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Nozibele and the three hairs Nozibele and the three hairs @nozibele ˈænd ˈðə ˈθɹi ˈhɛɹz

Tessa Welch

Wiehan de Jager

Darshan Soni

English

Level 3

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

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

ˈeɪ ˈɫɔŋ ˈtaɪm əˈɡoʊ ˈθɹi ˈɡɝɫz ˈwɛnt ˈaʊt ˈtu kəˈɫɛkt ˈwʊd

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.

ˈɪt ˈwɑz ˈeɪ ˈhɑt ˈdeɪ ˈsoʊ ˈðeɪ ˈwɛnt ˈdaʊn ˈtu ˈðə ˈɹɪvɝ ˈtu ˈswɪm ˈðeɪ ˈpɫeɪd ˈænd ˈspɫæʃt ˈænd ˈswæm ˈɪn ˈðə ˈwɔtɝ

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.

ˈsədənɫi ˈðeɪ ˈɹiəˌɫaɪzd ˈðæt ˈɪt ˈwɑz ˈɫeɪt ˈðeɪ ˈhɝid ˈbæk ˈtu ˈðə ˈvɪɫədʒ

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.

ˈhwɛn ˈðeɪ ˈwɝ ˈnɪɹɫi ˈhoʊm @nozibele ˈpʊt ˈhɝ ˈhænd ˈtu ˈhɝ ˈnɛk ˈʃi ˈhæd fɝˈɡɑtən ˈhɝ ˈnɛkɫəs ˈpɫiz ˈkəm ˈbæk ˈwɪð ˈmi ˈʃi ˈbɛɡd ˈhɝ ˈfɹɛndz ˈbət ˈhɝ ˈfɹɛndz ˈsɛd ˈɪt ˈwɑz ˈtu ˈɫeɪt

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.

ˈsoʊ @nozibele ˈwɛnt ˈbæk ˈtu ˈðə ˈɹɪvɝ əˈɫoʊn ˈʃi ˈfaʊnd ˈhɝ ˈnɛkɫəs ˈænd ˈhɝid ˈhoʊm ˈbət ˈʃi ˈɡɑt ˈɫɔst ˈɪn ˈðə ˈdɑɹk

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.

ˈɪn ˈðə ˈdɪstəns ˈʃi ˈsɔ ˈɫaɪt ˈkəmɪŋ ˈfɹəm ˈeɪ ˈhət ˈʃi ˈhɝid ˈtɔɹdz ˈɪt ˈænd ˈnɑkt ˈæt ˈðə ˈdɔɹ

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.

ˈtu ˈhɝ səˈpɹaɪz ˈeɪ ˈdɔɡ ˈoʊpənd ˈðə ˈdɔɹ ˈænd ˈsɛd ˈhwət ˈdu ˈju ˈwɑnt ˈaɪm ˈɫɔst ˈænd ˈaɪ ˈnid ˈeɪ ˈpɫeɪs ˈtu ˈsɫip ˈsɛd @nozibele ˈkəm ˈɪn ˈɔɹ ˈaɪɫ ˈbaɪt ˈju ˈsɛd ˈðə ˈdɔɡ ˈsoʊ @nozibele ˈwɛnt ˈɪn

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.

ˈðɛn ˈðə ˈdɔɡ ˈsɛd ˈkʊk ˈfɔɹ ˈmi ˈbət ˈaɪv ˈnɛvɝ ˈkʊkt ˈfɔɹ ˈeɪ ˈdɔɡ ˌbiˈfɔɹ ˈʃi ˈænsɝd ˈkʊk ˈɔɹ ˈaɪɫ ˈbaɪt ˈju ˈsɛd ˈðə ˈdɔɡ ˈsoʊ @nozibele ˈkʊkt ˈsəm ˈfud ˈfɔɹ ˈðə ˈdɔɡ

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.

ˈðɛn ˈðə ˈdɔɡ ˈsɛd ˈmeɪk ˈðə ˈbɛd ˈfɔɹ ˈmi @nozibele ˈænsɝd ˈaɪv ˈnɛvɝ ˈmeɪd ˈeɪ ˈbɛd ˈfɔɹ ˈeɪ ˈdɔɡ ˈmeɪk ˈðə ˈbɛd ˈɔɹ ˈaɪɫ ˈbaɪt ˈju ˈðə ˈdɔɡ ˈsɛd ˈsoʊ @nozibele ˈmeɪd ˈðə ˈbɛd

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.”

ˈɛvɝi ˈdeɪ ˈʃi ˈhæd ˈtu ˈkʊk ˈænd ˈswip ˈænd ˈwɑʃ ˈfɔɹ ˈðə ˈdɔɡ ˈðɛn ˈwən ˈdeɪ ˈðə ˈdɔɡ ˈsɛd @nozibele təˈdeɪ ˈaɪ ˈhæv ˈtu ˈvɪzɪt ˈsəm ˈfɹɛndz ˈswip ˈðə ˈhaʊs ˈkʊk ˈðə ˈfud ˈænd ˈwɑʃ ˈmaɪ ˈθɪŋz ˌbiˈfɔɹ ˈaɪ ˈkəm ˈbæk

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.

ˈæz ˈsun ˈæz ˈðə ˈdɔɡ ˈhæd ˈɡɔn @nozibele ˈtʊk ˈθɹi ˈhɛɹz ˈfɹəm ˈhɝ ˈhɛd ˈʃi ˈpʊt ˈwən ˈhɛɹ ˈəndɝ ˈðə ˈbɛd ˈwən bɪˈhaɪnd ˈðə ˈdɔɹ ˈænd ˈwən ˈɪn ˈðə @kraal ˈðɛn ˈʃi ˈɹæn ˈhoʊm ˈæz ˈfæst ˈæz ˈʃi ˈkʊd

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.

ˈhwɛn ˈðə ˈdɔɡ ˈkeɪm ˈbæk ˈhi ˈɫʊkt ˈfɔɹ @nozibele @nozibele ˈhwɛɹ ˈɑɹ ˈju ˈhi ˈʃaʊtɪd ˈaɪm ˈhiɹ ˈəndɝ ˈðə ˈbɛd ˈsɛd ˈðə ˈfɝst ˈhɛɹ ˈaɪm ˈhiɹ bɪˈhaɪnd ˈðə ˈdɔɹ ˈsɛd ˈðə ˈsɛkənd ˈhɛɹ ˈaɪm ˈhiɹ ˈɪn ˈðə @kraal ˈsɛd ˈðə ˈθɝd ˈhɛɹ

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.

ˈðɛn ˈðə ˈdɔɡ ˈnju ˈðæt @nozibele ˈhæd ˈtɹɪkt ˈhɪm ˈsoʊ ˈhi ˈɹæn ˈænd ˈɹæn ˈɔɫ ˈðə ˈweɪ ˈtu ˈðə ˈvɪɫədʒ ˈbət @nozibele’s ˈbɹəðɝz ˈwɝ ˈweɪtɪŋ ˈðɛɹ ˈwɪð ˈbɪɡ ˈstɪks ˈðə ˈdɔɡ ˈtɝnd ˈænd ˈɹæn əˈweɪ ˈænd ˈhæz ˈnɛvɝ ˈbɪn ˈsin ˈsɪns

Written by: Tessa Welch

Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager

Read by: Darshan Soni

Language: English

Level 3

Source: Nozibele and the three hairs from African Storybook

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 International License.

Read more level 3 stories:

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