OlongoAfrica Multilingual Anthology
Illustration for Arraw lli Ur Illin
Illustrations by Moussa Kone

Arraw lli Ur Illin

by N. Jane Kalu

Translated into Tamazight by El Housseine Abouazza
First published as To Have a Ghost Baby (Isele Magazine. July 29, 2020) by N. Jane Kalu

Listen to the Narration

Narrated in Amazigh by El Housseine Abouazza.


Tḍṛ nn tafukt, imzalal titrit n tiwwudc, ar ikkat aẓilal s illi y nn tḍṛ, ar ismuqqul s wayyur is ilul, Arraw lli Ur Illin issu iman, ar t isiggil, iggami t, imik s ar ittannay yan isk n tifawt yugga d, yufa t, ziɣ d ba rmḍan ad d yuckan s dar tasa, ar ittini tugga ad: rbbi ur igi bla yan, ig muḥmmad arqqas nns, ad fllaɣ icckcm rbbi ayyur ad n uzum s ufulki d tdusi! Isawl d sis ba rmḍan, inna as: tasa hayi uckiy d tini as tasa: ah a ba rmḍan, tuckit d y gar izmaz, tufit iyi d mhruciɣ ukan! Ar ttujudn ayt tmazirt i wuẓum, ccan imnsi, sliln imawn nnsn, sliln ilmawn nnsn, ad aẓumn si mraw d tẓa n wass nɣ d mraw, tlkm tis kraḍt ɣ id ann, yall lfqqih abrraḥ nns ɣ tmzgida, ar ittini: ilkm uzmz n sḥur, ilkm uzmz n ugdur win tkirrut yan imik! Nkrnt tawjiwin, gant kullu tɣzanin n tmazirt asfiw, ccan sḥur nnsn, sliln imawn nnsn, ẓẓalln taẓallit tamzwarut ɣ wayyur n uẓum, gnn, tɣli d tafukt, tknussa tmazirt, gnn middn, tnna asn d tafukt: ɣalx is d tfud ad ittasin tdis, ziɣ d tdis ad ittasin tfud, Arraw lli Ur Illin manza kn awi.

Uddnnt takẓin, idruri d umalu, iṛẓa wass, s ar dax ttujud tdis ad tasi tfud nns, ugmn d middn aman ɣ uɣbalu, gn nn azkkif, illa mad nn igan azkkif n tmẓin, illa mad nn igan win zbib d tlintit d imik n tfyya, skrn lmris d Iqhwa, ittrs d uskriy d bufqqus d buyṭṭub, ula udi d tammnt d lluz islin d uɣrum irɣan, ha win ufllun, ha win tannurt, ha wad imlan, ha tikurin n lbsis n wudi ibsusan, uddnnt tiwwudc.

Arn uẓum nnsn, ccn, ddun dar trawḥ ɣ tmzgid. Wis sin wussan, ur sul ign, yawwuz ɣ dar tfrxin, fkn tt gis i taqqurt, gn tadhrirt, iḍ ur aẓumn, ufan aɣaras s wawal, mdrzn, ttkar tsukt s iɛrrimn ula tiɛrrimin, Arraw lli Ur Illin ur illi mad nn iqaman ɣ tgmmi nnsn, kuyan ikṣuḍ ad yawi iḍṣ tawja nns, tssaki tirmt n sḥur, ukan mdrzn ɣ tsukt ar kiɣ iwin azmz n sḥur s tgmmaw nnsn.

Inkr d ɣ iḍṣ tuẓẓumt n wass Ili igan wis krad, iwwats agdz, ikk yan usuk ɣzzifn Iliɣ fsrn willi zznzanin tugtt n tɣawsiwin, tlla cbbakiya, illa zzitun, illa ku anaw n tiyni, illa uɣrum is ka izggwaɣ, ijja usuk ann, illa ukfay ka imlluln zun d iɣ ismndl udfl ɣ iggi n wafa yattuyn, aḥlig nns ar ka isɣirriy, ar bahra tkḍunt tnzar nns, rɣan waman ɣ imi nns, immurḍla, ur iẓdar i yat, iga akk laẓ n walln, kra d iga ɣ uqrab nns, ur t irur s tgmmi, ar ittasi, ar issaɣ ɣ ugdz. Izri wayyur, immt, ilul wayyad, ar t siggiln middn ɣ ignwan lliy nn tḍṛ tafukt, yaf t nit dax, ingḍ ɣ tumrt n tfugla n uẓum lli izrin, Tkarn middn lmikat nnsn s iɣaln n uɣrum Arraw lli Ur Illin.

Gin gis tiyni, tugtt niẓmi n igumma, ar ttqln s tiwwudc, Arraw lli Ur Illin kuyan ar gis ttwirriynt walln, ar iswirriy ils nns ɣ imi, ar sɣirriyn wadan nns s waḍu n laẓ, ur sul ar swingimn abla ɣ umtcu d irifi.

Aflla n wawal yiwi tugtt n unaruz s umtcu, ar izray wass, lkmnt takẓin, ar ittini d ixf nns: icqqa uẓum! Tkarn middn lmikat nnsn s iɣaln n uɣrum, gin gis tiyni, tugtt niẓmi n igumma, ar ttqln s tiwwudc, kuyan ar gis ttwirriynt walln, Arraw lli Ur Illin ar iswirriy ils nns ɣ imi, ar sɣirriyn wadan nns s waḍu n laẓ, ur sul ar swingimn abla ɣ umtcu d irifi. Aflla n wawal yiwi tugtt n unaruz s umtcu, ar izray wass, lkmnt takẓin, ar ittini d ixf nns: icqqa uẓum! Iḍṛ d umalu, inna i mas, skr iyi a immi lmris n uggrn ijjan ilan tazuknnit, skr tiram tiqburin ula timaynutin! Tḍṛ nn tafukt, uddnnt tiwwudc, yaf azmz s umtcu, ig nn imi ɣ waman, yar uẓum, isu yat tsaḍṛt n uzkkif, ig tasalt, ur sul iẓḍar i yat, ar ittẓi d ixf nns.

Inna as Adyar astratiji g tlla tmazirt nny yiws as ad tzmmim yan umzruy immrksn.

munnt gis tugtt n tutlayin, d tussniwin, d isyann; am tutlayt tamaziyt Ili igan tin.

Tmazirt, d teibrit d trumit, d taerabt, d tfransist... mk lli gis immrks kigan n tmyurin, zun d tin udayn d wiyyad, kra gisnt iyama sul ar ass ad nit.

Tga tmurt nny n ikabarn n usyzznz gr tmula n Urubba d tin, slawan akkWasaka n ugwns n tnzruft tamqqrant lli yiwin. Aywa ara ma mi tẓḍaṛt, Arraw lli Ur Illin tuẓẓumt n wass tgit taɣuyyit s laẓ d irifi, ur illi ma d ur tsɣit, aywa fk afus i tirmt, ur ukan gik abla laẓ n walln, tggamit ma s rad tafst adis nnk, is d tiram timaynutin nɣ d tiram tiqburin?

Itkar Imrfɛ, ittrs d tugtt n wanawn n tiram, ar asn ittkks akyud, bjr d wi d, bjr d winn, ar isgal alkdis. Nttan ur igi mad inkkrn iẓẓl, ifsr, laḥ laẓ ula irifi, ar ittkks iḍṛmas i ixf nns, inna as: aywa frd ha tirmt ɣ mnid nnk, nɣ d lliɣ nn ka tgit algammu, ad tt trit! Ar dids tettẓi ula mas, tnna as: aywa ctta, ur tẓḍart i yat, ati kullu tiɣawsiwiu_mkann ad gant, tanna ur tlkmt, ar ka_gis tswingimt, ad ukan tili ddu ufus nnk, tḥacat s tt, ar dax tswigimt ɣ tayyaḍ! Tlkm tuẓẓumt n wayyur n uẓum, skrn ayt tmazirt tizlafin n sksu s tmzgida, ẓẓulln imẓẓulla tiwwudc s d ufan tizlafin ccan tnt wazzann, llɣn tnt, ccn ula nttni, gn nn tulawin nnsn s ṛbbi, ssutrn as afsay d ussfḍ n ibaḍan i lal n tzlafin ann. Iḍarn, yarud iswi ɣ udis n ufgan, ṛẓmnt tumtdin i tadunt, ilkm iḍ n simraw d sa, mann d middn, ɣrsn i taɣaḍt ɣ tmzgida, skrn tafugla i iḍ ann, gn nn gis imnsi, ṛẓmnt tmɣarin tistrin n tujjut, usin d agusim (tswik) d taẓult, ɣmint lḥnna n iḍ ann.

Bxxrnt tigmmaw nnsnt afad ad ggwznt trɛmin iḍ ann ɣ ignwan, ad nn asint tiwwuriwin, awuzn, iḍṣ igwdl ɣ iḍ ann, illa iɣ ar ttẓallan, illa iɣ ar aqqran lquran, illa iɣ ar ttalsn i tẓallit f urqqas nns, illa iɣ ka ttalsn i tulɣa n ṛbbi d urqqas nns, idda nn iḍ, ccan middn sḥur ɣ tmzgida, ẓẓalln taẓallit n zik, watsn tigmmaw nnsn, snaln tisggiw nns i wakal, iɣ d tɣli tafukt, ddunt tmɣarin s ismḍal, ssafdnt nn gis tamlla n ṛbbi i id babtsnt d id mastn ula imuslmn akkW lli Ilanin ɣ ismḍal. Izri wayyur, immt, ilul wayyad, ar t siggiln middn ɣ ignwan lliy nn tḍṛ tafukt, yaf t nit dax, ingḍ ɣ tumrt n tfugla n uẓum lli izrin, Tkarn middn lmikat nnsn s iɣaln n uɣrum, gin gis tiyni, tugtt niẓmi n igumma, ar ttqln s tiwwudc, kuyan ar gis ttwirriynt walln, ar iswirriy ils nns ɣ imi, ar sɣirriyn wadan nns s waḍu n laẓ, ur sul ar swingimn abla ɣ umtcu d irifi. Aflla n wawal yiwi tugtt n unaruz s umtcu, ar izray wass, lkmnt takẓin, ar ittini d ixf nns: icqqa uẓum!

Imsifiḍ ba rmḍan d tasa inna as: tasa, ilkm iyi uzmz ad ddux! Tnna as tasa: ddu aggw nn, hanay nn askkattu nnk ɣ wasqqif, ad aɣ ig ṛbbi d inagan n imal!

Tadggwat, gnt tmyarin d wazzann lḥnna, iffu lḥal d lɛid, lsin middn timlsa timaynutin, ḍin tumẓin i im ẓlaḍ, ku taqllalt tḍi anfṭṭr n tmẓin, ẓẓalln d middn lɛid, msifiḍn d ingratsn, bbin dax iskraf, fkn dax afus i tirmt ula gar awal. G udɣar nns g tɣmrt n izlmd n ifriqya; ar nn ttaggwa tmazirt nnɣ xf snat tsgiwin n ill; iswutta tt id g iẓlmḍ ill amllal anammas; s uftas nns iɣzzifn s mad nn yakmurn Kilumitr.

Tɣrrd zɣ Sɛidiya, ar tiɣrmt n Tanja, trar tt id g iffus tmurt n, ill n Atlas amqqran g tagut.

Tzdi dis tamurt n Dzayr g tsga n iming, tumz tmurt tamurrukit mad igan mnnawn ikaliwn nns.

Gr izaɣarn, d tnzruft, d idrarn, slawan akk Atlas anammas, d umqqran Ili yattuyn s tiɣzi ngr ar n mitru, ig udrar n Tubqal amattuy d umqqran nnsn. Arraw lli Ur Illin Ittuybḍa xf n tsgiwin; ar gis ttazzaln isaffn imqqrann, ddrn sul iglmamn nns amẓn tazgzut nnsn iẓiln. Addad n unzwi nns iẓ1i gr tmnaḍt s tayyad, iga anammas g iẓlmd, d win ill g tagut n umurukc; iggut unzruf, d tskWfaI n trɣi g iffus, ig unzwi amntil n ummẓli n wanawn n waddagn, d tfsut Ili s akk tzgzaw tmazirt nnɣ, tbdd tkiḍa tṛẓm i yifr ad t ismussu uzwu; yamẓ wargan idular, yili ikikr, d waynri, d uwrẓaḍ, ifsi ujddig ifrawn nns i tizzwa lli ẓṭṭanin tammemt g taddarin n idular. Izri uun n imzdayn n tmurt ad mlyun, tuggt nnsn gan icrrimn, gis kigan n tyrmin tidlsanin zun d d tyrmin tidamsanin am Wuc d tiyyaq. Ku tiymt teuaf tarabbut n tunnunt.

Adyar astratiji g tlla tmazirt nny yiws as ad tzmmim yan umzruy immrksn, munnt gis tugtt n tutlayin, d tussniwin, d isyann; am tutlayt tamaziyt Ili igan tin. Tmazirt, d teibrit d trumit, d taerabt, d tfransist... mk lli gis immrks kigan n tmyurin, zun d tin udayn d wiyyad, kra gisnt iyama sul ar ass ad nit. Tga tmurt nny n ikabarn n usyzznz gr tmula n Urubba d tin, slawan akkWasaka n ugwns n tnzruft tamqqrant lli yiwin.

Innurzm xf tmula n brra, lli igan n idyarn i tugttt n imzdayn ayt tmurt nny salan gisnt tugttt n wanawn n twwuriwin.

Mad as ismdn afulki d watig. iga_t wanawn n lli gis illan, slawan akkW amarg d uwan. Ar ttirirn imlmwcn, biddn s uncibar yili ussuss d uhnaqqar.

Ilint taskiwin d Icwwad, yili ubidus, d hrrma, d ugdur, bidsn irgazn, ularnt trbatin, kknt d twckinin n lbbaq, d ujddig ignna, isawl ganga d tayrit...

Tettuska akk W tmurt nny s wanawn n tuskiwin, gis tasgda taqqburt, tili tmaynut, ilin igdzn d ilmuqqarn ku asggwas, g mnnawt tmnadin, ma ann ad ifkan abuylu i igr n tmallayt. Tadamsa n tmlrt nny nttat. Izri wayyur, immt, ilul wayyad, ar t siggiln middn ɣ ignwan lliy nn tḍṛ tafukt, yaf t nit dax, ingḍ ɣ tumrt n tfugla n uẓum lli izrin, Tkarn middn lmikat nnsn s iɣaln n uɣrum, gin gis tiyni, tugtt niẓmi n igumma, ar ttqln s tiwwudc, kuyan ar gis ttwirriynt walln, ar iswirriy ils nns ɣ imi, ar sɣirriyn.

Wadan nns s waḍu n laẓ, ur sul ar swingimn abla ɣ umtcu d irifi. Aflla n wawal yiwi tugtt n unaruz s umtcu, ar izray wass, Arraw lli Ur Illin lkmnt takẓin, ar ittini d ixf nns: icqqa uẓum! Tga tanammast, ar nttay s brra afusfa, d kra n tyafut n tkrza,d tin ill. Assllmd g tmùrrnny, ur ta jun ilkm tiskfal Ili Ikmnt tmula, slawan akkW tin tamunt n urubba. Tad ad igan tamazirt nny, amk Ili tettinin willi zrinin kiean ad izrin xf waklim ur imdudi.

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