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Káínyoo peê méáta olmákau ilpápít Kwa nini Viboko Hawana Nywele Why hippos have no hair

Written by Basilio Gimo, David Ker

Illustrated by Carol Liddiment

Translated by Leonard Kotikash

Read by Jackson

Language Kimaasai

Level Level 2

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


Óre nabô olóng, néim enkítejó embatá ó olkejú.

Siku moja, Sungura alikuwa akitembea pembeni ya mto.

One day, Rabbit was walking by the riverside.


Nétií siî nínye olmákau, egirá alooló nénya inkújít naányorí.

Kiboko alikuwepo pia, akitembea huku akila majani mazuri ya kijani.

Hippo was there too, going for a stroll and eating some nice green grass.


Néítu édôl olmákau ajó kétíi siî nínye enkítejó. Néroro enkejú é enkitejó. Néyietu enkítejó néjo, “ló mákau! Émidolíta doí ajó kítórórua enkejú?”

Kiboko hakumwona Sungura na kwa bahati mbaya akaukanyaga mguu wa Sungura. Sungura akaanza kumpigia Kiboko kelele. “We Kiboko huoni kama umeukanyaga mguu wangu?”

Hippo didn’t see that Rabbit was there and she accidentally stepped on Rabbit’s foot. Rabbit started screaming at Hippo, “You Hippo! Can’t you see that you’re stepping on my foot?”


Néjokí olmákau enkitejó peê epalikí, “tápalikíaki olchoré láí. Eitú áádól. Tápalikíaki!” Káke eitú énîng enkítejó, nébuaakí olmakáu, “ítóótíkio! ídól áí olóng! Ílak!”

Kiboko akamwomba Sungura msamaha, “Samahani, sikukuona, tafadhali nisamehe!” Lakini Sungura hakukubali na akaendelea kumbwatukia Kiboko, “Umefanya makusudi! Kuna siku utakiona, na nitakulipizia!”

Hippo apologised to Rabbit, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you. Please forgive me!” But Rabbit wouldn’t listen and he shouted at Hippo, “You did that on purpose! Someday, you’ll see! You’re going to pay!”


Nélo enkítejó aing’orú enkímá néjokí, “shómo, tápejo olmakáu tenépuku te enkáre alotú anyá inkújít. Áatororúá!” Néjokí enkíma, “metíi enyámalí, enkitejó olchoré láí. Káás ínâ.

Sungura alienda kumtafuta moto na akamwambia, “Nenda, ukamchome Kiboko akitoka majini kuja kula majani. Alinikanyaga!” Moto ukajibu, “Hakuna tatizo, rafiki yangu Sungura, nitafanya ulichoniomba kufanya.”

Rabbit went to find Fire and said, “Go, burn Hippo when she comes out of the water to eat grass. She stepped on me!” Fire answered, “No problem, Rabbit, my friend. I’ll do just what you ask.”


Óre áí ríshátá ényáítâ olmákau inkújít tenélamita olkejú “whoosh!” Néipíip enkíma néíteru anyá ilpápít lé olmakáu.

Baadaye, Kiboko alikuwa akila majani mbali na mto, aliposhtuka moto umelipuka. Miale ya moto ikaanza kuzichoma nywele za Kiboko.

Later, Hippo was eating grass far from the river when, “Whoosh!” Fire burst into flame. The flames began to burn Hippo’s hair.


Néíteru olmákau aishír nékuet aló atúa enkáré. Káke etapéjote ilpapít póoki. Néíshir olmákau ajó, “etapéjote ilpapít láainéí! Ítápéjo ilpápít láainéí pookí! Meókire aáta ilpápít láainéí sidaîn.

Kiboko akaanza kulia na kukimbilia kwenye maji. Nywele zake zote zilikuwa zimeungua na moto. Kiboko aliendelea kulia, “Nywele zangu zimeungua na moto! Nywele zangu zote zimeisha! Nywele zangu nzuri!”

Hippo started to cry and ran for the water. All her hair was burned off by the fire. Hippo kept crying, “My hair has burned in the fire! My hair is all gone! My beautiful hair!”


Ínâ oshî peê mélám olmákau enkáré. Kéuré ajó kénya enkíma. Etishípe enkítejó peê édôl ajó etapéje olmákau, néjo, “áítálákua!”

Sungura alikuwa na furaha kwa kuwa nywele za Kiboko ziliungua. Hadi leo kwa kuogopa moto, Kiboko hawezi kwenda mbali na maji.

Rabbit was happy that Hippo’s hair was burned. And to this day, for fear of fire, the hippo never goes far from the water.


Written by: Basilio Gimo, David Ker
Illustrated by: Carol Liddiment
Translated by: Leonard Kotikash
Read by: Jackson
Language: Kimaasai
Level: Level 2
Source: Why hippos have no hair from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 International License.
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