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Eshichira ifubu niibula amoya Why hippos have no hair Pourquoi les hippopotames n'ont pas de poils

Written by Basilio Gimo, David Ker

Illustrated by Carol Liddiment

Translated by Margaret Amateshe

Language Oluwanga

Level Level 2

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


Inyinga ndala, Eshituyu shiali nishichendanga khumwalo.

One day, Rabbit was walking by the riverside.

Un jour, Lapin marchait le long de la rivière.


Ifubu yosi yali awo, niichendanga ne niyayanga obunyasi.

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

Hippo était là aussi pour se promener et manger de la bonne herbe verte.


Ifubu siyali niimanyire mbu Eshituyu shiosi shiriwo tawe na khulwokhukorwa, niyitsukhanira niisenere eshirenje shie Shituyu. Eshituyu shiakhupa oluungu nishianza okhwayulila ifubu, “Ewe Ifubu, sololanga mbu usenanga eshirenje shianje tawe?”

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 ne voyait pas que Lapin se trouvait là et elle piétina le pied de Lapin. Lapin cria et hurla « Hippo ! Tu vois pas que tu me piétines le pied ? »


Ifubu yasaba eshituyu eshileshero, “Eshituyu, ndeshera omwitsa wanje. Sembere nekhulutsi tawe. Nochama ndeshera.” Eshituyu sishiaulira tawe ne shiatsirira okhupila ifubu oluungu, “Usenere nende lichomo.

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 s’excusa à Lapin : « Je suis si désolé, mon ami. Je ne te voyais pas. Pardonne-moi, s’il-te-plaît ! » Mais Lapin n’écoutait pas et cria à Hippo : « Tu l’as fait exprès ! Un jour, tu verras ! Tu paieras pour ça ! »


Eshituyu shiatsia neshikhaba omuliro nishikubolela, “Tsia osambe Ifubu niilarula erwanyi okhwaya. Lisenere.” Omuliro nikumubolera, “Obubi bubulao Eshituyu omwitsa wanje.

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.”

Puis Lapin partit chercher Feu et lui dit : « Va brûler Hippo quand elle sort de l’eau pour manger l’herbe. Elle m’a piétiné le pied ! » Feu répondit : « Pas de souci, Lapin, mon ami. Je ferai ce que tu as demandé. »


Olundi ifubu yali niyayanga ale nende omwalo na “Wuush!”Omuliro kwarulira nikuchaka okhusamba amoya ke Ifubu.

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

Plus tard, Hippo mangeait l’herbe loin de la rivière lorsque soudain « ZOUM ! » Feu s’enflamma. Les flammes commencèrent à brûler les poils de Hippo.


Ifubu yanza okhulira niirushira mumwalo. Obwoya bwayo bwosi bwali nibuyiire. Ifubi yatsiririra okhulira, “Obwoya bwanje bwosi buyirire mu muliro. Osambire obwoya bwanje bwosi. Obwoya bwanje bwosi butsire. Obwoya bwanje bulayi.”

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 se mit à pleurer et se réfugia dans l’eau. Le feu avait brûlé tous ses cheveux. Hippo continua à pleurer : « Mes poils ont brûlé. Tu as brûlé tous mes poils ! Mes poils ont disparu ! Mes si beaux poils ! »


Eshio ne shifune shichira ifubu sitsitsanga ale nende omwalo tawe, khulwa oburi bwokhusambwa nende omuliro. Eshimuna shiasangala sana olwa ifubu yayia nende omuliro,

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.

Lapin était content que les poils de Hippo soient brulés. Et jusqu’à ce jour, de crainte du feu, les hippopotames ne s’éloignent jamais de l’eau.


Written by: Basilio Gimo, David Ker
Illustrated by: Carol Liddiment
Translated by: Margaret Amateshe
Language: Oluwanga
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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