Mama Nyuki had six lovely daughters whom she loved so much. They all lived in one big hive. In the morning, they would buzz around and have fun in the garden.
One morning Mama Nyuki laid an egg in a special tiny cube in their hive. The egg was like a tiny tiny seed. Every day Mama Nyuki and her daughters would gather and buzz around it humming the sounds of joy and happiness. “I can’t wait for it to grow like us” The oldest sister said. “I can’t wait to play with it” mumbled the youngest while stomping her feet. Mama Nyuki and her daughters would gather and feed it some special wobbly jelly for it to grow big and strong. They imagined what kind of bee it would be and what adventures they would have together.
Then one cold morning a baby bee popped out of its cocoon. “Buzz! Zzzz!” the baby bee cried. “It’s boy!” Mama Nyuki shouted flying up and down. All the sisters came to see the new baby “Let’s call him Baraka! Shouted the big sister excitedly. Mama Nyuki nodded and clapped her whiskers. “Baraka! Welcome to the family!” she said and smiled.
Baraka found himself feeling a little bored. His big sisters were busy buzzing around and there were no other boys to play with. “Mama, I want to go out and play with the others” he said stomping his tiny bee feet and buzzing loudly in frustration.
“Wait Baraka!” Mama Nyuki replied gently patting his head. “Wait until you are big and strong and then I will let you go out and be with the other big boys”
So, Baraka waited patiently inside their hive playing around with his sisters and learning all he could so that when he grows up, he could be strong and smart.
Every day, little Baraka would watch out of the window of their hive the big boys buzzing around, working so hard. “I wish I could be like them one day” he said.
One sunny day while Baraka was watching the other bees through the window, he started humming the new lullabies he had learned from his sisters.
Pretty flowers all around
Make me happy when they sound
Smelling good and fresh for me
Different colors all I see
“buzz” “buzz” how I sing
When I see this pretty thing
One day I will go so far
Finding big and fresh nectar
“buzz” “buzz” how I sing
When I see this pretty thing
Suddenly he heard a cry from the top far above “Help! Help!”. The helpless bee shouted. Baraka looked up a tall coconut tree and saw a bee struggling to carry a big blob of juice. It was dripping, and the poor bee was struggling to keep on the weight; he was losing strength and the weight was taking him down.
“Hold on!” Baraka shouted flying as hard as he could, flapping his wings with all his might. “Hello buddy!” he called out. “Let me help you!” he told him. They both carried the big blob of flower juice with their wings all the way to the big factory hive.
When they arrived at the factory, Baraka spotted his mother. “There he is” Mama Nyuki shouted pointing to Baraka. The whole army of bees started clapping for Baraka. Baraka landed and looked at his mother “I am sorry mama!” he said politely. His mother smiled and gave him a big hug. “You made me so proud” she said.
A big bee with a big belly came out of the big factory hive carrying a badge on his hand. “From now on you will be part of the worker bees” he said. He stuck the badge on Baraka’s chest. The workers’ group clapped hard with joy. He looked at his mom and gave him a big smile. “See mama! You don’t have to be big and strong” he said looking at his mom. “Yes Baraka! you just need a big heart just like yours,” she smiled.
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Shifaa Ibuni is a Child Development and Growth Specialist with 12 years of experience working on child protection and education projects. She mobilizes communities to establish learning spaces and assist children in literacy development. Shifaa engages with children through storytelling; and instilling a culture of reading.
Read – Troublesome Triplets – A Children’s Literature by Qondile Pearl – South Africa
