A CHILD IS BORN WITHOUT LIMBS

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A woman gives birth to twins; one of them, Nginingini, is born without arms and legs; the other is a frog. The child moves to adulthood and, as she passes through her puberty ritual, to physical completeness. The frog makes this completeness possible; Nginingini's relationship with that frog symbolizes her relationship of harmony with nature and with culture.

Kwathi ke kaloku...ngantsomi...yayindoda^[124] nomfazi...wamitha umfazi...umfazi akumitha wazala...wazala abantwan' ababini...wazala isele...wazala umntana wayintombi^[125] ...yho! bath' abafaz' yint' eza kuthiwani ngoku le nto...ingathin' int' enje...sakuyithin'^[126] ukuyithetha kwethu Ie nto kulaa ndlu kanti ngoku lo mfazi...uza 's' azal'^[127] isele...abafazi ke ab' abazalisa omnye umfazi...hayi uyayibona le nto uyizeleyo...wathi ke lo uzeleyo ewe...hayi mayilahlwe le nto...ingaxelwa phay' endodeni...mayithathwe le nto le iyokumbelwa^[128] phaya...ethuthwini...phandle...yathathwa ke le nt' eli sele lakumbelwa^[129] phay' ethuthwini kwashiywa umntana lo^[130] ...akushiyeka ke yen' umntana hayi bathetha k' abafazi hayi uzel' umfaz' apha...m-mh uzel' intombi...hayi ke yantle loo nto yavuy' indoda...bafukamisa ke abafukamisi...wad' es'ke ke ngonje ke waphum' umdlezana...wath' akuphuma ke ngonje bagoduka...wahlala ke lo mfazi...akaze ngonje lo mfaz' aphind' amithe...wamdala lo mntana...wakhuuuuuula lo mntanaaaaaa wakhuuuuuula lo mntana...kwalile xa kunini...tyhini! kuba lo mntana asimntana-mntana ufana nabanye...kuba lo mntana imilenz' akanayo neengalo akanazo...ukhula nj' esiqukuquku...wakhula bath' oontanga bakhe balunyulwa...wahlala yena lo mfazi...bade balekelwa ke noontanga bakhe waye lo mntana engumthwalo...kuba lo mntana uyalungiswa uyambathiswa...akakwazi kwenza nto...yonk' into lo mntana...uyayenzelwa...uhleli ke wahlala wahlala...wathi hee! ndiya kuyithini le nto...ngoba ngoku kuyasetyenzwa...kwaye ke ngoku kulinywa emasimini...umntu uyamshiya umntana...ath' ub' uyedwa lo mfaz' aval' emnyango...ashiye lo mntan' emtyisile...amtyis' amtyis' amtyis'...amalek' iingubo zakhe ambek' elukhukweni avale pha' emnyango ahambe...ahlal' ahlal' ahlale lo mfaz' esebenz' emasimini...abe nexhala...ngoba lo mntan' akasuki akathini zonke izinto uzenza njengomntana...ophathwa ngezandla...kodwa mdala...int' enayo kukuba akanamilenz'...akanangalo...wathiywa khona igama...lokokuba abizwe ngegama...kuthiwe Nginingini...asabele...ulambile ewe...ufuna ntoni ndenzeleni umphothulo...enzelwe loo nto...Nginingini! ufun' ukuvasa ewe ndifun' ukuvaswa avaswe...wahlala ke ngoko ke esentlungwini lo mfazi ngaloo nt' yale mntana...kwalile...ngenye imini...nxa esemasimini njalo...kwahlalek' aph' ekhayeni...weva lo mntana...kukhw' int' ethi emnyango...Nginingini!...wathi yena hiinnn ingaphandle le nt' itshoyo...khawuvule wethu ndingene...wathi yen' andikwaz' ukuvula...andinamilenze...yaya phi andiyazi ndazalwa ndinjalo andinazandla...zaya phi na andaz'...o! hayi wethu Nginingini khawuvule ndingene...andikwazi mn' ukuhamba...andikwazi ukuvula...kanti le nt' itshoyo lelaa sele...la'^[131] lilahliwe...ngoku isele...lathi...ungathini 'khe ndakhuph' imilenz' aph' ub' uvule...wathi uNginingini andinamilenze...lathi isele

Nginingini maye! Nginingini...^[132]
le milenze iya kuphwua...
ezi ngalo ziya kuphuma...

wabon' uNginingin' enemilenze neengalo...wathi tyhini wathi vumbululu...kwewo! wathi ukubheka^[133] emnyango...wafika wavul' ucango...wath' akuluvul' ucango...kwangen' isele...heee! wath' lakungen' eli sele...mm! wamangaliswa kwa leli isele...lath' eli sele ndilisele...lakokwenu...likanyoko...wazalwa nam...ndaze mna...ndaya kulahlwa...ndafakwa ethuthwini...ndembelwa...'zange ndife...ndahlala kolo thuthu...wena kwagcinwa wena...wen' ungenamilenze wen' ungenanyawo ndalahlwa mna ndineenyawo zam...ewu! wasuk' uNginingini...waliphothulela isele...waliphothulela walivubisela ngamas' eselweni...walinika latya isele...elibuka elithanda eli sele...nalo limthanda liyambuka...ngoko ke...wahlala...lathi isele...uyabona Nginingini ngoku...ndiza kuhamba...kuza kubuywa...wesuk' uNginingini watshayela...watshayela watshayela watshayela aph' endlini kwakuhle wasinda...wabeka phay' i-emele^[134] ...lathi isele ngena ezingubeni zakho ngoku...kuba ndiyahamba ndiza kuyihlutha le milenze...wath' uNginingini oo yini wethu...hayi kalok' ndiza kuyihlutha le milenze...kwakuthiwa^[135] ub' uyithatha phi injalo nje uz' ungandixeli...walala ke uNginingini...lamfaka ingubo...lathi ke isele...vala ngolaa hlobo 'be kuvalwe ngalo kuqala...wavala ke ngolo hlobo...wahamba waya kulala ezingubeni...lath' isele

Nginingini maye! Nginingini...
le milenze yotshona^[136]
ezi ngalo zotshona^[137] ...

zaphel' iingalo yaphel' imilenze...kwashiyek' isisu nentloko...wahlala...lemk' isele...wabuya unina...wafik' unina...tyhini! esephambi kwendlu...ngubani na l' eb' etshayel' apha...heeee! wavula...hee bethu ngubani na l' eb' etshayel' apha...Nginingini! ngubani na l' eb' elapha...hayi 'khange kubekho mntu...kutshayele bani...kutshayele mna...utheni uz' ukwaz' ukutshayela...ndithe bhukulu bhukulu bhukulu...oo! hayi bo! yintoni na le nt' uyithethayo...hayi sisimanga le nto...wayiyeka...bahlala...kwatyiwa kwagqitywa kwalalwa kwasa kusasa...kwas' umfazi elungiselela...uNginingini...wamtyisa...wamgqiba...waphek' iinkobe...wazibeka phay' entla...waval' emnyango wahamba...kwalile ebudeni bexesha lafika isele...

Nginingini maye! Nginingini
le milenze yophuma^[138]
ezi ngalo zophuma^[139] ...

yaphum' imilenze zaphum' iingalo langen' isele...molo mnta' kamama hee! babulisana bathandana phaya yayint' entle leyo...oo! wasukum' uNginingini ngoko...wabhinqa imibhaco kanina wabhinqa hee! waphothula batya wahamba waya kutsh' emlanjeni wakh' i-emele wayibeka phay' izele...oo wacokis' aph' endlini yonk' into wabek' apha...oo bahlal' apha neli sele bonwabile...oo! hayi uz' uyiyeke le milenze namhlanje yho! andicingi...ungakuling' undixele...wahlal' uNginingini...awu! noko ngoku ndiza kuhamba latsh' isele...kusemini ngoku baza kubuy' abantu...yaye k' uyise kaNginingini wemkayo ekha' pha'...ngokucaphukela le nto...yale nt' yalo mfazi uzel' int' enje...uhlala komnye umfazi wesibini...akafuni kubona nto ekha' pha'...ucaphukela le nto yalo mntu nje...wahlala lo mfaz'...wabuya...la--- lath' isele ndiyahamba...oo!...

Nginingini maye! Nginingini...
le milenze yotshona...
ezi ngalo zotshona...

zaphel' iingalo...uvalile njalo...lemk' isele wafik' unina...heee!...hee bethu yintoni na le nto ndixeleleni esi sihelegu...ziinyawo e'be zivela phi ngubani ngoku lo ub' etshayela kanjaq' apha...yintoni le nto...hayi hayi bo! wavula...tyhini! la manz' akhiwe ngubani...nguban' eb' eye kukh' amanzi Nginingini! hnn? 'be kufike ban' aph'...hayi 'khange kufike mntu...'khange kufike mntu wasekhay' apha hayi...hayi bo khawuthethe khawuthethe...amanzi l' akhiwe ngubani...akhiwe ndim uwakhe kanjani...ndithe bhukulu bhukulu...hayi hayi hayi hayi hayi kha uyixele le nto...kutheni khawundixelele mntan' 'am...hayi ndibhukulezile...akavum' uNginingini...wahlal' umfazi...enengqondo ethu 'fan' ukuba...lo Nginingini ufihla umntu o'b' eyenzile le nto waze wemka...wahlala lo mfazi kwakusa kusasa walungiselel' uNginingini...wamtyisa...wambek' ezingubeni zakhe...wavala ucango...wahamba way' emasimini...kwalile emini lafik' isele...khawuvule mnta' kamama...hayi kaloku andinangalo...

Nginingini maye! Nginingini...
le milenze yophuma
ezi ngalo zophuma...

zaphum' iingalo nemilenz'...wasukuma uNginingini wavula...oo bahlala baphothana nodadewabo babukana...wathi ngonje uNginingini...ee! ndiza ke ndiye kuchola namhlanje...'khe ndiye kucholel' umama...akh' afike kukhw' iinkuni...hayi lavum' isele lath' uz' ukhawuleze...wahamba waya kutheza...wafika watheza watsho watsho watsho iinkuni wabekelel' inyanda waza kuyibek' egoqweni wafik' wasind' indlu wafik' waxov' udaka watyabek' indlu...yantle nangaphandle wayigqiba wafika wamis' iinkobe wazibeka pha' 'phothula batya nesele lakhe...'phinda wawongez' umphothulo...wawuphothula wawuphothula wawubek' esityeni wawufaka pha' embizeni wacika...lathi isele ndiyahamba ke ngoku...ke ngoku ke ndi--- kusemini kuza kufik' abantu...awu!...iza 'ba^[140] njani loo nto...hayi ungakulinge undixele hayi soz' ndikuxele...vala wavala...laphum' isele...

Nginingini maye! Nginingini
le milenze yotshona
ezi ngalo zotshona

zatshon' iingalo...wayilaa^[141] nt' eb' eyiyo...babuya oonina...wath' esez' unina wathi heeee! yeny' into namhlanje kutyatyekiwe kulaa ndlu nangaphandle...sisimanga esi ndakhe^[142] ndiyibone le nt' ikulaa mz'...wafik' ekhaya tyhini kusindiwe...kuphothulwe nokuphothulwa...kutyatyekwe nendlu...Nginingini khawundixelele mntan' 'am...yintoni l' ungafuni kundixelela...ngubani l' uman' eza kundenzela izinto aph'...ungandixeleliyo...hayi bo ke khona ngoku...asob'^[143] uyibone loo nto...hayi ndifanel' ukungayithethi mna le nto...ngoba kaloku...le nto ndingayithethiyo...uza kusuke nawe wen' ub' uyitheth'...hayi yithethe mntan' 'am...hayi bo...yitheth' ndixelel'...waye ke uyise ukhona aph'...laye ke eli sele lonke ixesha naxa uNginingini etheth' likhona lon' apha phandle...liyabonakala nje ngobusele...abajonganga nto bajonge nje amasele...lona abalahluli nganto kuba abazi nto ngalo...liyeva naxa kuthethwayo...nendlela ekuthethwa ngayo...limane ligqith' aph' emnyango lithi lisebuhlanti 'be liphi nax' uyise avalayo likhona...ngonje ke...awu! 'se kaBani inzima le nto watsho umfazi lo mntana lo ikho le nto kumane kuba nj' ekh' apha andiyazi le nto isekh' aph'...e'se^[144] kumane kutyatyekwa yint' endingayaziyo...hayi yixele le nto itheni...hayi andicingwa...kuxela nto...mm! ngoba kaloku ibe ithe 'ze^[145] ndingayixeli ndiyayoyika yintoni...lisel' int' eman' ifika kum isel' elithini elenjenje...lenjenje lenze le ngoma...oo...ngoko ke kwakuthini...hayi...hayi yayekwa le nto kwabonakal' uba uyise makazimel' azimele pha' ukuze ngoku eli sele eve...az' abone naxa 'se lenjenje...kwemkiwa ke ngunina njalo yena kwakusa...ngoku ke uyise wanokuhlala phantsi kothango...egada^[146] esi simanga lafika lon' isele...e--- Nginingini...wena uyandixela ngoku...ndakugqib' ukuthi wen' akuzi kundixela ndakugqib' ukulahlwa mna kuthandwa wen' ungenangal' ungenanyawo hayi 'khange ndikuxele...hayi undixelileyo...suka soz' uphind' undibon' aph' oo yini mnta' kamama oo yini...oo yini wethu ndiyakukhumbula bacengana bacengana...'ad' es'ke leza licaphuka...

Nginingini maye! Nginingini
le milenze yotshona^[147]
ezi ngalo zophuma...

zaphuma imilenze wavul' uNginingini...waphuma uyise pha' wayes'^[148] esiva wavingca...walibona isele...kwakumhla alithandayo walithatha walifaka ezingubeni waye elithanda ukufa wangena nonina kanjalo...oo! ungubani ndilela sele lalilahliwe 'hle' nje mfazindin'...wawunesele^[149] owawulizele na laze lagqunyelelwa kwaze kwayint' enje na...ngaba bafukamisi bakho bafazindin' bakwazi ukwenza iint' ezinkulu...ngoku ke eli sele yiyona nkulu yasekh' aph'...lenzelwa ke izinto isele izibele zonke lifaniswa noNginingini nangaphezu kwakhe naye elithanda kangako kanti ke ndiyayiyeka le ntsomi.