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Why hippos have no hair Why hippos have no hair Icoinfubu ishskwatila umushishi

Written by Basilio Gimo, David Ker

Illustrated by Carol Liddiment

Read by Darshan Soni

Language English

Level Level 2

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Reading speed

Autoplay story


One day, Rabbit was walking by the riverside.

One day, Rabbit was walking by the riverside.

Bushiku bumo, kalulu aile aleenda mululamba lwamumana


Hippo was there too, going for a stroll and eating some nice green grass.

Hippo was there too, going for a stroll and eating some nice green grass.

Infubu nayo ekoyali, yaletandala nokulwa umulenfwe uusuma sana


Hippo didn’t see that Rabbit was there and she accidentally stepped on Rabbit’s foot. Rabbit started screaming at Hippo, “You Hippo! Can’t you see that you’re stepping on my foot?”

Hippo didn’t see that Rabbit was there and she accidentally stepped on Rabbit’s foot. Rabbit started screaming at Hippo, “You Hippo! Can’t you see that you’re stepping on my foot?”

Infubu tayamwene ukuti Kalulu nao ekoali, epakumunyanta pakulu. Kalulu ayambile ukupundilila infubu. “Wenfubu iwe! Taulemona ukuti naunyanta pakulu?”


Hippo apologised to Rabbit, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you. Please forgive me!” But Rabbit wouldn’t listen and he shouted at Hippo, “You did that on purpose! Someday, you’ll see! You’re going to pay!”

Hippo apologised to Rabbit, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you. Please forgive me!” But Rabbit wouldn’t listen and he shouted at Hippo, “You did that on purpose! Someday, you’ll see! You’re going to pay!”

Infubu epakulomba ubwelelo kuli kalulu. “Njelelako, nshacikumona. Napapata njelelako!” Nomba kalulu talefwaya kunfwa, epakukalipila infubu ati, “wacicitilafye umufulo! bushiku bumo ukacimona, nkakulimuna!


Rabbit went to find Fire and said, “Go, burn Hippo when she comes out of the water to eat grass. She stepped on me!” Fire answered, “No problem, Rabbit, my friend. I’ll do just what you ask.”

Rabbit went to find Fire and said, “Go, burn Hippo when she comes out of the water to eat grass. She stepped on me!” Fire answered, “No problem, Rabbit, my friend. I’ll do just what you ask.”

Kalulu epakuya mukufwaya umulilo nokuweba ati, “kabiyeoce infubu ngayafuma mumenshi mukulya icani. Acinyanta! Umuliolo epakwasuka ati, “takuli bwafya mune kalulu, nalacita ifyofine.”


Later, Hippo was eating grass far from the river when, “Whoosh!” Fire burst into flame. The flames began to burn Hippo’s hair.

Later, Hippo was eating grass far from the river when, “Whoosh!” Fire burst into flame. The flames began to burn Hippo’s hair.

Panuma yakakshita, infubu yalelya icani ukutali nomumana, “mutule!” umulilo wabilimuka mulubingu, ulubingu epakwamba ukoca umushishi wanfubu.


Hippo started to cry and ran for the water. All her hair was burned off by the fire. Hippo kept crying, “My hair has burned in the fire! My hair is all gone! My beautiful hair!”

Hippo started to cry and ran for the water. All her hair was burned off by the fire. Hippo kept crying, “My hair has burned in the fire! My hair is all gone! My beautiful hair!”

Infubu epakwamba ukulila nokubutukila kumenshi. Umushishi waiko onse ukupya kumulilo. Infubu yakonkenyepo ukulila, “umushishi wandi wapya kumulilo! umushishi wandi onse waya! Umushishi wandi ubusuma!”


Rabbit was happy that Hippo’s hair was burned. And to this day, for fear of fire, the hippo never goes far from the water.

Rabbit was happy that Hippo’s hair was burned. And to this day, for fear of fire, the hippo never goes far from the water.

Kalulu alitemwa ukuti umushishi wanfubu walipya. Mpaka nalelo, mukutina umulilo, infubu taiya kutali namenshi.


Written by: Basilio Gimo, David Ker
Illustrated by: Carol Liddiment
Read by: Darshan Soni
Language: English
Level: Level 2
Source: Why hippos have no hair from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 International License.
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