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Nakku n’enviiri essatu Nozibele and the three hairs Nozibele na nywele tatu

Written by Tessa Welch

Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager

Translated by Rev Joseph M Katabaro

Language Luganda

Level Level 3

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


Edda ennyo, abawala basatu baagenda okutyaba enku.

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

Hapo zamani za kale, wasichana watatu walienda kukusanya kuni.


Akasana kaali kaaka nyo so ne bagenda ku mugga okuwuga. Baazanya nga bwe beesammuliza amazzi era nga bwe bawuga.

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

Ilikuwa ni siku yenye jua kali na wakaamua kwenda mtoni kuogelea. Wakaogelea huku wakicheza na kurushiana maji.


Tebaalwa ne balaba ng’obudde bubayiseeko. Baayanguwa mangu okuddayo mu eka.

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

Ghafla waligundua kuwa muda umekwenda. Wakaharakisha kurudi nyumbani.


Baba banaatera okutuuka eka, Nakku n’akwata mu bulago bwe era n’akizuula nti yali yeerabbidde omukuufu gwe! Ky’ava asaba banne nti, “Bambi munnyambe tuddeyo ffena!” Naye mikwano gye ne bamuddamu nti obudde bwali buyise nnyo.

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.

Walipokuwa wanakaribia kufika nyumbani, Nozibele akajishika shingoni. Alikuwa amesahau shanga zake! “Tafadhali turudini!” aliwasihi rafiki zake. Lakini rafiki zake wakasema tumechelewa.


Kati Nakku n’addayo ku mugga yekka. Omukuufu yagufuna era n’ayanguwa okuddayo eka. Wabula bambi ekkubo lyamubula olw’enzikiza.

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

Kwa hiyo Nozibele akarudi mwenyewe mtoni. Akapata shanga zake na akakimbia kurudi nyumbani. Lakini akapotea gizani.


Bwe yatunula mu maaso gy’alaga n’alaba ekitangaala mu kasiisira. Yayanguwa okukatukako era n’akonkona ku luggi.

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

Kwa mbali akaona mwanga unatoka kwenye nyumba. Akakimbilia kwenye nyumba na kugonga mlango.


Ekyamwewuunyisa kwe kulaba nga Wambwa y’aggulawo oluggi era n’amubuuza nti, “Oygala ki?” Ko Nakku nti, “Mbuze era njagala kufuna w’akusula!” Wambwa n’amuddamu nti, “Yingira awatali ekyo nja kukuluma!” Nakku n’ayingira mu nda.

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.

Akastaajabu kumwona mbwa akifungua mlango na akasema, “Unataka nini?” “Nimepotea na ninatafuta sehemu ya kulala,” akasema Nozibele. “Ingia ndani, la sivyo nitakung’ata!” mbwa akamwambia. Nozibele akaingia ndani.


Wambwa n’amugamba nti, “Nfumbira.” Nakku n’addamu nti, “Sifumbiranga ku Wambwa.” Ko Wambwa nti, “Fumba, awatali ekyo nja kukuluma.” Bw’atyo Nakku n’afumbira Wambwa emmere.

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.

Mbwa akamwambia, “Nipikie!” “Sijawahi kumpikia mbwa,” akajibu. “Pika, la sivyo nitakung’ata!” mbwa akasema. Nozibele akampikia mbwa chakula.


Ekyo bwe kyaggwa, Wambwa n’amugamba nti, “Njalira obuliri.” Nakku n’addamu nti, “Saalanga ku buliri bwa Wambwa.” Ko Wambwa, “Yala obuliri, awatali ekyo nja kukuluma.” Bw’atyo Nakku n’ayala obuliri.

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.

Mbwa akamwambia, “Nitandikie kitanda!” Nozibele akajibu, “Sijawahi kumtandikia mbwa kitanda.” “Tandika kitanda, la sivyo nitakung’ata!” mbwa akasema. Nozibele akatandika kitanda.


Buli lunaku yalina okufumba, okwera n’okwoleza Wambwa. Lwali lumu Wambwa n’amugamba nti, “Nakku, olwaleero ηηenda kukyalira ku mikwano gyange. Yere ennyumba, fumba emmere, era oyoze n’ebintu byange nga sinnadda.”

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.”

Akawa kila siku anampikia, anamfulia na kumfagilia mbwa. Siku moja mbwa akasema, “Nozibele, leo naenda kuwatembelea rafiki zangu. Fagia nyumba, pika chakula na osha vitu vyangu kabla sijarudi.”


Amangu ddala nga Wambwa angenze, Nakku n’afuna enviiri ssatu okuva ku mutwe gwe. Oluviiri olumu yaluteeka wansi w’ekitanda, olulala n’aluteeka emabega w’oluggi, n’olulala n’aluteeka mu kiraalo. Oluvannyuma n’adduka emisinde miyitirivu okutuuka ewaka.

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.

Mara baada tu ya mbwa kuondoka, Nozibele akanyofoa nywele tatu kutoka kwenye kichwa chake. Akaweka unywele mmoja chini ya kitanda, mmoja nyuma ya mlango, na mwingine akauweka kwenye uzio wa nyumba. Halafu, akakimbia kuelekea nyumbani kwa nguvu zote.


Wambwa bwe yakomawo, n’anoonya Nakku. N’atandika okuyita nti, “Nakku, Nnaku, oli ludda wa?” Oluviiri olwasooka ne lwanukula nti, “Ndi wano wansi w’ekitanda.” Olw’okubir ne lugamba nti, “Ndi mabega wano emabega w’oluggi.” N’oluviiri olw’okusatu ne lugamba nti, “Ndi wano mu kiraalo.”

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.

Mbwa aliporudi akaanza kumtafuta Nozibele. “Nozibele, uko wapi?” akapiga kelele. “Niko hapa, chini ya kitanda,” unywele wa kwanza ukajibu. “Nipo hapa nyuma ya mlango,” unywele wa pili ukajibu. “Niko hapa kwenye uzio,” unywele wa tatu ukajibu.


Awo Wambwa n’ategeera nti Nakku yali amusalidde amagezi. Kye yava nno adduka nnyo nnyo okutuuka ku kyalo kya Nakku. Naye bannyina Nakku baali bagiteeze awo n’emiggo eminene. Wambwa yakyuka n’addayo era okuva olwo taddangamu kulabikako.

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.

Mbwa akagundua kuwa Nozibele amemkimbia. Kwa hiyo akakimbia kuelekea kijijini. Kaka zake Nozibele walikuwa wakimsubiri na fimbo. Mbwa alipowaona akageuka na kukimbia, na hajawahi kuonekana tena.


Written by: Tessa Welch
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Translated by: Rev Joseph M Katabaro
Language: Luganda
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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