Back to stories list

Nozibele na nansuki zhisatu Nozibele and the three hairs Nozibele no mushishi utatu

Written by Tessa Welch

Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager

Translated by Oscar Zangata

Language Lunda

Level Level 3

Narrate full story The audio for this story is currently not available.


Mafuku yahanyima ambanda asatu ayili nakukotolo nchawa.

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

Kale saana, abakashana batatu baile mu kuteeba inkuni.


Kwadi’na kwatata dichi ayili nakuwela kukalon’ga. Ahemeni mukalon’ga nakudichila menzhi.

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

Ubo bushiku kwalikabile saana, efyo baile ku mumana mu koowa. Baaleyangala, baleesabaula ameenshi no koowa.


Achimweni neyi kuneyili dehi. Anyamukili nakufunta kumukala.

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

Basuka bamona ukuti bwaila. Baendeshe ukubwelela ku mushi.


Chashikiliwu kwakamwihi, Nozibele washili chikasa chindi munshin’gu. Washiyili mwiha windi wamunshin’gu! “Enwakwetu, funtenu nanami!” walombeli mabwambu zhindi. Ilan’ga mambwambu zhindi akeni nawu kuneyili.

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 ku mushi, Nozibele aikete mu mukoshi. Asanga ukuti nalaba ubulungu bwamu mukoshi. Aapapeete abanankwe ati, “Napaapaata nshindikeniko!” Nomba abanankwe bamukanina abati naabwila.


Dichi Nozibele wafuntili kukalon’ga nkayindi. Waweni una mwiha nakufunta lufuchi kwitala. Ilan’ga wazhimbele mumwidima.

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

Nozibele epakubwekelamo ku mumana eka. Asanga ubulungu asenda atampa no kubwelela ku ŋanda. Nomba aaluba pantu kwalifiitile.


Hahalehi wamweni chezhezhi chinakufuma muchisamba. Watemukililiku nakukonkomwena hachinsu.

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

Akatalamukila, aamwene ulubuto ulwalefuma mu kayanda. Aendesha ukuyako no kuya konkonsha pa ciibi.


Chakuhayamisha, kawa wenzwinini chenzelu nakuhosha nindi, “Wunakuken’gadi?” “Nazhimbala nakuken’ga kwakukama,” nindi Nozibele. “Ilan’gaku nepin’gi nikukusuma!” nindi kawa. Dichi Nozibele wenìlili mukachi.

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.

Nozibele camupapwishe nganshi pa kumona Imbwa eyaisula iciibi no kumwipusha aiti, “Finshi ulefwaya?” Nozibele nao ati, “Ninduba, ndefwaya apo ningasendama.” Imbwa aiti, “Ingila nga teifyo naalakusuma!” Nozibele epakwingila.


Kawa wahosheli nindi, “Ntelekeli!” “Ilan’ga kanda nitelekelan’gahu Kawaku” wakwili. “Teleka nepin’gi nikukusuma!” nindi kawa. Dichi Nozibele wamutelekeleli yaduda kawa.

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.

Elyo Imbwa yamweba ati, “Njipikilako!” Nozibele ayasuka ati, “Nomba nshatala njipikilapo imbwa.” Imbwa aiti, “Ipika nga teifyo naalakusuma.” Nozibele epakwipikila Imbwa ifyakulya.


Dichi kawa wahoshili nindi, “N’galili kadidi!” Nozibele wakwili nindi, “Kanda nalan’gahu dehi kadada ka kawaku’.”Alaku napin’gi nikukusuma! kawa wahosheli!” Dichi Nozibele walili kadidi.

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 kabili aiti, “Njanshikila ubusanshi!” Nozibele nao ati, “Ine nshatala njanshikilapo imbwa ubusanshi.” Imbwa aiti, “Njanshikila ubusanshi nga teifyo nalakusuma!” Efyo Nozibele ayanshike ubusanshi.


Ifuku dezhima watelekelen’ga na kukomba nakukosela kawa. Dichi kawa wahosheli nindi, “Lelu nakuken’ga kwendela mabwambu Zhami. Kombaku mwitala kosaku yakuvwala nakuteleka yakuda henohu kanda nifunti.”

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.”

Cila bushiku aaleipikila Imbwa no kuiwashisha. Ubushiku bumo Imbwa aiti, “Nozibele, leelo mfwile ukutandalila abanandi. Upyange iŋanda, wipike ifyakulya, no kuwasha ifyakufwala fyandi fyonse ilyo nshilabwela.”


Chanyamukiliyi kawa nakuya, Nozibele wafumishili insuki zhisatu kumutu windi. Washili insuki yimu kwishina dakadidi, yimu washili kunyima yachinsu, yikwawu washili mumulaka. Watemukili kumukali lufuchi.

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 yaaya, Nozibele anukwile umushishi utatu mu mutwe. Abiika umushishi umo panshi ya busanshi, umbi kunuma ya ciibi elyo umbi mwitanga. Elyo abutuka na maka yonse ukuya ku ŋanda.


Chafuntiliyi kawa, waken’geli Nozibele. “Nozibele, wudi kudihi?” wabidikili. “Nidi mwishina dakadidi,” chayahosheli insuki yatachi. “Nidi kunu kunyima ya chenzelu, “Chiyahosheli insuki yamuchiyedi. “Nidi mumnu mumulaka .” chiyahosheli insuki yamuchisatu.

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.

Ilyo Imbwa yabwelele, yatampile ukufwaya Nozibele. Yapunda ati, “Nozibele, Ulikwi?” Umushishi uwali mwisamba lya busanshi wabalilapo auti, “Ndimuno!” Uwacibili auti, “Ndi kuno, kunuma ya ciibi.” Umushishi wacitatu nao auti, “Ndi muno, mwitanga.”


Dichi chelukili kawa nindi Nozibele nakumudimba. Dichi watemukilili kumukala. Ilan’ga ehwa zha Nozibele edin’ga nakuhembela nanyitondu. Ona kawa wafuntili nikulelu hamwekana chen’giku.

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.

Imbwa yaishiba ukuti Nozibele naicenjesha naafyuka. Yaabutwike ulubilo ukuya ku mushi. Nomba bandume yakwa Nozibele baleilolela ne fimiti ifikulu. Efyo Imbwa yapilibwike no kubutuka kabili ukufuma apo tayatalile aimoneka na kabili.


Written by: Tessa Welch
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Translated by: Oscar Zangata
Language: Lunda
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.
Options
Back to stories list Download PDF