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Nozibele and the three hairs Nozibele and the three hairs Nozibele na Umushishi utatu

Written by Tessa Welch

Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager

Read by Darshan Soni

Language English

Level Level 3

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Reading speed

Autoplay story


A long time ago, three girls went out to collect wood.

A long time ago, three girls went out to collect wood.

Munshita yakale, abakashana batatu baile mukuteba inkuni.


It was a hot day so they went down to the river to swim. They played and splashed and swam in the water.

It was a hot day so they went down to the river to swim. They played and splashed and swam in the water.

Kwali ukwakaba sana, eyo baile mumumana mukowa. Bayangele nokowa mumenshi.


Suddenly, they realised that it was late. They hurried back to the village.

Suddenly, they realised that it was late. They hurried back to the village.

Elyo baimwene ati bwaila. Babutukile ukubwelela kumushi.


When they were nearly home, Nozibele put her hand to her neck. She had forgotten her necklace! “Please come back with me!” she begged her friends. But her friends said it was too late.

When they were nearly home, Nozibele put her hand to her neck. She had forgotten her necklace! “Please come back with me!” she begged her friends. But her friends said it was too late.

Cilya bapalamina kumushi, Nozibele aikete mumukoshi. Alilaba akakufwala mumukoshi, “Napapata nshindikeniko!” Nomba abanankwe bamukanina.


So Nozibele went back to the river alone. She found her necklace and hurried home. But she got lost in the dark.

So Nozibele went back to the river alone. She found her necklace and hurried home. But she got lost in the dark.

Nozibele epakubwekelamo kumumana eka. Asendel akakufwala mumukoshi nokubweluluka bwangu bwangu ku mushi. Nomba aliluba munfifi.


In the distance she saw light coming from a hut. She hurried towards it and knocked at the door.

In the distance she saw light coming from a hut. She hurried towards it and knocked at the door.

Akatalamukila, amona ulubuto mukasaka. Eko aya bwangubwangu mukukonkosha pacibi.


To her surprise, a dog opened the door and said, “What do you want?” “I’m lost and I need a place to sleep,” said Nozibele. “Come in, or I’ll bite you!” said the dog. So Nozibele went in.

To her surprise, a dog opened the door and said, “What do you want?” “I’m lost and I need a place to sleep,” said Nozibele. “Come in, or I’ll bite you!” said the dog. So Nozibele went in.

Camupapwishe ukuti imbwa eyaiswile kucibi nokumwipusha, “Finshi ulefwaya?” Nozibele ati “Ninduba eico ndefwaya aponingasendama”, embwa aiti “Ingila pantu nalakusuma!” Nozibele epakwingila.


Then the dog said, “Cook for me!” “But I’ve never cooked for a dog before,” she answered. “Cook, or I’ll bite you!” said the dog. So Nozibele cooked some food for the dog.

Then the dog said, “Cook for me!” “But I’ve never cooked for a dog before,” she answered. “Cook, or I’ll bite you!” said the dog. So Nozibele cooked some food for the dog.

Imbwa epakumweba ati, “njipikilako!” Nozibele ati “nomba nshatala ipikilapo imbwa.” Imbwa aiti “Ipika pantu nalakusuma”. Efyo Nozibele aipikile imbwa ifyakulya.


Then the dog said, “Make the bed for me!” Nozibele answered, “I’ve never made a bed for a dog.” “Make the bed, or I’ll bite you!” the dog said. So Nozibele made the bed.

Then the dog said, “Make the bed for me!” Nozibele answered, “I’ve never made a bed for a dog.” “Make the bed, or I’ll bite you!” the dog said. So Nozibele made the bed.

Imbwa aiti, “Njanshikila ubusanshi!” Nozibele ati “nshatala anshikapo ubusanshi bwambwa.” Imbwa aiti, “njashikila ubusanshi pantu nalakusuma”! Efyo Nozibele ayanshike ubusanshi.


Every day she had to cook and sweep and wash for the dog. Then one day the dog said, “Nozibele, today I have to visit some friends. Sweep the house, cook the food and wash my things before I come back.”

Every day she had to cook and sweep and wash for the dog. Then one day the dog said, “Nozibele, today I have to visit some friends. Sweep the house, cook the food and wash my things before I come back.”

Cilabushiku aleipikila imbwa nokuicapila. Bushiku bumo imbwa aiti, “Nozibela, lelo nalaya mukutandalila abanandi. Upyange ing’anda, wipike ifyakulya, uwashe nokuwasha eponshila bwela.


As soon as the dog had gone, Nozibele took three hairs from her head. She put one hair under the bed, one behind the door, and one in the kraal. Then she ran home as fast as she could.

As soon as the dog had gone, Nozibele took three hairs from her head. She put one hair under the bed, one behind the door, and one in the kraal. Then she ran home as fast as she could.

Cilyafye imbwa yaya, Nozibele asenda umushishi utatu mumutwe. Abika umushishi umo pabusnahi, umbi kunuma yacibi elyo umbi mwicinka. Efyo abutwike ukuya.


When the dog came back, he looked for Nozibele. “Nozibele, where are you?” he shouted. “I’m here, under the bed,” said the first hair. “I’m here, behind the door,” said the second hair. “I’m here, in the kraal,” said the third hair.

When the dog came back, he looked for Nozibele. “Nozibele, where are you?” he shouted. “I’m here, under the bed,” said the first hair. “I’m here, behind the door,” said the second hair. “I’m here, in the kraal,” said the third hair.

Elyi imbwa yabwelele, yaambile ukufwaya Nozibele. yapunda aiti “Nozibele ulikwisa?” Umushishi wali mwisamba lyabusanshi lyabalilapo aliti “ndimuno!” Iyakonkelepo aliti “Indikunuma yacibi”. ishiwi Ilyabutatu aliti, “ndimwicinka”.


Then the dog knew that Nozibele had tricked him. So he ran and ran all the way to the village. But Nozibele’s brothers were waiting there with big sticks. The dog turned and ran away and has never been seen since.

Then the dog knew that Nozibele had tricked him. So he ran and ran all the way to the village. But Nozibele’s brothers were waiting there with big sticks. The dog turned and ran away and has never been seen since.

Eyo imbwa yaimwene ukuti Nozibele naicenjesha. Epakubutuka ukukonamo ukuya kumushi. Nomba bandume yakwa Nozibele baleilolela nefimiti. Imbwa epakupilibuka nokubwekelamo ukufumapo tayatalile aimoneka nakabili.


Written by: Tessa Welch
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Read by: Darshan Soni
Language: English
Level: Level 3
Source: Nozibele and the three hairs from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 International License.
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