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Xihlahla Xa Tinyoka Inyoka Yehlathi, Umagilogilo Ihlathi Leenyoka Forest of snakes

Written by Joseph Sanchez Nadimo

Illustrated by Rob Owen

Translated by Mkomati John Mongwe

Language Tsonga

Level Level 3

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


Ndhawu ya Sinyaire yi rhendzela hi swintshabyana. Tinyoka to tala ti tshama exihlahleni eka swintshabyana leswi. Nyoka leyikulu swinene vaaki a va yi vula Unyalego. Nyoka leyi a yi chavisa vanhu vo tala hikuva a yi mita hinkwato timbuti na tinyimpfu.

Indawo yaseNsingweni izungezwe amagquma, amahlathi nezintaba. Zaziziningi izinyoka ezazitholakala kula mahlathi akulezi zintaba. Kwelinye lamahlathi, kwakukhona inyoka enkulu, inhlwathi, eyaze yanikwa igama kwathiwa nguMagilogilo. Le nyoka, akekho owayengayesabi, ngemikhuba yayo. Yayigwinya wena mvu, wena mbuzi.

Ilali iSinyaire ijikelezwe ziinduli neentaba. Kuhlala iinyoka ezininzi kwihlathi elikwezi ntaba. Eyona nyoka inkulu yayibizwa ngokuba yi-Unyalego ngabantu belali. Le nyoka yayisoyikisa abantu abaninzi kuba yayiginya ibimbilize iibhokhwe kunye neegusha ezipheleleyo.

Sinyaire village is surrounded by hills. Many snakes live in the forest on those hills. The biggest snake was called Unyalego by the villagers. This snake scared many people. It swallowed whole goats and sheep.


Siku rin’wana, Apiyo, Ajoh na Atieno va yile exihlahleni ku ya kuva tihunyi. Kokwa wa vanhwana wa xisati u va tshinyile a ku, “Mi tivonela eka Unyalego nyoka leyikulu. Mi nga teki xin’wana exihlahleni handle ka tihunyi.” Ko va Ajoh ntsena loyi a nga yingisangiki kokwa wa yena wa xisati.

Langa limbe, uNono, uSanele noNtonjana bahamba bayotheza kuleli hlathi. Ugogo wabo wayebadonse ngendlebe wathi, “Anibobhasobha uMagilogilo. Ningathathi lutho olunye ehlathini ngaphandle kwezinkuni.” Kodwa uNtonjana akalalelanga isiyalo sikagogo wabo.

Ngenye imini u-Apiyo, u-Ajoh kunye no Atieno babesiya ehlathini beyokutheza. Umakhulu wala mantombazana wayewalumkisile wathi, “Nilumkele u-Unyalego inyoka enkulu. Ningathathi nenye into ehlathini ngaphandle kweenkuni.” U-Ajoh akazange ayihoye nokuyihoya into awayeyixelelwa ngumakhulu wakhe.

One day, sisters Apiyo, Ajoh and Atieno were going to the forest to fetch firewood. The girls’ grandmother warned, “Beware of Unyalego the big snake. Do not take anything from the forest except the wood.” Only Ajoh did not pay attention to her grandmother.


Vanhwanyana va rhwarile ntswamba, tibanana, mihlata na mati. Va tekile tintambhu to tsimba tihunyi na mabanga ya ku tsema tihunyi. Endzhaku ka sweswo, va sukile va ya exihlahleni.

Amantombazane ayeziphathele umphako wobisi, wena bhanana, bhatata kanye namanzi. Bathatha nezibopho kanye nembazwana yokugawula izinkuni. Nabaya belibhekise ehlathini.

Amantombazana apakisha umphako wobisi, iibhanana, ibhatata kunye namanzi. Athatha neentambo zokubopha inyanda kunye nezembe lokugawula iinkuni. Ahamba ke aphathelela ukuya ehlathini.

The girls packed milk, bananas, sweet potatoes and water. They took ropes for tying firewood and a sharp machete for chopping the wood. Then they left for the forest.


Endleleni, vanhwanyana va burile na ku hlekelela. Hi xihatla, Apiyo, lonkulu eka hinkwavo, u te, “Miyelani. Hi fika laha Unyalego a tshamaka kona.”

Endleleni amantombazane ayehamba ezixoxela futhi ehleka. Besazixoxela kanjalo kwezwakala uNono okunguyena omdala esethithi, “Sh! Sh! Sesisondele endaweni kaMagilogilo manje.”

Endleleni amantombazana ayehamba ezincokolela nje futhi ehleka, kumnandi. U-Apiyo owayemdala kubo bonke wavakala esithi, “Thulani. Sele sisondele apho kuhlala khona u-Unyalego.”

On the way, the sisters chatted and laughed. Suddenly, Apiyo, the eldest of them, said, “Be quiet. We are coming to where Unyalego lives.”


Atieno a huwelela lavan’wana, “Langutani, hi lawa meno ya nsuku ya Unyalego. A hi ma tekeni.” Apiyo u va tsundzuxile a ku, “Mi nga rivali xitsundzuxo xa kokwana wa xisati. A hi fanelangi ku teka xin’wana na xin’wana exihlahleni handle ka tihunyi.”

USanele waphendula ngelokuthi, “Hhayi bo! Bhekani! Sengathi amazinyo kaMagilogilo egolide nje lawa abantu abahlale bexoxa ngawo. Asizithatheleni wona.” uNono washeshe wabakhumbuza, “Niyashesha ukukhohlwa. Utheni ugogo kithi? Akashongo ukuthi singathathi noma singacoshi lutho olunye ngaphandle kwezinkuni?”

U-Atieno wathi, “Yehake, khanijonje nanga amazinyo ka-Unyalego abugolide, masiwathatheni.” U-Apiyo wabakhumbuza, “Ningalibali imiyalelo kamakhulu. Akufanelanga ukuba sithathe nantoni na apha ehlathini ngaphandle kweenkuni.”

Atieno called to the others, “Look, here are Unyalego’s golden teeth. Let us take them.” Apiyo reminded them, “Don’t forget grandmother’s warning. We must not take anything from the forest except firewood.”


Ajo a ku, “A ndzi n’wi tshembi mina kokwana wa xisati. Ndzi ehleketa leswaku kahlekahle u vurile sweswo ku hi tshikisa leswi hi swi lavaka. U na mavondzo eka hina. Ndzi ta teka meno ya nsuku.” Vatati wa yena a va vilela. Ajoh a nga yingisangi.

“Ogogo! Angikholwa mina yiloko. Ubezikhulumela nje ugogo. Mina ngiyawafuna, ngizozithathela la mazinyo. Awegolide pho! Hhayisuka! Ngiyawathatha,” kuphendula iqhalaqhala elinguNtonjana. Odadewabo bakhathazeka ngesenzo sikaNtonjana, mncane kodwa akakhuzeki. Omunye wabo wezwakala esegcizelela inkulumo yabo wathi, “Ungasho njalo ukuthi asikukhuzanga.” Yize odadewabo babemkhuza, akalalelanga.

U-Ajoh wathi, “Andiyikholelwa mna into ethethwa ngumakhulu. Ndicinga ukuba ubesitsho nje kuba engafuni ukuba sizithathele izinto esizithandayo. Unomona umakhulu. Ndiza kuwathatha mna la mazinyo egolide.” Oodadewabo bakhathazeka kakhulu ngale nto. “Ajoh, uze ungathi khange sikuxelele.” U-Ajoh akazange abahoye.

Ajoh said, “I don’t trust grandmother. I think she said that to stop us having what we want. I want the golden teeth.” Her sisters were worried. “Ajoh, we warned you,” they said. Ajoh did not care.


Hi nkarhi wolowo Unyalego yi tile ku ta languta meno ya yona. A yi hlundzukile hikuva a yi ma kumangi meno ya yona ya nsuku eka ndhawu yin’wana na yin’wana. Endzhaku ka sweswo, Unyalego yi twile vanhwanyana va bula na ku hlekelela. Yi tumberile ehansi ka ribye etlhelo ka gondzo laha vanhwanyana a va ta hundza hi kona.

Ngaso leso sikhathi, memfu uMagilogilo ezobheka amazinyo akhe. Yacasuka yafa inyoka ingasawatholi amazinyo ayo. Kusenjalo, yezwa umsindo wamazwi amantombazane exoxa, egegetheka. Yacabanga ikhuluma yodwa, “Ngizobathola, bacabanga bahlakaniphile, nami-ke, ngihlakaniphile. “Yahuqazela inyoka yahamba yayocasha ngaphansi kwetshe elikhulu elaliseduze nendlela lapho amantombazane ayezodlula khona.

Kwathi kusenjalo kwathi gqi u-Unyalego ezokukhangela amazinyo akhe. Wacaphuka kakhulu akungawaboni. U-Unyalego weva amantombazana encokola futhi ehleka. Wazimela phantsi kwelitye elikhulu elalikufutshane nendlela amantombazana ayeza kudlula kuyo.

At that moment Unyalego came looking for his golden teeth. He was furious when he could not find the teeth. Then Unyalego heard the girls chatting and laughing. He hid under a rock next to the road where the girls would pass on their way back.


Vanhwanyana va rhwarile tihunyi ta vona hi tinhloko ta vona. Hi xihatla, va twile ku “Hzzzzzzzz!” Va chavile kutani va ringeta ku tumbela. A ku ri na Unyalego nomu wa yona wu ahlamile swinene, wu tiyimiserile ku luma.

Aqhamuka amantombazane ethwele iminyaba yezinkuni. Bezwa ngomsindo ohazayo, bathuka bazama ukucasha. Waloku uqhubekile umsindo sengathi usondela kubo. “Ssssss!” Besalalele loko, memfu! UMagilogilo phambi kwabo. Wayesephakamise ikhanda lakhe, evule umlomo elindele ukugadla.

Amantombazana ayethwele iinyanda entloko. Eva ngomsindo wenyoka efuthayo, “Fu-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u!” Oothuka azama ukuzimela. Nankuya u-Unyalego phambi kwabo evule umlomo wakhe elindele ukuluma.

The sisters were going home carrying their firewood on their heads. Suddenly, they heard “Hzzzzzzzz!” There was Unyalego with his mouth wide open, ready to bite. The girls were terrified.


Unyalego yi vutisile vanhwanyana yi ku, “Xana i mani loyi a nga teka meno ya mina ya nsuku?” A ku na loyi a nga hlamula. Nyoka yi tekile xiboho xo kambela vanhwana. “Un’wana na un’wana loyi a nga riki na nandzu, u ta kota ku yimbelela handle ko endla swihoxo. U ta ya ekaya na tihunyi ta yena. Kambe loyi a nga na nandzu u ta endla swihoxo. U ta va swakudya swa mina masiku manharhu lama landzelaka!”

“Ngitsheleni kahle, ngubani othathe amazinyo ami egolide?” kubuza uMagilogilo ngokucasuka. Waqhubeka wathi, “Owathathile ngizomthola masinya nje. Lalelani la, nizongiculela-ke. Loyo oyocula ngaphandle kokwenza iphutha, nguye ongenacala. Futhi loyo, nguye oyoqhubeka nomyaba wakhe aye ekhaya. Kodwa-ke, loyo oyobhimba ngiyamzwela.”

U-Unyalego wawabuza amantombazana wathi, “Ngubani othathe amazinyo am egolide?” Akuzange kubekho mntu uphendulayo. Inyoka yathi ndiza kumfumana umntu owabileyo. “Lo ongenatyala uza kucula kakuhle angayenzi impazamo kodwa lowo onetyala yena uza kuthi xa ecula kwenzeke impazamo. Uza kuba kukutya kwam kweentsuku ezintathu ezizayo!”

Unyalego asked the girls, “Who took my golden teeth?” No one answered. The snake decided to test the girls. “Whoever is innocent, will be able to sing without mistakes. She will go home with her firewood. But the guilty one will sing badly. She will be my food for the next three days!”


Apiyo u sungurile ku yimbelela hi rito ra kahle. Endzhaku ka sweswo Atieno a yimbelela risimu.

Kwacaca ukuthi kumele acule amantombazane ukuze kubonakale onecala. Kwaqala uNono, kwalandela uSanele.

U-Apiyo waqala wacula kakuhle akabinangxaki. Kwalandela u-Atieno, naye wacula kakuhle.

Apiyo started to sing with a clear voice: “Sio mimi, sio mimi aliye na meno, Mwenye meno bado yuko nyuma.” Then Atieno sang the song. She also sang well.


Eku heteleleni, ku vile nkarhi wa Ajoh. A a chava. U yile emahlweni kutani a sungula ku yimbelela. Kambe ku yimbelela ka yena a ku twala ku chavisa na marito a ma nga tshamisekangi. Untalego yi bile huwa, “A wu koti ku yimbelela kahle ku fana na lavan’wana?” Nyoka a yi swi tiva leswaku Ajoh u tekile meno ya nsuku.

Kwagcina isalakutshelwa esingu Ntonjana. Wayevevezela ukwethuka. Wathi uyaqala, izwi alangaphuma kahle, wahoshozela, namagama eyengezwakali nokuthi uthini. Kwezwakala uMagilogilo esethi, “Uyabhimba, awuzizwa?” Kwacaca enyokeni ukuthi nguye othathe amazinyo ayo.

Ekugqibeleni kwacula u-Ajoh. Wayenexhala kakhulu. Wathi xa eqala ukucula ilizwi latshothoza namazwi engoma akavakala kakuhle. Wakhwaza u-Unyalego wathi, “Awukwazi ukucula kakuhle njengabanye?” Inyoka yabona ukuba nguye kanye u-Ajoh owayethathe amazinyo egolide.

Lastly, it was Ajoh’s turn. She was scared. She stepped forward and started singing. But her singing sounded terrible and the words were wrong. Unyalego shouted, “Can’t you sing properly like the others?” The snake knew that Ajoh took his golden teeth.


Unyalego yi mitile Ajoh. Vatati wa yena va tsutsumile va tlhelela ekaya ku ya hlamusela mhaka leyi.

Akazange achithe isikhathi uMagilogilo, mimiliti uNtonjana. Bathathela ngejubane odadewabo bebheke ekhaya, beyobikela abadala ngokwenzekekile.

Bimbilili! U-Unyalego wamginya u-Ajoh. Oodadewabo babaleka bagoduka bayokuxela esi senzo sibi kangaka esenzekileyo.

Unyalego opened his huge jaws and swallowed Ajoh. Her sisters ran back to the village. They told everyone the story of what happened. “I warned her, if only she had listened,” the girls’ grandmother said sadly.


Written by: Joseph Sanchez Nadimo
Illustrated by: Rob Owen
Translated by: Mkomati John Mongwe
Language: Tsonga
Level: Level 3
Source: Forest of snakes from African Storybook
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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