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Maguru A Phakela Milenge Umaguru Uphisana Ngemilenze Umaguru Uphisa Ngemilenze Maguru gives out legs

Written by Mutugi Kamundi

Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager

Translated by Mkomati John Mongwe

Language Tsonga

Level Level 3

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


Khale ka khaleni, swihari a swi nga ri na milenge. Hinkwaswo a swi kasa emisaveni.

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.


I vanhu ntsena lava a va ri na milenge hikuva Maguru a va nyikile yona.

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.


Siku rin’wana, Maguru u tekile xiboho xa ku nyika xihari xin’wana na xin’wana milenge. U rhendzelekile na tiko a swi tivisa hi xitwarisarito. A a lava leswaku xihari xin’wana na xin’wana xi famba ku fana na munhu.

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.


Swihari a swi tsakile loko swi twa leswaku swi ta nyikiwa milenge. Xihari xin’wana na xin’wana a xi lava ku va na milenge ku endlela leswaku xi ta kota ku famba na ku tsutsuma. Swi yimbelela, swi tlhengusa micila ya swona na ku kapakapisa timpapa ta swona.

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.


Swihari swi hlanganile kutani swi vulavula hilaha a swi tikeriwa hakona eka ku kasa. Misava a yi hala makhwiri ya swona. Milenge na yona yi ta swi pfuna ku kota ku yima na ku vona ekule, ku fana na leswi swi endliwaka hi vanhu.

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.


Loko siku ri fika, swihari swo tala swi kasile ku ya endlwini ya Maguru ku ya kuma milenge ya swona. Tinhutlwa, tinghala, tindlopfu, makondlo na swinyenyana swi forile layeni ivi swi yimela ku nyikiwa milenge.

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.


Xihari xin’wana na xin’wana xi nyikiwile mune wa milenge. Swinyenyana xin’wana na xin’wana xi nyikiwile milenge yimbirhi.

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.


Swihari a swi languteka ku hambana loko swi ri ni milenge. Swin’wana swi cincile hi ntsako. Swin’wana swi vile ni ku tikeriwa loko swi famba ivi swi wela ehansi.

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.


Swi rhendzelekile hi tiko swi khorisela vanhu. Hinkwaswo swiharhi swi ku, “A hi nga ha tlheli hi kasa nakambe.”

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.”


Xihari xo hetelela elayinini ku vile khongoloti. Maguru u vutisile a ku, “Xana ka ha ri na un’wana endzhaku ka wena?” “E-e, hi mina wo hetelela,” ku hlamula Khongoloti.

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 u ehleketile, “Loko ku nga ha ri na un’wana, xana ndzi ta endla yini hi milenge leyi nga sala?” Maguru u nyikile Khongoloti milenge hinkwayo leyi nga sala.

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.


Khongoloti ri suke ri famba ri tsakile swinene hikuva a ri ri na milenge yo tala. “Ndzi ta famba hi ku hatlisa ku tlula lavan’wana,” ri ehleketa.

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.


Hi nkarhinyana Khongoloti ra ha ku suka, nyoka yi yile endlwini ya Maguru. “Maguru, ndzi kombela leswaku u ndzi nyika milenge,” ku xavelela Nyoka.

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.


“Ndzi nyikele milenge hinkwayo. Xana wena a wu ri kwihi?” ku vutisa Maguru. “A ndzi xwele,” ku hlamula Nyoka.

“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 u kambile endlwini ya yena ku vona loko ka ha ri na milenge yin’wana leyi nga sala. Kambe a nga kumangi nchumu.

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 u humele ehandle kutani a ku, “Ndzi rivaleli, Nyoka, a ka ha ri na milenge leyi nga sala.” Nyoka yi kasile yi tlhelela ekaya handle ka milenge. Ku sukela siku rero Nyoka a ya zangi yi etlela ngopfu. Mikarhi hinkwayo yi le ku yimeleni ka nkateko wun’wana wa ku kuma milenge.

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: Mkomati John Mongwe
Language: Tsonga
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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