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Roobiin maliif rifeensa dhabee Why hippos have no hair Kwa nini Viboko Hawana Nywele

Written by Basilio Gimo, David Ker

Illustrated by Carol Liddiment

Translated by Demoze Degefa

Language Oromo

Level Level 2

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Gaftokko, hilletin laga cinaa deemite.

One day, Rabbit was walking by the riverside.

Siku moja, Sungura alikuwa akitembea pembeni ya mto.


Roobiins achuma ture, margaa marariisaa bareda nyaachu dhaqee.

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

Kiboko alikuwepo pia, akitembea huku akila majani mazuri ya kijani.


Roobiin akka heleetiin achi jirtu hinbekinee tasa mila ishee irra ejetee. Heleetin boyuu claqabdee, “Ati Roobii akka miila kiyyarra dhaabate hinagartu?”

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?”

Kiboko hakumwona Sungura na kwa bahati mbaya akaukanyaga mguu wa Sungura. Sungura akaanza kumpigia Kiboko kelele. “We Kiboko huoni kama umeukanyaga mguu wangu?”


Roobiin dhifaatam hileeti gafatee, “Ani bayeen gadde. Sin’agarre ture. Adaara nafdhisii!” Hileettin kana otto hindhagahin Roobiiti akkan jette eyyite.” Beekka akkan gotee! Gaftokko gatii isaa nikafalta!”

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!”

Kiboko akamwomba Sungura msamaha, “Samahani, sikukuona, tafadhali nisamehe!” Lakini Sungura hakukubali na akaendelea kumbwatukia Kiboko, “Umefanya makusudi! Kuna siku utakiona, na nitakulipizia!”


Hileetiin ibddaa barbaacha dhaqxee akkan jette ibbidaan, “Deemi, yeroo Roobiin bishaan kessaa baate margaa dheedu deemitu gubbi. Milaa koo gubba dhaabate!” Ibbdis akkan jedhe, “Rakkoon hinjiru, Hileeti hiriyaa koo. Akkuma ati jetteh godha.”

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.”

Sungura alienda kumtafuta moto na akamwambia, “Nenda, ukamchome Kiboko akitoka majini kuja kula majani. Alinikanyaga!” Moto ukajibu, “Hakuna tatizo, rafiki yangu Sungura, nitafanya ulichoniomba kufanya.”


Boddee, Roobiin margaa laga fagooti dheeda yeroo ibbiddi “wuussh!” qabate. Ibbiddichis refeensa Roobii gubuu calqabae.

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

Baadaye, Kiboko alikuwa akila majani mbali na mto, aliposhtuka moto umelipuka. Miale ya moto ikaanza kuzichoma nywele za Kiboko.


Roobiin bowuu calqabadee garaa bishaani figide. Rifeense ishee hunduu ibbiddan gubbate. Roobiin akkan jette, “Rifeensi koo ibbidda kanaan gubbate!Rifeense koo tokko hinhafnee! Rifeense bareedan koo!”

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!”

Kiboko akaanza kulia na kukimbilia kwenye maji. Nywele zake zote zilikuwa zimeungua na moto. Kiboko aliendelea kulia, “Nywele zangu zimeungua na moto! Nywele zangu zote zimeisha! Nywele zangu nzuri!”


Rifeense Roobii waangubateef hileetin bayee gammadde. Hammaa hardhaatu Roobiin sodaa ibbiddatif jedhe bishaan irraa hinfagaatu.

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.

Sungura alikuwa na furaha kwa kuwa nywele za Kiboko ziliungua. Hadi leo kwa kuogopa moto, Kiboko hawezi kwenda mbali na maji.


Written by: Basilio Gimo, David Ker
Illustrated by: Carol Liddiment
Translated by: Demoze Degefa
Language: Oromo
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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