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Nozibele iyo saddexdii timo Nozibele and the three hairs

Written by Tessa Welch

Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager

Translated by Abdi Muse

Read by Ibrahim Ahmed

Language Somali

Level Level 3

Narrate full story

Reading speed

Autoplay story


Wakhti dheer ka hor, saddex gabdhood ayaa u baxay inay soo guurtan qoryo.

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


Waxay ahayd maalin kulul sidaa darteed waxay aaden webiga si ay ugu soo dabaashaan. Way cayaaren waxayna firdhiyeen kuna dabaasheen biyaha.

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


Si kadis ah, waxay xaqiiqsadeen in ay yihiin kuwa daahay. Waxay dib ugu soo dagdageen tuulada.

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


Markii ay ku dhawaadeen guriga, Nozibele waxay saartay gaceenteeda qoorta. Waxay soo iloowday silsiladeedii! “Fadlan ila laabta!” ayay kabariday saaxiibaddeeeda. Laakiin saaxiibaddeeda waxa ay dhaheen waa xilli aad u dambe.

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.


Sidaas darteed Nozibele ayaa kaligeed dib ku laabatay webiga. Way heshay silsiladeedi waxayna usoo dhaqsatay guriga. Laakiin waxay ku luntay mugdiga.

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


Meel fog waxay ka aragtay iftiin ka imaanayo aqal. Waxay u dhakhsatay dhinaciisa waxayna garaacday albaabka.

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


La yaabkeda, ey aya ka furay albaabka oo ku yidhi, “Maxaad doonaysaa?” “Waan lumay waxaana u baahanahay meel aan seexdo,” ayay Nozibele tidhi. “Soogal, ama waan ku qaniini doonaa!” ayuu yidhi eygi. Sidaas darteed Nozibele way gashay gudaha.

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.


Kadib eeygii wuxuu ku yidhi, “Cunto ii kari!” “Laakiin waligay marna wax uma karrinin eey,” ayay ku jawaabtay. “Kari, ama waan ku qaniini doonaa!” ayuu egya yidhi. Sidaas darteed Nozibele waxeey xoogaa cunto ah u karisay eeygii.

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.


Kadib eeygii wuxuu yidhi, “Sariirta ii hagaaji!” Nozibele ayaa ku jawaabtay, “Waligay marna sariir uma hagaajinin eey.” “Sariirta hagaaji, ama waan ku qaniini doonaa!” ayuu eygi yidhi. Sidaas darteed Nozibele way hagaajisay sariirti.

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.


Maalin kasta waxay ku qasbanayd in ay wax kariso, nadiifiso oo u dhaqdo eeyga. Dabadeedna, maalin aya eeygii yidhi, “Nozibele, maanta waa in aan booqdaa saaxiibo, nadiifi guriga, cuntada kari, oo dhaq alaabta kahor intaanan soo laaban.”

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.”


Dhakhsaba sidaas tuu eeyga u tagay, Nozibele ayaa madaxa ka soosiibtay saddex timood. Waxay hal tin dhigtay sariirta hoosteeda, mid kalane albaabka gadaashiisa, midna gudaha xerada. Kadibna waxay u carartay guriga sida ugu dhakhsaha badan oo ay awooday.

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.


Markii eygii dib u soo laabtay, wuxuu raadiyay Nozibele. “Nozibele, xagee baad joogtaa?” ayuu ku qayliyey. “Waa ikan, sariirta hoosteeda,” ayay tiri tintii ugu horraysay. “Waa ikan, albaabka ka gadaashiisa,” ayay tiri tintii labaad. “Waa ikan, gudaha xerada,” ayay tiri tintii saddexaad.

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.


Dabadeed eeygii waxuu ogaaday in Nozibele ay sirtay. Sidaas darteed eeygii wuu orday oo ku orday wadadi illaa iyo tuulada. Laakiin walaalaha Nozibele ayaa halkaas ku sugayay iyagoo ulo waaweyn. Eeygii wuu jeestay oo wuu cararay, waligiisna dib looma arag.

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
Translated by: Abdi Muse
Read by: Ibrahim Ahmed
Language: Somali
Level: Level 3
Source: Nozibele and the three hairs from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 International License.
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