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yika nguvu katwama na wungonako Why hippos have no hair Ico imfubu ishakwatila umushishi

Written by Basilio Gimo, David Ker

Illustrated by Carol Liddiment

Translated by masho kaloza

Language Luvale

Level Level 2

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likumbi limwe, mbwanda apwile nakwenda kukalwiji.

One day, Rabbit was walking by the riverside.

Ubushiku bumo, kalulu aile aleenda mu lulamba lwa mumana.


Nguvu kwapwile nayikiye, kwendejeka nakulya tumwila twamwaza twamafo amatamba.

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

Imfubu nayo eko yaali, yaletandala no kulya umulemfwe uusuma saana.


Nguvu kamwene mbwanda kupwa kuzeko shikaho nguvu alyachile mbwanda halihinji chakuzeneka kwijiva. Mbwanda aputukile kutetemukila Nguvu, yove Nguvu! kawamweneko ngove wakungulyata hachipamba?

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?”

Imfubu tayamwene ukuti Kalulu nao eko ali, epakumunyanta pa kuulu. Kalulu ayambile ukupundilila imfubu. “Iwe Mfubu! Taulemona ukuti naunyanta pa kuulu?”


Nguvu alikonekelele kuli mbwanda, “ngukonekeleko. kangwakumonangako. ngukonekeleko chikuma!” wunonyi mbwanda kevwileko shikaho atenukilile Nguvu, “wachilingilangamo kaha! likumbi limwe, mukachimona! mukafweta!”

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!”

Imfubu epakulomba ubwelelo kuli Kalulu. “Njelelako, nshacikumona. Napaapaata njelelako!” Nomba Kalulu taaleefwaya no kumfwa ifyo yaaleelanda, epakukalipila Mfubu ati, “Wacicitafye umufulo! Ubushiku bumo ukacimona, nkakulimuna!”


Mbwanda ayile nakuwana kakahya kaha ahanjikile, “yako, wukoche Nguvu nge nafumu mumeya nakulya mwila. Angulyatanga!” kakahya akumbulwile, wukalu wawuchi, mbwanda, sepa lyami. nangulinga nge omu wangulweze,”

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 Mulilo no kumweba ati, “Kabiye oce Mfubu nga afuma mu meenshi aisa mu kulya icaani. Acinyanta!” Mulilo epakwasuka ati, “Takuli bwafya mune Kalulu, nalacita ifyo fine.”


Halutwe, Nguvu apwile nakulya mwila kwakusuku nakalwiji, “ohhh!” kakahya kamwinyikile milangi. Milangi yaputukile kocha wungona wa nguvu.

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

Panuma ya kashita akanoono, imfubu yaleelya icaani ukutali na mumana, “uuuu” Mulilo abilimuka mu lubingu. Ulubingu epakwamba ukooca umushishi wakwa Mfubu.


Nguvu aputukile kulila nakutuchila ku meya. Wungona wosena wawemene nakakahya. Nguvu atwalilileho kulila, “wungona wami waweme mukakahya! wangona wosena wunayi! wungona wami wamwaza!”

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!”

Imfubu epakwamba ukulila no kubutukila ku menshi. Mulilo alyoceele umushishi wakwa Mfubu onse. Mfubu akonkenyepo ukulila ati, “Umushishi wandi wapya! Umushishi wandi onse waya! Umushishi wandi ubusuma!”


Mbwanda awahililile kuwema wungona cha nguvu. kaha lino likumbi. hawoma wakakahya, shikaho nguvu kaya kwakusuku nameyako.

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 alitemenwe ukuti umushishi wa mfubu walipya. Mpaka na leelo, mukutina umulilo, imfubu taiya kutali na meenshi.


Written by: Basilio Gimo, David Ker
Illustrated by: Carol Liddiment
Translated by: masho kaloza
Language: Luvale
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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