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Nozibele and the three hairs Nozibele and the three hairs Nuozibele an di chrii schraan a ier

Written by Tessa Welch

Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager

Read by Darshan Soni

Language English

Level Level 3

Narrate full story

Reading speed

Autoplay story


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

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

Bak inna di diez, chrii gyal pikni go kalek faiyastik.


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

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

Di die did at, so dem go dong a di riva fi swim. Dem ramp an splash op an swim inna di waata.


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

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

Aal af a sodn, dem riyalaiz se di taim liet. Dem ori op an go bak a di vilij.


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.

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.

Wen dem nieli riich uom, Nuozibele put ar an a ar nek. Shi figet ar chien! “Du, kom bak wid me!” shi beg ar fren dem. Bot ar fren dem se it did tuu liet.


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

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

So Nuozibele go bak a di riva bai arself. Shi fain di chien an did a ori op go uom. Bot shi get laas inna di daaknis.


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

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

Wie out shi si lait a kom fram wahn ot. Shi ori op an go tuwaadz it an nak pan di duor.


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.

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.

Shi did fraitn so tel, wahn daag uopm di duor an se, “Wa yu waahn?” “Mi laas an mi niid somwe fi slip,” Nuozibele se. “Kom iihn, ar mi ago bait yu!” di daag se. So Nuozibele go iihn.


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.

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.

Den di daag se, “Kuk fi mi!” “Bot mi neva kuk fi no daag bifuor,” shi ansa se. “Kuk, ar mi ago bait yu!” di daag se. So Nuozibele kuk som fuud fi di daag.


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.

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.

Den di daag se, “Spred di bed fi mi!” Nuozibele ansa se, “Mi neva spred no bed fi no daag bifuor.” “Spred di bed, ar mi ago bait yu!” di daag se. So Nuozibele spred di bed.


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.”

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.”

Evridie shi afi kuk an swiip an wash fi di daag. Den wan die di daag se, “Nuozibele, tide mi a go luk fi som a mi fren dem. Swiip out di ous kuk di fuud an wash mi tingz dem bifuor mi kom bak.”


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.

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.

Az suuhn as di daag go we, Nuozibele tek chrii schraan a ier fram outta ar ed. Shi put wan ier anda di bed, wan biyain a di duor, an wan inna di animal pen. Den shi ron go a ar yaad az faas az shi kyan.


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.

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.

Wen di daag kom bak, im luk fi Nuozibele. “Nuozibele, we yu de?” im baal out. “Mi de ya, anda di bed,” di fos ier schraan se. “Mi de ya, biyain a di duor,” di sekan ier schraan se. “Mi de ya, inna di animal pen,” di tord ier schraan se.


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.

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.

A da taim de, di daag riyalaiz se Nuozibele trik im op. So im ron an ron aal di wie go a di vilij. Bot Nuozibele breda dem did a wiet de pan di daag wid som big stik. Di daag ton bak an ron we an nobadi no siim sins.


Written by: Tessa Welch
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Read by: Darshan Soni
Language: English
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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