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Kalabushe The Talkative Ukalabushe Intombazanyana Ekhuluma Kakhulu Kalabushe The Talkative

Written by Gaspah Juma

Illustrated by Jesse Breytenbach

Translated by Gaspah Juma

Read by Darshan Soni

Language English

Level Level 3

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Long time ago, there lived a girl whose name was Kalabushe. Kalabushe was a very talkative girl. Although her mother warned her not to talk too much, Kalabushe did not listen.

Emandulo kwakukhona intombazanyana, igama layo kunguKalabushe. UKalabushe wayeyintombanyana ekhuluma kakhulu. Umama wayo wayemxwayisile ngalokukhuluma kakhulu kwakhe. Kodwa uKalabushe akazange amlalele umama wakhe.

Long time ago, there lived a girl whose name was Kalabushe. Kalabushe was a very talkative girl. Although her mother warned her not to talk too much, Kalabushe did not listen.


Kalabushe’s aunt lived across the valley on the other side of Kalabushe’s village. One day she fell ill. She had nobody to take care of her.

Ngelinye ilanga uKalabushe wagulelwa ngubabekazi wakhe owayehlala kwesinye isigodi esiseduze nabo.

Kalabushe’s aunt lived across the valley on the other side of Kalabushe’s village. One day she fell ill. She had nobody to take care of her.


Kalabushe’s mother was very busy. It was late in the evening when she gave Kalabushe food to take to her sick aunt.

Umama kaKalabushe wayematasatasa kakhulu ngalelo langa. Kwabe sekuyintambama lapho umama wakhe ethuma uKalabushe ukuthi ahambisele ubabekazi wakhe ogulayo ukudla.

Kalabushe’s mother was very busy. It was late in the evening when she gave Kalabushe food to take to her sick aunt.


On the way, Kalabushe met Sinson. Sinson was a hyena who had changed into a person.

Endleleni uKalabushe wahlangana no Sgidi impisi. Eyayizishintshe yaba umuntu.

On the way, Kalabushe met Sinson. Sinson was a hyena who had changed into a person.


Sinson asked Kalabushe, “What are you carrying?” Kalabushe answered, “I am carrying meat, eggs and milk.” Kalabushe’s mother had warned her not to say what she was carrying.

Impisi yambuza ukuthi uphetheni. UKalabushe waphendula wathi, “Inyama, amaqanda nobisi.” Yize umama wakhe wayemxwayisile ukuthi angatsheli muntu ukuthi uphetheni.

Sinson asked Kalabushe, “What are you carrying?” Kalabushe answered, “I am carrying meat, eggs and milk.” Kalabushe’s mother had warned her not to say what she was carrying.


Kalabushe also said, “I am taking the food to my sick aunt.” Sinson licked his lips at the thought of the meat that Kalabushe was carrying.

UKalabushe watshela impisi ukuthi uhambisela ubabekazi wakhe ogulayo ukudla. Impisi yaqala ukucabanga ngenyama eyayiphethwe uKalabushe.

Kalabushe also said, “I am taking the food to my sick aunt.” Sinson licked his lips at the thought of the meat that Kalabushe was carrying.


Sinson quickly ran ahead of Kalabushe to her aunt’s house.

Yagijima ngejubane elikhulu imshiya ngemuva iya kubabekazi wakhe.

Sinson quickly ran ahead of Kalabushe to her aunt’s house.


He swallowed Kalabushe’s aunt and then covered himself with her blanket.

Impisi yafika yamgwinya ubabekazi wakhe yabe isizemboza ngengubo yakhe yokulala.

He swallowed Kalabushe’s aunt and then covered himself with her blanket.


When Kalabushe arrived, the house was very quiet. She went inside and called out, “Aunt, where are you?”

Ngesikhathi uKalabushe efika kwakuthule cwaka endlini. Wangena ngaphakathi ememeza ethi, “Babekazi ukuphi?”

When Kalabushe arrived, the house was very quiet. She went inside and called out, “Aunt, where are you?”


Kalabushe did not hear her aunt’s voice. She went to the inner room where her aunt slept. She was surprised when she saw someone covered with a big blanket.

Uma engalizwa izwi lika babekazi wakhe wangena e egumbini lakhe lokulala. Wamangala uma ebona umuntu ozemboze ngenkulu ingubo le.

Kalabushe did not hear her aunt’s voice. She went to the inner room where her aunt slept. She was surprised when she saw someone covered with a big blanket.


Kalabushe asked, “Aunt, why are your ears so big today?” Sinson replied from under the big blanket, “So that I can hear you well.”

“Babekazi kungani unezindlebe ezinkulu kangaka?” kubuza uKalabushe. USgidi impisi yaphendula ngaphansi kwengubo wathi, “Khona ngizokuzwa kahle.”

Kalabushe asked, “Aunt, why are your ears so big today?” Sinson replied from under the big blanket, “So that I can hear you well.”


Kalabushe asked again, “Aunt, why are your eyes so big today?” Sinson answered, “So I can see you well.”

UKalabushe wabuza futhi kubabekazi wakhe wathi, “Kungani amehlo akho emakhulu kangaka?” uSgidi waphendula wathi, “Khona ngizokubona kahle.”

Kalabushe asked again, “Aunt, why are your eyes so big today?” Sinson answered, “So I can see you well.”


Kalabushe finally asked, “Aunt, why is your mouth so big today?” Sinson replied, “So I can eat you up!” He jumped from the bed and swallowed Kalabushe.

Ekugcineni uKalabushe wabuza wathi, “Kungani unomlomo omkhulu kangaka namhlanje?” USgidi waphendula wathi, “Khona ngizogwinya kahle.” USgidi impisi yagxuma embhedeni yamgwinya uKalabushe.

Kalabushe finally asked, “Aunt, why is your mouth so big today?” Sinson replied, “So I can eat you up!” He jumped from the bed and swallowed Kalabushe.


Kalabushe kept talking even when she was inside Sinson’s stomach. She asked many questions.

Ngenxa yokuthi uKalabushe wayekhuluma kakhulu, wakhuluma noma esesiswini sempisi uSgidi. Wayebuza imibuzo eminingi.

Kalabushe kept talking even when she was inside Sinson’s stomach. She asked many questions.


In the end, Sinson was so tired of Kalabushe’s many questions that he decided to spit her out.

Ekugcineni uSgidi wayesekhathele imibuzo eminingi kaKalabushe wanquma ukumhlanzela ngaphandle.

In the end, Sinson was so tired of Kalabushe’s many questions that he decided to spit her out.


Kalabushe and her aunt were rescued by the villagers. From that day, Kalabushe did not talk too much to strangers.

UKalabushe nobabekazi wakhe basindiswa abantu bendawo. Kusukela ngalelo langa uKalabushe akaphindanga wakhuluma kakhulu nabantu angabazi.

Kalabushe and her aunt were rescued by the villagers. From that day, Kalabushe did not talk too much to strangers.


Written by: Gaspah Juma
Illustrated by: Jesse Breytenbach
Translated by: Gaspah Juma
Read by: Darshan Soni
Language: English
Level: Level 3
Source: Kalabushe the talkative from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 International License.
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