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Zama a di bes! Zama is great!

Written by Michael Oguttu

Illustrated by Vusi Malindi

Translated by Georgette McGlashen

Language Jamaican Creole

Level Level 2

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Mi likl breda sliip liet-liet. Mi get op orli kaaz mi a di bes!

My little brother sleeps very late. I wake early, because I am great!


A mi mek di son kom iihn.

I am the one who lets in the sun.


“Yu a fi mi maanin star,” mama se.

“You’re my morning star,” says Ma.


Mi bied miself, mi no waahn no elp.

I wash myself, I don’t need any help.


Mi kyan stan di kuol waata an di smel bad suop.

I can cope with cold water and blue smelly soap.


Mama rimain mi se, “Dohn figet fi brosh yu tiit dem.” Mi ansa se, “Neva, no mii!”

Ma reminds, “Don’t forget teeth.” I reply, “Never, not me!”


Afta mi bied, mi tel granpaa an anti maanin, an fi av a nais die.

After washing, I greet Grandpa and Auntie, and wish them a good day.


Den mi put aan mi kluoz bai miself, “mi big nou mama,” mi se.

Then I dress myself, “I’m big now Ma,” I say.


Mi kyan botn mi kluoz an bokl mi shuuz dem.

I can close my buttons and buckle my shoes.


An mi mek shuor se likl breda nuo aal di nyuuz fram skuul.

And I make sure little brother knows all the school news.


Ina klaas mi du mi bes ina evriting.

In class I do my best in every way.


Evridie, mi du aal a dem gud tingz ya. Bot di ting mi lov di muos, a fi plie an plie.

I do all these good things every day. But the thing I like most, is to play and play!


Written by: Michael Oguttu
Illustrated by: Vusi Malindi
Translated by: Georgette McGlashen
Language: Jamaican Creole
Level: Level 2
Source: Zama is great! from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 International License.
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