Home
About
How to use this website Contact us
Back to stories list

King of the birds UNcede inkosi yezinyoni King of the birds

Written by South African Folktale

Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager

Read by Darshan Soni

Language English

Level Level 3

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

Once long ago, the birds had a meeting. They wanted a king, just like people and animals. Which bird should be king?

Emandulo izinyoni zaziphila zingenayo inkosi. Langa lithize zaba nomhlangano, lapho zazihlaziya ukuthi ngubani ongaba inkosi ukuze nazo zibe nomholi njenganabantu. Zazibuzana ukuthi pho ubani ongaba inkosi?

Once long ago, the birds had a meeting. They wanted a king, just like people and animals. Which bird should be king?

“The Eagle, he is strong and kingly!” said one. “No, he has no crown, and when he calls, he sounds too sad,” said another. “Then Ostrich, because he is the largest and roars like a lion,” one called out. “No, he can’t fly. The king of the birds must be able to fly.”

“UKhozi uqinile unaso nesakhiwo sobukhosi.” Kusho enye inyoni. “Cha ngeke uKhozi akanaso isicoco. Futhi uma ememeza akazwakali kahle.” “Kuncono Intshe ngoba inkulu, uma ibhonga izwakala njenga ne bhubesi.” Kusho enye inyoni. “Cha ngeke akakakwazi ukundiza, inkosi yezinyoni kumele ikwazi ukundiza.”

“The Eagle, he is strong and kingly!” said one. “No, he has no crown, and when he calls, he sounds too sad,” said another. “Then Ostrich, because he is the largest and roars like a lion,” one called out. “No, he can’t fly. The king of the birds must be able to fly.”

“I think I should be king,” said Peacock, fanning his tail. “I am so beautiful.” “You are too proud,” said Owl. “I have the largest eyes of any bird. I should be king.” “No, not you, Owl,” they shouted. “You go to sleep when the sun rises.”

“Mina ngingaba inkosi,” kusho UPikoko edlalisa isisila sakhe. “Ngimuhle kabi” “Kodwa uyaziqhenya,” kusho uSikhova. “Mina nginamehlo amakhulu kunazo zonke izinyoni. Ngingaba inkosi.” “Cha ngeke ube yinkosi wena Sikhova angithi uyalala uma sekusa!” Zonke izinyoni zimphikisa.

“I think I should be king,” said Peacock, fanning his tail. “I am so beautiful.” “You are too proud,” said Owl. “I have the largest eyes of any bird. I should be king.” “No, not you, Owl,” they shouted. “You go to sleep when the sun rises.”

And so they didn’t get very far. Then one bird had an idea. “He who can fly the highest will be king,” he said. “Yes, yes,” they shouted, and they all flew up, up, into the sky.

Zathi zisaqhubeka nenkulumo, enye yezinyoni yeza nombono wokuthi okuncono akundizwe. Lowo oyondizela phezulu kakhulu nguye oyoba inkosi yezinyoni. Zavumela phezulu zonke izinyoni, zabe sezindiza ziya phezulu esibhakabhakeni.

And so they didn’t get very far. Then one bird had an idea. “He who can fly the highest will be king,” he said. “Yes, yes,” they shouted, and they all flew up, up, into the sky.

The Goose flew for one day, straight over the highest mountains in the world. The Eagle flew for two days into the blue above the mountains. But the Vulture soared for three whole days without stopping, straight toward the sun.

UHansi wandiza usuku olulodwa nje wandizela phezu kwezintaba eziphakeme zakuleyo ndawo. Kanti uKhozi wandizela phezu kwezintaba eziluhlaza izinsuku ezimbili. Kodwa uLinqe wandizela phezulu izinsuku ezintathu engami, eqonde nqgo eduze kwelanga.

The Goose flew for one day, straight over the highest mountains in the world. The Eagle flew for two days into the blue above the mountains. But the Vulture soared for three whole days without stopping, straight toward the sun.

Way above them, the birds heard Vulture cry, “I am the highest, I am king!”

Esandizela phezulu uLinqe,kwezawakala ememeza ethi “Ngiphezulu ngiyinkosi! ”

Way above them, the birds heard Vulture cry, “I am the highest, I am king!”

But then just above him Vulture heard a tiny voice, “Tink, tink, tink! I am the highest, I am king.” It was Ncede, the Neddicky, the smallest bird of all! He had held onto the great wing feathers of Vulture as he soared into the sky!

Khona manjalo phezu kwakhe weza izwi elincane , “Tink, tink, tink! Ngiphezulu ngiyinkosi.” Kwabe kuyinyoni encane uNcede. Phela wayecashe ngaphansi kwephikokazi likaLinqe ngesikhathi endizela phezulu esibhakabhakeni!

But then just above him Vulture heard a tiny voice, “Tink, tink, tink! I am the highest, I am king.” It was Ncede, the Neddicky, the smallest bird of all! He had held onto the great wing feathers of Vulture as he soared into the sky!

“You won’t beat me again,” said Vulture, and soared straight up into the air. He flew up and up until he could fly no more. “I am higher than any other bird. I am your king!” he cried.

“Ngeke usangehlula,” kusho uLinqe esho endizela phezulu futhi. Wandiza waze waphelelwa amandla. Waphinda wamemeza wathi “Ngiphezulu Ngiyinkosi yenu.”

“You won’t beat me again,” said Vulture, and soared straight up into the air. He flew up and up until he could fly no more. “I am higher than any other bird. I am your king!” he cried.

But out from under his wing crept the tiny bird. “Tink, tink! Tink, tink! It is I, the smallest one! I am your king.” Vulture was too exhausted to fly any further.

Kodwa ngaphansi kwephiko lakhe kwakusacashe uNcede. Waphuma uNcede, “Tink, tink! Tink, tink! Yimina inyoni encane, ngiyinkosi.” Kodwa uLiqe wabe ekhathele ukuba wayesangandizela phezulu.

But out from under his wing crept the tiny bird. “Tink, tink! Tink, tink! It is I, the smallest one! I am your king.” Vulture was too exhausted to fly any further.

So down he sailed - with the little bird still under his wing. The other birds were furious with Ncede. They waited for him, ready to pluck out all his feathers.

Wandizela phansi bandla kodwa uNcede wayesacashe phansi kwephiko lakhe. Ezinye izinyoni zazimthukuthelele kabi uNcede. Zazimlindele ukuthi mayefika nje zizomcutha zonke izinsibana zakhe.

So down he sailed - with the little bird still under his wing. The other birds were furious with Ncede. They waited for him, ready to pluck out all his feathers.

But the quick little bird saw how angry they were, and flew into an empty snake hole.

Kodwa inyoni encane yakubona ukuthukuthela kwezinyoni. Ngokushesha yehla yangena emgodini ongenalutho wenyoka.

But the quick little bird saw how angry they were, and flew into an empty snake hole.

“With your big eyes, you must keep guard at the hole and catch him when he comes out,” they said to Owl. So Owl sat in front of the hole.

Izinyoni zathi kuSikhova,” Wena Skhova ngoba unamehlo amakhulu, qapha uNcede umbambe uma ephuma.” Ngempela uSikhova wahlala phambi komgodi waqapha.

“With your big eyes, you must keep guard at the hole and catch him when he comes out,” they said to Owl. So Owl sat in front of the hole.

But the sun was warm and soon Owl was fast asleep. The little bird peeped out, saw that Owl was asleep, and z-zip, away he went.

Kodwa emini ilanga selifudumele uSikhova wafikelwa ubuthongo walala. Inyoni encane uNcede walunguza wabona uSikhova elele, ngokushesha wanyenya wabaleka.

But the sun was warm and soon Owl was fast asleep. The little bird peeped out, saw that Owl was asleep, and z-zip, away he went.

Owl was very ashamed that he had let the little bird escape. Now he only hunts at night. In the day, he sleeps, away from the sight of the other birds.

USikhova waba namahloni ngakwenzile, ukudedela uNcede. Kusukela ngalelolanga uSikhova waqala ukuzingela ebusuku,emini uyalala acashele ukubonwa ezinye izinyoni.

Owl was very ashamed that he had let the little bird escape. Now he only hunts at night. In the day, he sleeps, away from the sight of the other birds.

Written by: South African Folktale
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Read by: Darshan Soni
Language: English
Level: Level 3
Source: King of the birds from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 International License.
Read more level 3 stories:
Options
Back to stories list Download PDF