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A boy singing in front of a woman.

La canzone di Sakima Sakima's song La chanson de Sakima

Written by Ursula Nafula

Illustrated by Peris Wachuka

Translated by Laura Pighini

Read by Sonia Pighini

Language Italian

Level Level 3

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A man, a woman, a boy and a girl standing outside a hut and some trees.

Sakima viveva con i suoi genitori e sua sorella di quattro anni. Vivevano nella terra di un uomo molto ricco. La loro capanna di fieno era alla fine di una fila d’alberi.

Sakima lived with his parents and his four year old sister. They lived on a rich man’s land. Their grass-thatched hut was at the end of a row of trees.

Sakima vivait avec ses parents et sa petite sœur, qui avait quatre ans. Ils vivaient sur la terre d’un homme riche. Leur hutte à toit de chaume était située au bout d’un rang d’arbres.


A boy thinking about when he was ill in bed.

Quando Sakima aveva tre anni, si ammalò e perse la vista. Sakima era un ragazzo pieno di talento.

When Sakima was three years old, he fell sick and lost his sight. Sakima was a talented boy.

Quand Sakima avait trois ans, il est tombé malade et a perdu la vue. Sakima était un garçon avec beaucoup de talent.


A boy talking to three women.

Sakima faceva tante cose che gli altri bambini di sei anni non facevano. Per esempio, lui poteva sedersi con i membri più anziani del villaggio e discutere questioni importanti.

Sakima did many things that other six year old boys did not do. For example, he could sit with older members of the village and discuss important matters.

Sakima faisait beaucoup de choses que d’autres garçons de six ans ne faisaient pas. Par exemple, il pouvait se tenir avec les membres plus âgés du village et discuter de questions importantes.


A boy and girl waving to a man and woman leaving.

I genitori di Sakima lavoravano nella casa dell’uomo ricco. Uscivano di casa la mattina presto e tornavano la sera tardi. Sakima veniva lasciato con la sorellina piccola.

The parents of Sakima worked at the rich man’s house. They left home early in the morning and returned late in the evening. Sakima was left with his little sister.

Les parents de Sakima travaillaient chez l’homme riche. Ils quittaient leur maison tôt le matin et revenaient tard le soir. Sakima restait seul chez eux avec sa petite sœur.


A boy singing to a woman.

Sakima amava cantare canzoni. Un giorno sua madre gli chiese: “Dove impari queste canzoni Sakima?”

Sakima loved to sing songs. One day his mother asked him, “Where do you learn these songs from, Sakima?”

Sakima adorait chanter des chansons. Un jour sa mère lui demanda, « Où apprends-tu à chanter ces chansons, Sakima? »


A boy talking with a woman.

Sakima rispose “Mi vengono e basta madre. Le sento nella mia testa e poi le canto.”

Sakima answered, “They just come, mother. I hear them in my head and then I sing.”

Sakima répondit, « Elles me viennent tout simplement, maman. Je les entends dans ma tête et ensuite je chante. »


A boy singing to a girl smiling.

A Sakima piaceva cantare per la sua sorellina, specialmente se lei aveva fame. Sua sorella lo ascoltava cantare la sua canzone preferita. Ondeggiava alla calmante sinfonia.

Sakima liked to sing for his little sister, especially, if she felt hungry. His sister would listen to him singing his favourite song. She would sway to the soothing tune.

Sakima aimait chanter pour sa petite sœur, surtout si elle avait faim. Sa sœur l’écoutait chanter sa chanson préférée. Elle se balançait en écoutant la chanson apaisante.


A boy sitting and a girl standing next to him.

“Puoi cantare ancora e ancora Sakima?” Sua sorella lo pregava. Sakima accettava e la cantava e ricantava.

“Can you sing it again and again, Sakima,” his sister would beg him. Sakima would accept and sing it over and over again.

« Peux-tu la chanter encore et encore, Sakima? » le suppliait sa sœur. Sakima acceptait et la chantait encore et encore.


A sad-looking man and woman sitting with their heads in their hands and a boy and girl next them.

Una sera, Quando i suoi genitori tornarono a casa, erano molto silenziosi. Sakima sapeva che c’era qualcosa che non andava.

One evening when his parents returned home, they were very quiet. Sakima knew that there was something wrong.

Un soir quand ses parents sont revenus chez eux, ils étaient très tranquilles. Sakima savait qu’il y avait un problème.


A boy talking to a man and woman and a girl standing next to them.

“Cosa succede, Mamma, Papà?” Chiese Sakima. Sakima scoprì che il figlio dell’uomo ricco era scomparso. L’uomo era molto triste e solo.

“What is wrong, mother, father?” Sakima asked. Sakima learned that the rich man’s son was missing. The man was very sad and lonely.

« Qu’est-ce qu’il y a, maman et papa? » Sakima demanda. Sakima apprit que le fils de l’homme riche avait disparu. L’homme était très triste et seul.


A boy talking to a woman with her arms crossed and a man.

“Io posso cantare per lui, potrebbe renderlo felice di nuovo,” disse Sakima ai suoi genitori. Ma i suoi genitori lo destituirono. “Lui è molto ricco, tu sei solo un ragazzo cieco. Pensi che la tua canzone lo aiuterà?”

“I can sing for him. He might be happy again,” Sakima told his parents. But his parents dismissed him. “He is very rich. You are only a blind boy. Do you think your song will help him?”

« Je peux chanter pour lui. Il redeviendra peut-être heureux, » dit Sakima à ses parents. Mais ses parents rejetèrent l’idée. « Il est très riche. Tu es seulement un garçon aveugle. Penses-tu vraiment que ta chanson l’aidera? »


A girl with her hand on her tummy talking to a man, a woman and a boy.

Tuttavia, Sakima non si arrese. La sua sorellina lo appoggiò. Disse “Le canzoni di Sakima mi calmano quando sono affamata. Calmeranno anche l’uomo ricco.”

However, Sakima did not give up. His little sister supported him. She said, “Sakima’s songs soothe me when I am hungry. They will soothe the rich man too.”

Toutefois, Sakima ne démissionna pas. Sa petite sœur l’appuyait. Elle disait, « Les chansons de Sakima me calment quand j’ai faim. Elles calmeront l’homme riche aussi. »


A girl leading a blind boy with a stick through a forest.

Il giorno seguente, Sakima chiese alla sorellina di accompagnarlo alla casa dell’uomo ricco.

The following day, Sakima asked his little sister to lead him to the rich man’s house.

Le lendemain, Sakima demanda à sa petite sœur de le mener chez l’homme riche.


A boy standing outside a building singing to a man looking out of the window, and a girl standing next to him.

Si fermò sotto una grande finestra e cominciò a cantare la sua canzone preferita. Lentamente, la testa dell’uomo ricco cominciò a mostrarsi attraverso la finestra.

He stood below one big window and began to sing his favourite song. Slowly, the head of the rich man began to show through the big window.

Il se tint sous une grande fenêtre et commença à chanter sa chanson préférée. Lentement, la tête de l’homme riche apparu à la grande fenêtre.


A boy singing outside a building singing to a man looking out of the window, and a girl and some workers standing next to him.

I lavoratori smisero di fare quello che stavano facendo e ascoltarono la bellissima canzone di Sakima. Ma un uomo disse “Nessuno è stato in grado di consolare il capo. Questo ragazzo cieco pensa di potercela fare?”

The workers stopped what they were doing. They listened to Sakima’s beautiful song. But one man said, “Nobody has been able to console the boss. Does this blind boy think he will console him?”

Les ouvriers arrêtèrent ce qu’ils faisaient. Ils écoutèrent la belle chanson de Sakima. Mais un homme dit, « Personne n’a été capable de consoler le patron. Est-ce que ce garçon aveugle pense qu’il pourra le consoler ? »


A man standing outside a building calling a boy and girl walking away.

Sakima finì di cantare la sua canzone e si girò per andarsene. Ma l’uomo ricco uscì fuori di corsa e disse “Per favore, canta ancora.”

Sakima finished singing his song and turned to leave. But the rich man rushed out and said, “Please sing again.”

Sakima termina de chanter sa chanson et s’apprêtait à partir. Mais l’homme riche sortit en vitesse et dit, « S’il te plaît, chante encore. »


Two men carrying a boy on a stretcher towards a man standing next to a boy and girl.

In quell’esatto momento, due uomini arrivarono portando qualcuno su una barella. Avevano trovato il figlio dell’uomo ricco, era stato picchiato e lasciato sul ciglio della strada.

At that very moment, two men came carrying someone on a stretcher. They had found the rich man’s son beaten up and left on the side of the road.

À ce moment, deux hommes sont arrivés en portant quelqu’un sur une civière. Ils avaient trouvé le fils de l’homme riche tabassé et abandonné sur le bord de la route.


A man standing between two boys in hospital beds and a girl standing in front of him.

L’uomo ricco fu felicissimo di rivedere suo figlio. Ricompensò Sakima per averlo consolato. Portò suo figlio e Sakima in ospedale, così che potessero curare la sua vista.

The rich man was so happy to see his son again. He rewarded Sakima for consoling him. He took his son and Sakima to hospital so Sakima could regain his sight.

L’homme riche fut tellement content de revoir son fils. Il récompensa Sakima de l’avoir consolé. Il emmena les deux garçons à l’hôpital pour que Sakima puisse retrouver la vue.


Written by: Ursula Nafula
Illustrated by: Peris Wachuka
Translated by: Laura Pighini
Read by: Sonia Pighini
Language: Italian
Level: Level 3
Source: Sakima's song from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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