa oowaita olkiteng’ lenye. Nejoki: “Papa lai, aikiyiolo? Keton kidamu?” Neyiolou olpayian olikae, nejoki, “ee.” Nejoki olpayian: ”Idamu olapa kekun irara ilmurran peyie iponunu aaya ilmong’i lainei aare najoki apa ntae ewaita tenememonira esipolioi?” Nejo olikae kedamu ina olong’. Nejo olpayian: “Ina sipolioi naa natomonire neyieu ntokitin enyenak. IIayiok leina sipolioi kulo ooetuo aareu ntokitin enye.” Kaaee! Neboinari nkishu artam oodo tolkiteng’ obo neboinari nkulie artam oodo tolikae amu enyamu apa ina. Niaku enapa natejoki: ‘Meyaroyu enenkitok,’ Neiting’.

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