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Habwaki Eyisere siyiwite Bweya Why hippos have no hair Kwa nini Viboko Hawana Nywele

Written by Basilio Gimo, David Ker

Illustrated by Carol Liddiment

Translated by Amos Mubunga Kambere

Language Lukhonzo

Level Level 2

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


Kiro kiwuma wakame abya inyanemulhaba okwa musike wolhusi.

One day, Rabbit was walking by the riverside.

Siku moja, Sungura alikuwa akitembea pembeni ya mto.


Eyisere nayo yabanikaho, kandi iyinemulya okwa mubogha w’ebithi okwamusike wolhusi.

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

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


Eyisere muyithalangira Wakame kwaneho, neryo yamamulyathira. Neryo wakame amalhaka kutsibu, “iwe yisere mburura siwulhangire kuwamandyathira?

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?”


Eyisere Mburura yamasaba wakame yekighanyiro. “Mungathekulhangira, unganyire!” Kyonga Wakame mwathahulikirira erisaba ekighanyiro n’eribugha athi, sindi wulyakikolerera iwunasi!, kiro kighuma wukendisyalebya! Wukendisyasasura isiwasi!”

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!”


Wakame amaghenda neryo amabana iya Muliro neryo amamusaba ati, “wughende wukendihisya emburura, Eyisere yikalhwa omwa maghetse yikasalya okwa bithi, muyikanandyathira!” Neryo Muliro amasubamo, “aho sihali bulitho, mwanithu, ngendikolha ngokuwabirisaba.”

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.”


Kathuku kake, Eyisere yabere iyinemulya okwabithi hali okwalhusi, Neryo “irooli!” Ekirimi ky’omuliro kyamahulhukira omwabithi, neryo kyamatsuka erihisya obweya bw’Eyisere.

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.


Neryo Eyisere yamatsuka erilhaka, nerithibitha omwamaghetse. Obweya bwayo obwosi mubwahya n’omuliro. Neryo Eyisere yamatsuka ekiriro, “obweya bwayi bwabirihya n’omuliro, obwaya bwayi obubuyanga, bwabirihya, singakyiwite bweya!”

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!”


Wakame mwayisyetha athi obweya bw’emburura, Eyisere bwabirihya. Neryo ekyalekire esy’amburura isyabya sikalira okwabithi isinehakuhi namaghetse habwerisagha omuliro.

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: Amos Mubunga Kambere
Language: Lukhonzo
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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