The Ivory Carver's Widow of Mikindani | Mjane wa Mchongaji Pembe wa Mikindani | أَرْمَلَةُ نَحّاتِ العاجِ في ميكينْداني
"In the old slave port of Mikindani, an ivory carver's voluptuous widow teaches a young German museum curator the art of shaping hard things into beauty."
أَرْمَلَةُ نَحّاتِ العاجِ في ميكينْداني
Mjane wa Mchongaji Pembe wa Mikindani
The Ivory Carver's Widow of Mikindani
الفصل الأول: مِيناءُ التّاريخِ
Sura ya Kwanza: Bandari ya Historia
Chapter One: The Port of History
في ميكينْداني، حَيْثُ كانَتْ قَوافِلُ العاجِ تَصِلُ مِنَ البُحَيْراتِ العُظْمى وَتُشْحَنُ إلى زَنْجِبارَ وَما وَراءَها، عاشَتْ فَوْزِيَّةُ بِنْتُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمنِ في بَيْتٍ قَديمٍ مُطِلٍّ عَلى المَرْفَأِ.
Katika Mikindani, ambapo misafara ya pembe za ndovu ilikuwa inafika kutoka Maziwa Makuu na kusafirishwa Zanzibar na zaidi, aliishi Fawziya binti Abdulrahman katika nyumba ya kale inayotazama bandari.
In Mikindani, where ivory caravans would arrive from the Great Lakes and be shipped to Zanzibar and beyond, lived Fawziya bint Abdulrahman in an old house overlooking the harbor.
زَوْجُها كانَ آخِرَ نَحّاتي العاجِ في المَدينَةِ. ماتَ قَبْلَ ثَلاثِ سَنَواتٍ، تارِكاً لَها وَرْشَتَهُ المَمْلوءَةَ بِالتَّماثيلِ وَالنُّقوشِ.
Mume wake alikuwa mchongaji wa mwisho wa pembe katika mji. Alifariki miaka mitatu iliyopita, akimwachia karakana yake iliyojaa sanamu na michongo.
Her husband was the last ivory carver in the city. He died three years ago, leaving her his workshop full of statues and carvings.
فَوْزِيَّةُ في الثّالِثَةِ وَالأَرْبَعينَ، امْرَأَةٌ مَكْواوِيَّةٌ سَمْراءُ ضَخْمَةُ الجِسْمِ. بَشَرَتُها بِلَوْنِ العاجِ المُعَتَّقِ، وَجَسَدُها مَنْحوتٌ كَأَجْمَلِ تَماثيلِ زَوْجِها—ثَدْيانِ كَبيرانِ كَالقِبابِ، وَأَرْدافٌ عَريضَةٌ كَالعُروشِ.
Fawziya ana umri wa miaka arobaini na tatu, mwanamke wa Kimakonde mweusi mwenye mwili mkubwa. Ngozi yake kama rangi ya pembe ya zamani, na mwili wake umechongwa kama sanamu nzuri zaidi za mume wake—matiti makubwa kama kuba, na matako mapana kama viti vya enzi.
Fawziya was forty-three years of age, a dark Makonde woman of large body. Her skin the color of aged ivory, her body sculpted like the most beautiful statues of her husband—large breasts like domes, and wide buttocks like thrones.
الفصل الثاني: أَمينُ المَتْحَف
Sura ya Pili: Msimamizi wa Makumbusho
Chapter Two: The Museum Curator
جاءَ مِنْ أَلْمانيا أَمينُ مَتْحَفٍ شابٌّ اسْمُهُ ماركوس، في التّاسِعَةِ وَالعِشْرينَ مِنْ عُمْرِهِ. كانَ يَبْحَثُ عَنْ قِطَعِ عاجٍ قَديمَةٍ لِمَتْحَفِ بِرْلينَ.
Alikuja kutoka Ujerumani msimamizi kijana wa makumbusho jina lake Markus, mwenye umri wa miaka ishirini na tisa. Alikuwa akitafuta vipande vya pembe za zamani kwa makumbusho ya Berlin.
There came from Germany a young museum curator named Markus, twenty-nine years of age. He was searching for old ivory pieces for the Berlin museum.
"هَذِهِ القِطَعُ لَيْسَتْ لِلْبَيْعِ،" قالَتْ فَوْزِيَّةُ. "إنَّها ذِكْرى زَوْجي."
"Vipande hivi haviko kwa kuuza," alisema Fawziya. "Ni kumbukumbu ya mume wangu."
"These pieces are not for sale," said Fawziya. "They are memories of my husband."
"لَكِنَّها جَميلَةٌ جِدّاً. يَجِبُ أَنْ يَراها العالَمُ."
"Lakini ni nzuri sana. Lazima ulimwengu uziona."
"But they are so beautiful. The world must see them."
"الجَمالُ الحَقيقِيُّ لا يُوضَعُ في المَتاحِفِ." نَظَرَتْ إلَيْهِ بِعَيْنَيْنِ ثاقِبَتَيْنِ. "الجَمالُ الحَقيقِيُّ يُلْمَسُ."
"Uzuri wa kweli hauwekwi katika makumbusho." Alimtazama kwa macho makali. "Uzuri wa kweli unaguswa."
"True beauty is not placed in museums." She looked at him with piercing eyes. "True beauty is touched."
الفصل الثالث: فَنُّ النَّحْت
Sura ya Tatu: Sanaa ya Kuchonga
Chapter Three: The Art of Carving
"هَلْ تُريدُ أَنْ تَتَعَلَّمَ كَيْفَ يُنْحَتُ العاجُ؟" سَأَلَتْهُ.
"Unataka kujifunza jinsi pembe inavyochongwa?" alimuuliza.
"Do you want to learn how ivory is carved?" she asked him.
"نَعَمْ، أُريدُ أَنْ أَفْهَمَ الفَنَّ."
"Ndiyo, nataka kuelewa sanaa."
"Yes, I want to understand the art."
أَخَذَتْ قِطْعَةَ عاجٍ صَغيرَةً وَوَضَعَتْ يَدَهُ عَلَيْها.
Alichukua kipande kidogo cha pembe na kuweka mkono wake juu yake.
She took a small piece of ivory and placed his hand on it.
"العاجُ صَلْبٌ مِنَ الخارِجِ، لَكِنَّهُ يَسْتَجيبُ لِلْمَسَةِ الرَّقيقَةِ." حَرَّكَتْ يَدَهُ عَلى العاجِ. "هَكَذا يُلْمَسُ الشَّيْءُ الثَّمينُ."
"Pembe ni ngumu nje, lakini inajibu kwa mguso laini." Alisogeza mkono wake juu ya pembe. "Hivyo ndivyo unavyogusa kitu cha thamani."
"Ivory is hard on the outside, but it responds to a gentle touch." She moved his hand on the ivory. "This is how you touch something precious."
الفصل الرابع: التِّمْثالُ الحَيّ
Sura ya Nne: Sanamu Hai
Chapter Four: The Living Statue
"أَنا أَيْضاً صَلْبَةٌ مِنَ الخارِجِ،" قالَتْ وَهِيَ تَخْلَعُ ثَوْبَها. "لَكِنَّني أَسْتَجيبُ لِلْمَسَةِ الصَّحيحَةِ."
"Mimi pia ni ngumu nje," alisema akivua nguo yake. "Lakini ninajibu kwa mguso sahihi."
"I too am hard on the outside," she said as she removed her garment. "But I respond to the right touch."
وَقَفَتْ أَمامَهُ كَتِمْثالٍ مِنَ العاجِ الداكِنِ. جَسَدُها مَنْحوتٌ بِيَدِ الطَّبيعَةِ—ثَدْيانِ ضَخْمانِ، بَطْنٌ مُسْتَديرَةٌ، أَرْدافٌ كَالتِّلالِ.
Alisimama mbele yake kama sanamu ya pembe nyeusi. Mwili wake umechongwa na mkono wa asili—matiti makubwa, tumbo la mviringo, matako kama vilima.
She stood before him like a statue of dark ivory. Her body sculpted by the hand of nature—enormous breasts, rounded belly, buttocks like hills.
"الْمِسْ،" أَمَرَتْهُ. "الْمِسْ كَما تَلْمِسُ العاجَ."
"Gusa," alimwamuru. "Gusa kama unavyogusa pembe."
"Touch," she commanded him. "Touch as you touch ivory."
الفصل الخامس: الأَيْدي الماهِرَة
Sura ya Tano: Mikono Stadi
Chapter Five: The Skilled Hands
مَدَّ يَدَيْهِ وَلَمَسَ ثَدْيَيْها. ثَقيلانِ وَدافِئانِ في راحَتَيْهِ.
Alinyoosha mikono yake na kugusa matiti yake. Mazito na ya joto mikononi mwake.
He extended his hands and touched her breasts. Heavy and warm in his palms.
"هَكَذا،" لَهَثَتْ. "بِرِفْقٍ أَوَّلاً."
"Hivyo," alihema. "Kwa upole kwanza."
"Like that," she panted. "Gently first."
نَزَلَ بِيَدَيْهِ إلى بَطْنِها، ثُمَّ إلى وِرْكَيْها.
Alishushiza mikono yake hadi tumbo lake, kisha hadi viuno vyake.
He descended with his hands to her belly, then to her hips.
"كُلُّ مُنْحَنى لَهُ مَعْنى،" قالَتْ. "كُلُّ طَيَّةٍ تَحْكي قِصَّةً."
"Kila mkunjo una maana," alisema. "Kila pindo linasimulia hadithi."
"Every curve has meaning," she said. "Every fold tells a story."
الفصل السادس: النَّحْتُ الدّاخِلِيّ
Sura ya Sita: Kuchonga Ndani
Chapter Six: The Inner Carving
أَرْقَدَها عَلى طاوِلَةِ العَمَلِ القَديمَةِ. حَيْثُ كانَ زَوْجُها يَنْحِتُ العاجَ، سَيَنْحِتُها هُوَ.
Alimlaza kwenye meza ya kazi ya zamani. Ambapo mume wake alichonga pembe, yeye atamchonga.
He laid her on the old work table. Where her husband carved ivory, he would carve her.
نَزَلَ بِفَمِهِ بَيْنَ فَخِذَيْها. بَدَأَ يَنْحِتُ بِلِسانِهِ.
Alishuka kwa mdomo wake kati ya mapaja yake. Alianza kuchonga kwa ulimi wake.
He descended with his mouth between her thighs. He began to carve with his tongue.
"يا إلَهي!" صَرَخَتْ. "أَنْتَ نَحّاتٌ ماهِرٌ!"
"Mwenyezi Mungu!" alipiga kelele. "Wewe ni mchongaji stadi!"
"My God!" she screamed. "You are a skilled carver!"
عَمِلَ بِلِسانِهِ حَتّى أَخْرَجَ مِنْها تِمْثالاً مِنَ اللَّذَّةِ.
Alifanya kazi kwa ulimi wake hadi alipotoa ndani yake sanamu ya raha.
He worked with his tongue until he brought forth from her a statue of pleasure.
الفصل السابع: الإِزْميلُ الكَبير
Sura ya Saba: Patasi Kubwa
Chapter Seven: The Large Chisel
"الآنَ،" لَهَثَتْ. "اسْتَخْدِمْ إزْميلَكَ الكَبيرَ."
"Sasa," alihema. "Tumia patasi yako kubwa."
"Now," she panted. "Use your large chisel."
خَلَعَ ثِيابَهُ. وَقَفَ أَمامَها مُنْتَصِباً كَعَمودٍ مِنَ العاجِ.
Alivua nguo zake. Alisimama mbele yake akiwa amesimama kama nguzo ya pembe.
He removed his clothes. He stood before her erect as an ivory pillar.
دَخَلَها بِبُطْءٍ، كَما يَدْخُلُ الإِزْميلُ في العاجِ.
Aliingia ndani yake polepole, kama patasi inavyoingia pembe.
He entered her slowly, as a chisel enters ivory.
"آآآهْ!" أَنَّتْ. "اِنْحِتْني مِنَ الدّاخِلِ!"
"Aaah!" aliugua. "Nichonge kutoka ndani!"
"Aaah!" she moaned. "Carve me from within!"
الفصل الثامن: التُّحْفَةُ الأَخيرَة
Sura ya Nane: Kazi Bora ya Mwisho
Chapter Eight: The Final Masterpiece
تَحَرَّكَ داخِلَها بِإيقاعِ النَّحّاتِ. ضَرْبَةٌ ضَرْبَةٌ، كَضَرَباتِ الإِزْميلِ عَلى العاجِ.
Alisogea ndani yake kwa mdundo wa mchongaji. Pigo pigo, kama mapigo ya patasi juu ya pembe.
He moved inside her with the rhythm of a carver. Stroke by stroke, like the strikes of a chisel on ivory.
"أَقْوى!" صَرَخَتْ. "اِنْحِتْ أَعْمَقَ!"
"Zaidi!" alipiga kelele. "Chonga zaidi kina!"
"Stronger!" she screamed. "Carve deeper!"
ثَدْياها الضَّخْمانِ يَرْتَجِفانِ. أَدَواتُ النَّحْتِ القَديمَةُ تَهْتَزُّ عَلى الرُّفوفِ.
Matiti yake makubwa yalitetemeka. Vyombo vya kuchonga vya zamani vilitetemeka kwenye rafu.
Her enormous breasts trembled. The old carving tools shook on the shelves.
وَصَلا إلى الذُّرْوَةِ مَعاً، صارِخَيْنِ كَصُراخِ الفَنّانِ حينَ يُكْمِلُ تُحْفَتَهُ.
Walifikia kilele pamoja, wakipiga kelele kama kilio cha msanii anapokamilisha kazi yake bora.
They reached the climax together, screaming like the cry of an artist when he completes his masterpiece.
الخاتِمَة
Hitimisho
Epilogue
لَمْ يَشْتَرِ ماركوس أَيَّ قِطْعَةِ عاجٍ، لَكِنَّهُ عادَ إلى ميكينْداني مَرّاتٍ كَثيرَةً.
Markus hakununu kipande chochote cha pembe, lakini alirudi Mikindani mara nyingi.
Markus did not buy any ivory piece, but he returned to Mikindani many times.
وَيُقالُ إنَّ أَجْمَلَ تُحْفَةٍ في العالَمِ لَيْسَتْ في مَتْحَفِ بِرْلينَ، بَلْ في وَرْشَةٍ قَديمَةٍ في ميكينْداني، حَيْثُ تَنْتَظِرُ مَنْ يَنْحِتُها كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ.
Na inasemekana kwamba kazi bora zaidi ulimwenguni haiko katika makumbusho ya Berlin, bali katika karakana ya zamani huko Mikindani, ambapo inasubiri mtu wa kuichonga kila usiku.
And it is said that the most beautiful masterpiece in the world is not in the Berlin museum, but in an old workshop in Mikindani, where she waits for someone to carve her every night.
انْتَهَتِ القِصَّة | Mwisho wa Hadithi | The End