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Maguru O Fana Ka Maoto Umaguru Uphisana Ngemilenze Umaguru Uphisa Ngemilenze Maguru gives out legs

Written by Mutugi Kamundi

Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager

Translated by Tseliso Masolane

Language Sesotho

Level Level 3

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


Kgalekgale, ho ne ho se phoofolo e nang le maoto.

Emandulo, izilwane zazingenayo imilenze. Zazihuquzela emhlabathini.

Kudala-dala, izilwanyana zazingenayo imilenze. Zazirhubuluza emhlabeni.

Long time ago, no animal had legs. They all used to crawl on the ground.


E ne e le batho feela ba neng ba na le maoto hobane Maguru o ne a fanne ka maoto ho batho.

Abantu kuphela ababenemilenze ngoba uMaguru wayebaphile yona.

Yayingabantu kuphela ababenemilenze ngoba uMaguru wayebaphe yona.

Only human beings had legs because Maguru had given legs to humans.


Tsatsi le leng, Maguru a nka qeto ya ho fa phoofolo e nngwe le e nngwe maoto.

Ngelinye ilanga uMaguru wanquma ukupha zonke izilwane imilenze. Wazungeza idolobha ememezela ngombhobho. Wayefuna isilwane ngasinye sikwazi ukuhamba njengomuntu.

Ngenye imini uMaguru wagqiba ekubeni aphe zonke izilwanyana imilenze. Wazula ilali yonke ekhwaza ngombhobho. Wayefuna isilwanyana ngasinye sikwazi ukuhamba njengomntu.

One day, Maguru decided to give legs to every animal. He walked round the village announcing from a loudspeaker. He wanted each animal to walk like a human being.


Diphoofolo di ne di thabile ha di utlwa hore di tla fuwa maoto.

Zajabula izilwane lapho zizwa ukuthi zizophiwa imilenze. Isilwane ngasinye sasifuna imilenze ukuze sikwazi ukuhamba nokugijima. Zacula, zatshikizisa imisila, zabhakuzisa amaphiko azo.

Zavuya izilwanyana zakuva ukuba ziza kuphiwa imilenze. Isilwanyana ngasinye sasifuna imilenze ukuze sikwazi ukuhamba nokubaleka. Zacula, zatshikizisa imisila, zabhakuzisa neempiko zazo.

The animals were happy when they heard that they would be given legs. Each animal wanted to have legs so that it could walk and run. They sang, wagged their tails and flapped their wings.


Diphoofolo tsa bokana mme tsa buisana ka hore na ho thata jwang ho hosha. Lefatshe le ne le ngwapa dimpa tsa tsona.

Zahlangana izilwane zidingida ubulukhuni bokuhaqazela ngezisu. Umhlabathi wawuziklwebha izisu zazo. Imilenze yayizozisiza ukuze zikwazi ukuma zibone kude, njengabantu.

Zahlangana izilwanyana zaxoxa ngobunzima bokurhubuluza ngesisu xa zihamba. Umhlaba wawuzikrwempa izisu zazo. Imilenze yayiza kuzinceda ukuba zikwazi ukuma zibone kude, njengabantu.

Animals gathered and discussed how difficult it was to crawl. The ground scratched their bellies. Legs would also help them to stand and see far, like human beings did.


Ha letsatsi le fihla, diphoofolo tse ngata tsa hosha ho ya ntlong ya Maguru ho ya fumana maoto a tsona.

Lwathi uma lufika usuku, izilwane eziningi zahaqazela zaya emzini kaMaguru ukuyokwamukela imilenze yazo. Izindlulamithi, amabhubesi, izindlovu, onogwaja, izingwenya, nezinyoni zashaya uhele zilinde ukuphiwa imilenze.

Lwathi xa lufika usuku lwemilenze yamahala, izilwanyana ezininzi zarhubuluza zaya emzini kaMaguru ukuyokwamkela imilenze yazo. Iindlulamithi, iingonyama, iindlovu, imivundla, iingwenya, neentaka zema emgceni zilinde ukuphiwa imilenze.

When the day came, many animals crawled to Maguru’s house to get their legs. Giraffes, lions, elephants, rabbits, crocodiles, and birds queued and waited to be given legs.


Phoofolo e nngwe le e nngwe e ile ya fuwa maoto a mane.

Isilwane ngasinye sathola imilenze emine, kwathi izinyoni zathola imilenze emibili iyinye.

Isilwanyana ngasinye safumana imilenze emine, zaze zona iintaka zafumana imilenze emibini inye.

Each animal was given four legs. Birds were given two legs each.


Diphoofolo di ne di bonahala di sa tlwaeleha ha di na le maoto.

Zaba nomahluko izilwane sezinemilenze. Ezinye zagida ngenxa yokujabula. Ezinye zazibhadazela zibuye ziwe zenziwa ubunzima bokuhamba ngezinyawo.

Zabonakala zinomahluko izilwanyana ngelixa sele zinemilenze. Ezinye zagida luvuyo. Ezinye zazibhadazela ziphinde ziwe zisenziwa bubunzima bokuhamba ngeenyawo.

Animals looked different on legs. Some danced in joy. Others had difficulty walking and fell down.


Di ne di tsamaya motseng di ikonkela batho.

Zazungeza idolobhana zibukisa kubantu. Zonke izilwane zathi, “Ngeke siphinde sihuquzele.”

Zahamba-hamba elalini zibonisa abantu imilenze yazo. Zonke izilwanyana zathi, “Soze siphinde sirhubuluze.”

They walked round the village showing off to human beings. All the animals said, “We will never crawl again.”


Phoofolo ya ho qetela moleng e ne e le lefokolodi. Maguru a botsa, “Ebe ho na le e mong ka mora hao?”

Isilwane sokugcina emgqeni kwakunguShongololo. UMaguru wabuza, “Ukhona okulandelayo?” “Cha, ngingowokugcina,” kuphendula uShongololo.

Isilwanyana sokugqibela ukufumana imilenze yayinguSongololo. UMaguru wabuza, “Ukhona olandela emva kwakho?” “Hayi, ndingowokugqibela,” waphendula uSongololo.

The last animal in the queue was the millipede. Maguru asked, “Is there anyone else after you?” “No, I am the last one,” Millipede answered.


Maguru o ne a nahana, “Ebang ho se e mong hape, ke tla etsa jwang ka maoto aa?”

UMaguru wacabanga, “Pho uma kungasekho muntu, ngizoyenzani yonke le milenze esele?” UMaguru wanika uShongololo yonke imilenze esele.

UMaguru wacinga, “Kulungile ke, xa kungasekho mntu, ndiza kuyenzani yonke le milenze eshiyekileyo?” UMaguru wanika uSongololo yonke imilenze eshiyekileyo.

Maguru thought, “If there is no one else, what will I do with the rest of the legs?” Maguru gave all the remaining legs to Millipede.


Lefokolodi a tsamaya a thabile haholo hobane a ne a na le maoto a mangata.

UShongololo wahamba ejabule kakhulu ngoba ethole imilenze eminingi. “Sengizoshesha kakhulu kunabo bonke,” ecabanga.

USongololo wahamba evuya kakhulu ngoba wayefumene imilenze emininzi. “Ndiza kuhamba ngokukhawuleza ke ngoku kunazo zonke izilwanyana,” wacinga njalo.

Millipede went away very happy because he had many legs. “I will move faster than any of them,” he thought.


Hang ha Lefokolodi a tsamaya, noha ya tla ntlong ya Maguru.

Maduze nje emva kokuhamba kukaShongololo, kwafika uNyoka emzini kaMaguru. “Maguru, ngicela ungiphe imilenze,” kuncenga uNyoka.

Mzuzwana nje emkile uSongololo, kwafika uNyoka emzini kaMaguru. “Maguru, ndicela undiphe imilenze,” wacenga uNyoka.

As soon as Millipede had left, the snake came to Maguru’s house. “Maguru, please give me some legs,” Snake begged.


“Ke fanne ka maoto ohle. O ne o le kae?” ha botsa Maguru.

“Sengiyikhiphe yonke imilenze. Wena ubukuphi?” kubuza uMaguru. “Ngiseliwe,” kuphendula uNyoka.

“Sendiphise ngayo yonke imilenze. Wena ubuphi kanti?” wabuza uMaguru. “Ndiselwe,” waphendula uNyoka.

“I have given out all the legs. Where were you?” Maguru asked. “I over-slept,” Snake replied.


Maguru o ile a sheba ka tlung ya hae hore na ho ne ho se maoto a setseng.

UMaguru wacinga endlini yakhe ukubona ukuthi ayikho yini imilenze esele. Kodwa akatholanga lutho.

UMaguru wakhangela endlwini yakhe ejonga ukuba yayingekho na eseleyo. Kodwa akazange afumane nomnye.

Maguru checked in his house to see whether there were any legs remaining. But he did not find any.


Maguru o ile a tswa mme a re, “Tshwarelo, Noha, ha ho na maoto a setseng.”

UMaguru waphuma wathi, “Ngiyaxolisa Nyoka, ayisekho imilenze esele.” UNyoka wahuquzela wabuyela ekhaya engenayo imilenze. Kusukela ngalelo langa uNyoka akalali kakhulu. Uhlale elindele usuku lapho naye ayothola imilenze.

UMaguru waphuma wathi, “Ndiyaxolisa Nyoka, akukho milenze ishiyekileyo.” UNyoka warhubuluza wabuyela ekhaya engenayo imilenze. Ukusukela loo mini uNyoka akalali kakhulu. Usoloko elindele usuku apho naye aza kufumana ngalo imilenze.

Maguru came out and said, “Sorry, Snake, there are no legs remaining.” Snake had to crawl back home without legs. Since that day Snake does not sleep much. He is always waiting for the next chance to get legs.


Written by: Mutugi Kamundi
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Translated by: Tseliso Masolane
Language: Sesotho
Level: Level 3
Source: Maguru gives out legs from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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