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The lembe muketho rau yuk wiye ope Why hippos have no hair Kwa nini Viboko Hawana Nywele

Written by Basilio Gimo, David Ker

Illustrated by Carol Liddiment

Translated by Fuambe Monica

Language Alur

Level Level 2

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Nindu acel, afoyo obedo kawothu idhu nam.

One day, Rabbit was walking by the riverside.

Siku moja, Sungura alikuwa akitembea pembeni ya mto.


Rau obedo keca de, ma ewothu ka camu lum mabecu becu.

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

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


Rau nwango oneno ongo nia afoyo obedo keca ka rek egam enyono wii tyend afoyo. Afoyo ugoyo nduru man ecaku kok iwi Rau, “in i Rau! I copu neno ngo nia itye ka nyonu tyenda?”

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?”

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


Rau ukwayo kisa ibang afoyo, “Tim ira kisa jarimba. Nwango aneni ongo. Kayo tim ira kisa!” Ento afoyo okwero ni winju man emedire asu ku kok iwi Rau, “I nyon mi pyem!” Nindu moku, ibeno! Ibi culu pire!”

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!”

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


Kan afoyo ocidhu ka sayu mac man ewacu ire, “Cidhi, iwang rau kan ewok kud ipii kacamu lum. Enyonu wii tyenda!” Mac, ogamu nia, “Lembe moku ope, afoyo, jarimba. Abitimu kite ma ikwayu kude.”

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.”

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.”


Yor ingeye, rau obedo ka camu lum kama bor ku ndhu nam ma. “Lewu!” Mac umwoc kan ucaku ni wangu yuk wii rau zo.

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

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


Rau ucaku ywak man eringo ipii. Yuk wiye zo nwangu odaru wang imac. Rau obedo ka ywak asu, yuk wiya owang ii mac! I wangu yuk wiya zo! Yuk wiya zo ocidhu! Yuk wiya maleng, yuk wiya maleng!

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!”

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!”


Eni re mukethu rau Kendu bicidhu ongo zo kamabor ku dhu pii lworu ma nia mac biwange kude. Afoyo anyongo onego makwe, ma mac owangu rau, ewacu, “Epoy enwanga!”

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.

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


Written by: Basilio Gimo, David Ker
Illustrated by: Carol Liddiment
Translated by: Fuambe Monica
Language: Alur
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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