Passage: Taali: Noora e gookiru (The crocodile and the monkey)

This is an African tale between the crocodile and the monkey. The objective is to learn a moral lesson from it.

Passage

Ňannde go’o, Gookiru no faalano tajitude caangol. Kono o waawaano fubbaade. On tuma noora mban ari tawi mo ka sera ndiyan. O lanndi gookiru ndu: “ Ee Gookiiru, ko hondun?”. Gookiiru jaabii mo: “ Mi faala tajitude caangol ngol, kono mi waawaa ndiyan”. On tuma, Noora inni mo: “mido waawi maa wallude. Aru joodo-daa ka baawo an, tajit-en enen dido fow. On tuma, Gookiiru joodi ka dow noora, be fokkiti. Ka be hewti ka leriinde caangol, Noora jali o inni: “ EE Ala, hannde mi weltike!” Gookiiru landii mo: “ Ko hondu ? Noora jaabii mo: “ Mi weltike, sabu gila hanki mido faalaa naamude bernde Gooki” Tun, Gookiiru ndun inni: “Eeh, ndaaraa non, mi yejjitii bernde an nden ka dow lekki”. Noora mban rutitii haa ka sera caangol, tun Gookiiru ndun jawi ka dow lekki o fuddi jalude, o inni noora mba: “ Si da faalaa bernde an nde, aran nde ka dow lekki”. On tuma, noora niisi; o wulli fota; o anndi Gooki fuutike.

Passage Translation

Once upon a time a monkey wanted to swim across a river. But he didn’t know how to swim. Then, the crocodile joined him at the river bank. He asked the monkey: “Hey monkey, what’s the matter?” The monkey replied to him:”I want to swim across the river, but I can’t.” Then, the crocodile said to the monkey:“I can help you. Come and sit on my back, and we’ll cross together.” Then, the monkey sat on the crocodile and they left. When they got to the middle of the river the crocodile started laughing and said:“Oh my God, I’m happy today!” The monkey asked him:“What’s the matter?” The crocodile answered:”I’m happy because I wanted to eat a monkey’s heart.” The monkey said:” I forgot my heart on the tree.” The crocodile returned to the river bank, and then the monkey jumped on top of the tree and started to laugh and said to the crocodile: “If you want my heart you should come and get it on the tree.” The crocodile regretted; he cried; because he knew the monkey was freed.