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Nozibele nohuki dhihatu Nozibele and the three hairs Nozibele no mushishi utatu

Written by Tessa Welch

Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager

Translated by Maria M Dikuua

Language Mbukushu

Level Level 3

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


Pakarekare, hashengeteya hahatu hayendire ha katje yikunyi.

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

Kale saana, abakashana batatu baile mu kuteeba inkuni.


Diyuwa di dyakarire ghughenyu ghoha ghurumukire kurware ha ka yoghane. Hakapepaghurire nokukutjakaghera no kuyoghana mumeyu.

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.


Kapupikamanana, ha nongoninine eshi diyuwa ne dina tokera. Ha hukire wanguwangu kudighumbo.

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

Basuka bamona ukuti bwaila. Baendeshe ukubwelela ku mushi.


Apa ha kumine pepi nodighumbo, Nozibele gha kukwatire muthingo. Gha vuramine thipako thendi thomuthingo! “Na mu kanderera mutu huke pofotji muni tateko!” gha kushengire kwawashere wendi. Ene hashere wendi ha huthire eshi dina tokera.

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.


Nozibele gha hukire pithendi kurware. Ghaka thi wanine thipako thendi thomuthingo no gha tambukire gha huke kudighumbo. Ene gha yongarire mumakokore.

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.


Kuthinano thokayenda gha monithe thishe thina kwekeshera mu thishashara. Gha tambukere kuthishashara no ghaka ngongone kuthero.

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.


Ya mu tetukithire, mbwa gha yandhure thero nogha ghambire eshi, “Yinye ghuna kushana?” “Ame ne na yongara no nashana mararo,” gha ghambire Nozibele. “Ngene, gho ñanyi ni kuhume!” gha ghambire mbwa. Nozibele ghogha ngenine.

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.


Munyimadhopo mbwa gho gha ghambire eshi, “Ni terekere!” “Ene mbadi na terekera rumweya me mbwa,” gha huthire. “Tereke, gho ñanyi ni kuhume!” gha ghambire mbwa. Nozibele gho gha terekerire mbwa.

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.


Mbwa gho gha ghambire eshi, “Ni yarere ghudidi wange!” Nozibele gha huthire eshi, “Mbadi na yara rumeya me ghudidi ghombwa.” “Yare ghudidi wange, gho ñanyi ni kuhume!” gha ghambire mbwa. Nozibele gha yarire ghudidi.

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.


Kehe diyuwa nga terekanga nokukomba nokuyoghera mbwa. Munyimadhopo diyuwa dimweya mbwa ghogha ghambire eshi, “Nozibele, dyarero na kona kadhingura hashere wange hamweya. Kombe mundhugho, tereke noyoghe yinu yange kughutho ghokahuka me yoyihe yinapu kurughana.”

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.”


Popa vene gha kaverire dikothi mbwa, Nozibele ghaku djupure tuhuki tuhatu mumutwi wendi. Aye gho gha turire dihuki dyofotji kwishi dhoghudidi. dyofotji gho gha diturire kunyima dhodikungu, nodyofotji ghadi turire muhambo. Munyimadhopo aye gho gha tjirire gha huke kudighumbo.

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.


Apa gha ka hukire mbwa, ghana shanashanine Nozibele. “Nozibele, kupi ghudi?” gha kughererire. “Yameno kwishi dhoghudidi,” dyaghambire dihuki dyokutanga. “Yameno, munyima dhodikungu,” dyaghambire dihuki dyoghuwadi. “Yameno, muhambo,” dyaghambire dihuki dyoghuhatu.

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.”


Munyimadhopo gha yi nongononine eshi Nozibile ne ghana munyanyamena. Podiyo gha tjirire gha tambe kudighumbo. Ene hakurwa Nozibele hohakafumu ha mu tatere nodhimiramo. Mbwa gha pirukire no gha hukire ghutjira nombadi ha mumona karo kutunda po.

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: Maria M Dikuua
Language: Mbukushu
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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