Sakima’s song

Ursula Nafula Peris Wachuka English Level 3

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

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

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Sakima did many things that other six year old boysdid not do. For example, he could sit with oldermembers of the village and discuss importantmatters.

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The parents of Sakima worked at the rich man’shouse. They left home early in the morning andreturned late in the evening. Sakima was left withhis little sister.

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

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

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Sakima liked to sing for his little sister, especially, ifshe felt hungry. His sister would listen to himsinging his favourite song. She would sway to thesoothing tune.

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

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One evening when his parents returned home, theywere very quiet. Sakima knew that there wassomething wrong.

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

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

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However, Sakima did not give up. His little sistersupported him. She said, “Sakima’s songs sootheme when I am hungry. They will soothe the richman too.”

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

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

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

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Sakima finished singing his song and turned toleave. But the rich man rushed out and said, “Pleasesing again.”

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At that very moment, two men came carryingsomeone on a stretcher. They had found the richman’s son beaten up and left on the side of theroad.

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The rich man was so happy to see his son again. Herewarded Sakima for consoling him. He took his sonand Sakima to hospital so Sakima could regain hissight.

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Storybooks UKglobal-asp.github.io/storybooks-uk

Sakima’s songWritten by: Ursula Nafula

Illustrated by: Peris Wachuka

This story originates from the African Storybook (africanstorybook.org) and is broughtto you by Storybooks UK in an effort to provide children’s stories in UK’s manylanguages.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.