Unity is Strength

A story encountered today from chapter 27 of our Swahili textbook (as translated by Shauen):

An old man was near death. He called his two children and gave his last words to them. He said to them, "Bring that bundle of sticks." They brought it. He told his bigger child, "Break it." The child tried to break the bundle of sticks, but he was defeated. The smaller child tried to break it also. He was defeated.

The old man told them, "Untie that bundle, each one he should take one stick." Each child grasped one stick. The old man told them, "Okay, now break them." Each stick broke with ease. Their father told them, "My children, this is my matter: Unity is strength."