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Nozibele an three hairs Nozibele and the three hairs Nozibele an three hairs

Written by Tessa Welch

Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager

Translated by Anthonia Ujene

Language Nigerian Pidgin

Level Level 3

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


Before before, three girls go pack wood.

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

Before before, three girls go pack wood.


Weda hot no be small, so dem come go river go swim. Dem play and swim inside water.

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

Weda hot no be small, so dem come go river go swim. Dem play and swim inside water.


At ones dem come see say time don go. Dem come rush go back village.

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

At ones dem come see say time don go. Dem come rush go back village.


Wen dem don near house, Nozibele touch em neck. E come know say e don leave em chain! E beg em friends to follow am go back but dem say time don too go far.

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 don near house, Nozibele touch em neck. E come know say e don leave em chain! E beg em friends to follow am go back but dem say time don too go far.


Na so Nozibele come go back by emsef. E see the chain na em e tuke go house. Na so e come miss road.

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

Na so Nozibele come go back by emsef. E see the chain na em e tuke go house. Na so e come miss road.


E come see light dey shine for one house far far. Na so e rush go there go knock d door.

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

E come see light dey shine for one house far far. Na so e rush go there go knock d door.


Shoo, na dog open door o. D dog say, “wetin you want?” “ Nozibele come say e miss road, i dey look for were to sleep,” ”come inside, or I go bite u oo! D dog tell am. Na so Nozibele enter o.

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.

Shoo, na dog open door o. D dog say, “wetin you want?” “ Nozibele come say e miss road, i dey look for were to sleep,” ”come inside, or I go bite u oo! D dog tell am. Na so Nozibele enter o.


Dog come say, “oya cook for me” e come ansa am say e never cook for dog before o. Dog come say, “cook, or I go bite you oo!” na so Nozibele come cook food for 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.

Dog come say, “oya cook for me” e come ansa am say e never cook for dog before o. Dog come say, “cook, or I go bite you oo!” na so Nozibele come cook food for dog.


Dog come say, “do my bed!” e ansa am say e never do bed for dog before oo. Dog come say, “do my bed or I go bite you!” na so Nozibele come do bed for dog.

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.

Dog come say, “do my bed!” e ansa am say e never do bed for dog before oo. Dog come say, “do my bed or I go bite you!” na so Nozibele come do bed for dog.


Na so dog come put Nozibele for work. day by day e go cook, sweep, wash for dog. Dog come tell am one day say, “Nozibele, i wan go see my friend dem. Make you sweep d house, cook and wash cloth before i return.

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.”

Na so dog come put Nozibele for work. day by day e go cook, sweep, wash for dog. Dog come tell am one day say, “Nozibele, i wan go see my friend dem. Make you sweep d house, cook and wash cloth before i return.


As dog comot, na so Nozibele comot three of her from head. E keep one under bed, another one for back of door then one for d kraal. e come skele go house with speed.

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 dog comot, na so Nozibele comot three of her from head. E keep one under bed, another one for back of door then one for d kraal. e come skele go house with speed.


As Dog return, e come look e no see Nozibele. Na so e come shout “Nozibele, were u dey na?” “I dey unda d bed,” d first hair ansa. “I dey back of door,” d second hair ansa. “I dey inside kraal,” d third hair ansa.

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.

As Dog return, e come look e no see Nozibele. Na so e come shout “Nozibele, were u dey na?” “I dey unda d bed,” d first hair ansa. “I dey back of door,” d second hair ansa. “I dey inside kraal,” d third hair ansa.


Na now d Dog come get the gist say Nozibele don do am wayo. Na so Dog come para run go reach d village. Nozibele bros dem don set dey wait am with heavy stick. Na so Dog do reverse tuke wen no one see am 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.

Na now d Dog come get the gist say Nozibele don do am wayo. Na so Dog come para run go reach d village. Nozibele bros dem don set dey wait am with heavy stick. Na so Dog do reverse tuke wen no one see am since.


Written by: Tessa Welch
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Translated by: Anthonia Ujene
Language: Nigerian Pidgin
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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