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Nicifukwa Cani Mvuwu Alibe Sisi 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 Sitwe Benson Mkandawire

Language Nyanja

Level Level 2

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Tsiku limodzi, Kalulu analikuyenda mumbali mwamtsinje.

One day, Rabbit was walking by the riverside.

Un jour, Lapin marchait le long de la rivière.


Mvuwu naye analiko kusowera, kuyenda-yenda ndi kudya mauzi.

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.


Mvuwu sanaone kuti kalulu naye alipo ndiponso mosadziwa, anadyaka pakwendo yakalulu. Kalulu anayamba kupunda nakukalipila Mvuwu, “Iwe Mvuwu! suona kuti wanidyaka pakwendo?”

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 ? »


Mvuwu anaphepetsa kwa kalulu “Phepani. Sindinakuoneni. Mundikhululukile!” Koma kalulu sana mvera phepetso nakalipila Mvuwu “Iwe wacitila dala! Tsiku limodzi uzaona ndizabwezera!”

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 ! »


Kalulu anayenda kusakila moto ndiponso anati “Yenda, kamushoke Mvuwu akacoka mumanzi pakudya mauzu. Anandidyaka!” Moto unayankha, “Palibe bvuto kalulu munzanga. Ndizacita motere”.

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. »


Pambuyo pache, Mvuwu analikudya mauzu patali ndi manzi pamene “whoosh!” moto unayamba. Moto unayamba kushoka sisi la Mvuwu.

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.


Mvuwu anayamba kulila nakuthamangila mumanzi. Sisi lake lonse linapya ndi moto. Mvuwu anapitiliza kulira, “Sisi langa lapya ku moto! Sisi langa lonse layenda! Sisi langa labwino!”

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 ! »


Kalulu anakondwela kuwona sisi la Mvuwu lapya. Nipaka lelo, kuyopa moto, Mvuwu samayenda kutali ndi manzi.

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: Sitwe Benson Mkandawire
Language: Nyanja
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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