Fluent Fiction - Afrikaans: Johan's Farewell: Strumming New Dreams in Jo'burg
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/af/episode/2025-10-04-22-34-02-af

Story Transcript:

Af: Die lente se son skyn helder oor Greenmarket Square in Kaapstad.
En: The spring sun shines brightly over Greenmarket Square in Kaapstad.

Af: Die lug is vol gelag en geselsies van mense wat na die kleurryke stalletjies kyk.
En: The air is filled with laughter and conversations from people looking at the colorful stalls.

Af: Kosgeure sweef oral om jou — kerrie, pannekoek, en vars gebakte brood.
En: Aromas of food float all around you — curry, pancakes, and freshly baked bread.

Af: Johan, die straatmusikant, staan op sy gewone plek.
En: Johan, the street musician, stands in his usual spot.

Af: Sy kitaar blink in die son, en hy groet vriendelik met ’n glimlag.
En: His guitar glistens in the sun, and he greets warmly with a smile.

Af: Pieter en Elize, sy getroue vriende, luister gereeld na sy musiek.
En: Pieter and Elize, his loyal friends, regularly listen to his music.

Af: Pieter hou van die blues-note wat Johan so goed speel.
En: Pieter loves the blues notes that Johan plays so well.

Af: Elize draai altyd 'n kort ronde dansie wanneer sy ’n liedjie hoor wat sy herken.
En: Elize always does a little dance when she hears a song she recognizes.

Af: "Wat is vandag se lied, Johan?
En: "What is today's song, Johan?"

Af: " vra Elize terwyl sy nader stap.
En: Elize asks as she steps closer.

Af: Johan voel ’n knoop in sy maag.
En: Johan feels a knot in his stomach.

Af: Hy het besluit om na Johannesburg te trek om sy musiekloopbaan te bevorder, maar hy het nog vir niemand vertel nie.
En: He has decided to move to Johannesburg to advance his music career, but he hasn't told anyone yet.

Af: Vandag, dink hy, sal hy moet besluit.
En: Today, he thinks, he will have to decide.

Af: Bly hy stil, of vertel hy sy mense?
En: Does he keep quiet, or does he tell his people?

Af: Hy kyk na die bekende gesigte in die skare — mense wat byna soos familie geword het.
En: He looks at the familiar faces in the crowd — people who have almost become like family.

Af: Hy begin speel, die note vloei oor die plein.
En: He begins to play, the notes flowing across the square.

Af: Almal word stil.
En: Everyone falls silent.

Af: Die musiek trek hulle in.
En: The music draws them in.

Af: Dit is 'n lied oor afskeid, oor verandering.
En: It is a song about farewell, about change.

Af: Pieter voel iets anders aan die lied en kyk vraend na Johan.
En: Pieter senses something different in the song and looks questioningly at Johan.

Af: Halverwege die liedjie, blikkeraf en met 'n tril in sy stem, hou Johan op speel.
En: Midway through the song, visibly nervous and with a quiver in his voice, Johan stops playing.

Af: “Ek het nuus,” sê hy, sy stem effens hees.
En: "I have news," he says, his voice slightly hoarse.

Af: “Ek gaan Kaapstad verlaat.
En: "I am leaving Kaapstad."

Af: ” 'n Stilte volg.
En: A silence follows.

Af: Dan ’n gesug van ongeloof, maar ook van verstaan.
En: Then a sigh of disbelief, but also understanding.

Af: “Ek gaan Johannesburg toe, om nuwe drome na te jaag,” verduidelik hy, sy oë glinster van emosie.
En: "I'm going to Johannesburg, to chase new dreams," he explains, his eyes glistening with emotion.

Af: Die skare drom nader.
En: The crowd gathers closer.

Af: Elize neem sy hand en druk dit.
En: Elize takes his hand and squeezes it.

Af: "Ons is trots op jou," sê sy eenvoudig.
En: "We are proud of you," she says simply.

Af: Pieter gee hom ’n stewige drukkie.
En: Pieter gives him a firm hug.

Af: "Jy sal die musieksaal daar in Johannesburg vol speel.
En: "You'll fill the music halls in Johannesburg.

Af: Jy het dit vinnig gemaak.
En: You've made it this far quickly."

Af: "Johan voel 'n las van sy skouers afgly.
En: Johan feels a burden lift from his shoulders.

Af: Hy het bang was vir hierdie oomblik, maar nou voel hy verlig.
En: He had been afraid of this moment, but now he feels relieved.

Af: Hy voltooi sy laaste lied met 'n glimlag, sy vingers gly oor die snare met 'n nuwe sekerheid.
En: He finishes his last song with a smile, his fingers gliding over the strings with new confidence.

Af: Na die lied omhels sy vriende hom.
En: After the song, his friends embrace him.

Af: “Ons gaan jou mis, maar ons is hier vir jou,” sê ’n stem uit die skare.
En: “We will miss you, but we are here for you,” says a voice from the crowd.

Af: Johan weet nou, hy het die regte besluit geneem.
En: Johan now knows he has made the right decision.

Af: Sy pad vorentoe is onbekend, maar hy weet daar is mense wat hom ondersteun.
En: His path ahead is unknown, but he knows there are people who support him.

Af: En met dié gedagte glinster die son helder in sy gedagtes soos die pragtige lente wat hom omring.
En: And with this thought, the sun shines brightly in his mind, like the beautiful spring that surrounds him.


Vocabulary Words:

• stalls: stalletjies
• aromas: kosgeure
• glistens: blink
• knots: knoppe
• in advance: bevorder
• familiar: bekende
• farewell: afskeid
• quiver: tril
• hoarse: hees
• sigh: gesug
• chase: jaag na
• emotion: emosie
• proud: trots
• burden: las
• relieved: verlig
• confidence: sekerheid
• embrace: omhels
• unknown: onbekend
• support: ondersteun
• surrounds: omring
• spring: lente
• conversation: geselsies
• regularly: gereeld
• notes: note
• across: oor
• crowd: skare
• understanding: verstaan
• path: pad
• beautiful: pragtige
• glide: gly