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Nozibele ó ilpápít okúni Nozibele na nywele tatu Nozibele and the three hairs

Written by Tessa Welch

Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager

Language Kimaasai

Level Level 3

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Óre apá té ápa, népuo intóyíe úni áaitayu ilkeék.

Hapo zamani za kale, wasichana watatu walienda kukusanya kuni.

A long time ago, three girls went out to collect wood.


Néírowúaju enkólong olêng. Néjo peê épúo olkejú áar enkáré áairopije iséseni. Néígurân te átua enkáré.

Ilikuwa ni siku yenye jua kali na wakaamua kwenda mtoni kuogelea. Wakaogelea huku wakicheza na kurushiana maji.

It was a hot day so they went down to the river to swim. They played and splashed and swam in the water.


Némanikí áajo emutó. Néísarrísar áashuko áapuo áng.

Ghafla waligundua kuwa muda umekwenda. Wakaharakisha kurudi nyumbani.

Suddenly, they realised that it was late. They hurried back to the village.


Óre etaá kébáya áng, néyiolóu Nozibele ajó meáta esaéi enyé. Nédamu ajo te olkéju etorikíne. Néjokí inkulíe tóyie peê erîk peê épuo áaing’óru esaéi enyé. Káke étányâ nenâ tóyie.

Walipokuwa wanakaribia kufika nyumbani, Nozibele akajishika shingoni. Alikuwa amesahau shanga zake! “Tafadhali turudini!” aliwasihi rafiki zake. Lakini rafiki zake wakasema tumechelewa.

When they were nearly home, Nozibele put her hand to her neck. She had forgotten her necklace! “Please come back with me!” she begged her friends. But her friends said it was too late.


Néshuko Nozibele olkejú ópeny. Nétum esaéi enyé. Néísarrísar ashukó aló áng. Óre élóítô, némisimísu. Népong enkóítóí te enáímin.

Kwa hiyo Nozibele akarudi mwenyewe mtoni. Akapata shanga zake na akakimbia kurudi nyumbani. Lakini akapotea gizani.

So Nozibele went back to the river alone. She found her necklace and hurried home. But she got lost in the dark.


Néduáya ewang’án natíi enkají te nélakúá. Néísarrísar aló ínâ ají. Néoshíosh metáboluní.

Kwa mbali akaona mwanga unatoka kwenye nyumba. Akakimbilia kwenye nyumba na kugonga mlango.

In the distance she saw light coming from a hut. She hurried towards it and knocked at the door.


Óre embáe naing’ásiayie Nozibele náa, oldía ótaboló kútúkají. Néíkilíkuan ajokí, “káínyoo íyíéú? Néwalikí Nozibele ajokí, “kátápóng’o áng náa káyíéú ewúéji náírrag.” Néjokí ilô día,”tíjing’ú arashû ááóny. Néjing Nozibele atúa ínâ ají.

Akastaajabu kumwona mbwa akifungua mlango na akasema, “Unataka nini?” “Nimepotea na ninatafuta sehemu ya kulala,” akasema Nozibele. “Ingia ndani, la sivyo nitakung’ata!” mbwa akamwambia. Nozibele akaingia ndani.

To her surprise, a dog opened the door and said, “What do you want?” “I’m lost and I need a place to sleep,” said Nozibele. “Come in, or I’ll bite you!” said the dog. So Nozibele went in.


Néjokí oldía Nozibele, “téyierakáki endáa.” Néwalikí Nozibele ajokí, “eitú áíkata ayieráki endáa oldía.” Néjoki oldía, “téyiera endáa arashû ááóny.” Néyier Nozibele endáa.

Mbwa akamwambia, “Nipikie!” “Sijawahi kumpikia mbwa,” akajibu. “Pika, la sivyo nitakung’ata!” mbwa akasema. Nozibele akampikia mbwa chakula.

Then the dog said, “Cook for me!” “But I’ve never cooked for a dog before,” she answered. “Cook, or I’ll bite you!” said the dog. So Nozibele cooked some food for the dog.


Néjokí oldía Nozibele, “íntobirakáki errúat.” Néwalikí Nozibele ajokí, “eitú áíkata aitobíraki errúat oldía.” Néjoki oldía, “íntobirá errúat arashû ááóny.” Néítobîr Nozibele errúat.

Mbwa akamwambia, “Nitandikie kitanda!” Nozibele akajibu, “Sijawahi kumtandikia mbwa kitanda.” “Tandika kitanda, la sivyo nitakung’ata!” mbwa akasema. Nozibele akatandika kitanda.

Then the dog said, “Make the bed for me!” Nozibele answered, “I’ve never made a bed for a dog.” “Make the bed, or I’ll bite you!” the dog said. So Nozibele made the bed.


Néaku Nozibele náyierakí oldía endáa, néorokí oltírén, néísujáki intokitín. Óre nabô oléng néjokí oldía, “kálo táatá aparán ilchoréta láainéí, néaku téyierisho, níór oltírén, nísuj intokitín étôn éítû alotú.”

Akawa kila siku anampikia, anamfulia na kumfagilia mbwa. Siku moja mbwa akasema, “Nozibele, leo naenda kuwatembelea rafiki zangu. Fagia nyumba, pika chakula na osha vitu vyangu kabla sijarudi.”

Every day she had to cook and sweep and wash for the dog. Then one day the dog said, “Nozibele, today I have to visit some friends. Sweep the house, cook the food and wash my things before I come back.”


Óre aké peê eipáng oldía, néítayu Nozibele ilpápít okúni te elukunyá. Népik obô te áborí errúat, népik likái oríóng emilánko, népik likái olpááshíé. Néísik aló áng.

Mara baada tu ya mbwa kuondoka, Nozibele akanyofoa nywele tatu kutoka kwenye kichwa chake. Akaweka unywele mmoja chini ya kitanda, mmoja nyuma ya mlango, na mwingine akauweka kwenye uzio wa nyumba. Halafu, akakimbia kuelekea nyumbani kwa nguvu zote.

As soon as the dog had gone, Nozibele took three hairs from her head. She put one hair under the bed, one behind the door, and one in the kraal. Then she ran home as fast as she could.


Óre peê eshukúnye oldía, néíteru aing’orú Nozibele. Nébuak aipót Nozibele, “Nozibele, kóreê iyíé?” Néjo olpapitá ótií abóri errúat, “néna nánú.” Néjo olótií te óriong emilánko, “néna nánú.” Néjo olótií olpááshíé, “néná nánú.”

Mbwa aliporudi akaanza kumtafuta Nozibele. “Nozibele, uko wapi?” akapiga kelele. “Niko hapa, chini ya kitanda,” unywele wa kwanza ukajibu. “Nipo hapa nyuma ya mlango,” unywele wa pili ukajibu. “Niko hapa kwenye uzio,” unywele wa tatu ukajibu.

When the dog came back, he looked for Nozibele. “Nozibele, where are you?” he shouted. “I’m here, under the bed,” said the first hair. “I’m here, behind the door,” said the second hair. “I’m here, in the kraal,” said the third hair.


Néyiolóu oldía ajó éísíká Nozibele aló áng. Nélo ajó ásújaa, káke étímírâ iláláshera lé Nozibele te oo isiarén. Néísik ashukó aló entîm. Eitú áíkata eitokí ashukunyé.

Mbwa akagundua kuwa Nozibele amemkimbia. Kwa hiyo akakimbia kuelekea kijijini. Kaka zake Nozibele walikuwa wakimsubiri na fimbo. Mbwa alipowaona akageuka na kukimbia, na hajawahi kuonekana tena.

Then the dog knew that Nozibele had tricked him. So he ran and ran all the way to the village. But Nozibele’s brothers were waiting there with big sticks. The dog turned and ran away and has never been seen since.


Written by: Tessa Welch
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Language: Kimaasai
Level: Level 3
Source: Nozibele and the three hairs from African Storybook
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 International License.
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