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Lwaki Wanvubu Azira Bwoya Why hippos have no hair Kwa nini Viboko Hawana Nywele

Written by Basilio Gimo, David Ker

Illustrated by Carol Liddiment

Translated by Cornelius Wambi Gulere

Language Lusoga

Level Level 2

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


Lwali lulala, Wakayima bwe yali atambulira ku mwalo ogwo mwiga.

One day, Rabbit was walking by the riverside.

Siku moja, Sungura alikuwa akitembea pembeni ya mto.


Wanvubu yeena yaliyo, nga ali kutambulatambula eno bwalya ku isubi lya kilagala eilungi.

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

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


Wanvubu tiyabona ati Wakayima yali agho era mu butali bugenderere yaaniina ku kigere kya Wakayima. Wakayima yaatandiika okuvuma Wanvubu, “Iwe Wanvubu! toli kubona nga oli kunniina ku kigere?

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?”


Wanvubu yeetondera Wakayima, “Nkweghembye binsobeire. Tikuboine. Bambi nsonhigha!” Aye Wakayima nga tawuliriza era yaakaabukira Wanvubu, “Okikoze mu bugenderere! Lulala, oidha kukibona! Oidha kusasula!”

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!”


Wakayima yaaja bwa kunoonia Muliro era yakoba, “Ja, yokya Wanvubu bwanavaayo mu maadhi okulya eisubi. Anniinieku!” Muliro yairamu, “Ghazira buzibu, Wakayima, mukagwa. Ndidha kukola nga bwokobye.”

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.”


Luvainhuma, Wanvubu yali ali kulya isubi ghalaku okuva ku mwiga meeni, “whooshi!” Muliro yaatumbuga ennimi. Ennimi dhaatandiika okwokya enviiri dha Wanvubu.

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.


Wanvubu yaatandiika okulira era yaalumuka okuja mu maadhi. Enviiri dhe dhonadhoona dhaaya omuliro. Wanvubu yaasigala nga ali kulira, “Enviiri dhange dhiyiire mu muliro! Enviiri dhange dhonadhoona dhigiire! Enviiri dhange ennungi!”

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!”


Wakayima yaaba musanhufu kuba enviiri dha Wanvubu dhiyiire. Era na buti, okutya omuliro, kwaleetesa Wanvubu obutagya ghala okuva ku maadhi.

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: Cornelius Wambi Gulere
Language: Lusoga
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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