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Nozibele ndi Tsitsi itatu Nozibele and the three hairs Nozibele no mushishi utatu

Written by Tessa Welch

Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager

Translated by Sitwe Benson Mkandawire

Read by Christine Mwanza

Language Nyanja

Level Level 3

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Kalekale, atsikana atatu anayenda kukathyola nkhuni.

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

Kale saana, abakashana batatu baile mu kuteeba inkuni.


Tsikuli linali lakupya ndipo iwo anaganiza kuti akasambirekumtsinje. Anasowera ndikuthirana madzi ndi kusambiram’madzi.

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

Ubo bushiku kwalikabile saana, efyo baile ku mumana mu koowa. Baaleyangala, baleesabaula ameenshi no koowa.


Mwadzidzi, anaona kuti nthawi yatha. Anathamangira kumudzi.

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

Basuka bamona ukuti bwaila. Baendeshe ukubwelela ku mushi.


Pamene anali pafupi ndi kunyumba, Nozibele anaika dzanja lake pakhosi. Anaiwala ndendele yovala pakhosi. “Conde tiyeni tibwerele!” Anapempha anzace. Koma anzace anati kwafipa kwambiri.

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.

Cilya bapalamina ku mushi, Nozibele aikete mu mukoshi. Asanga ukuti nalaba ubulungu bwamu mukoshi. Aapapeete abanankwe ati, “Napaapaata nshindikeniko!” Nomba abanankwe bamukanina abati naabwila.


Nozibele anabwerera kumtsinje yekha. Anaupeza mkanda wake nathamangira kunyumba koma anasowa mumudima.

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

Nozibele epakubwekelamo ku mumana eka. Asanga ubulungu asenda atampa no kubwelela ku ŋanda. Nomba aaluba pantu kwalifiitile.


Kuyangana patali, anaona kuwala kucokera pakanyumba . Anathamangirako nagogoda pacitseka.

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

Akatalamukila, aamwene ulubuto ulwalefuma mu kayanda. Aendesha ukuyako no kuya konkonsha pa ciibi.


Modabwisa,anaona galu akusegula citseko ndikunena, “Ufuna cani?” “Ndasowa ndifunako malo kogona” anatero Nozibele. “Lowa, ngati siuteroa ndizakuluma!” Anatero galu. Nozibele analowa.

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.

Nozibele camupapwishe nganshi pa kumona Imbwa eyaisula iciibi no kumwipusha aiti, “Finshi ulefwaya?” Nozibele nao ati, “Ninduba, ndefwaya apo ningasendama.” Imbwa aiti, “Ingila nga teifyo naalakusuma!” Nozibele epakwingila.


Kenaka Galu anati, “Ndiphikire!” “Sininaphikirepo galu mu umoyo wanga” anayankha Nozibele. “Phika, ngati suphika nizakuluma” Anatero galu. Motero Nozibele anaphika cakudya cagalu.

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.

Elyo Imbwa yamweba ati, “Njipikilako!” Nozibele ayasuka ati, “Nomba nshatala njipikilapo imbwa.” Imbwa aiti, “Ipika nga teifyo naalakusuma.” Nozibele epakwipikila Imbwa ifyakulya.


Galu anati, “Ndikonzere pogona!” Nozibele anati, “Sindinakonzelepo galu pogona mu umoyo wanga” “Ndikonzere pogona, ngati sundikonzela ndizakuluma!” Inatelo galu. Nozibele anakonza pogona galu.

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.

Imbwa kabili aiti, “Njanshikila ubusanshi!” Nozibele nao ati, “Ine nshatala njanshikilapo imbwa ubusanshi.” Imbwa aiti, “Njanshikila ubusanshi nga teifyo nalakusuma!” Efyo Nozibele ayanshike ubusanshi.


Masiku onse, anali kuphika, kuphyelerira ndi kuwashira galu. Tsiku lina galu anati, “Nozibele, ndizayendera anzanga. Phyela munyuba, phika zakudya, ndiponso undiwashire zinthu zanga ndikalibe kubwelera.”

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.”

Cila bushiku aaleipikila Imbwa no kuiwashisha. Ubushiku bumo Imbwa aiti, “Nozibele, leelo mfwile ukutandalila abanandi. Upyange iŋanda, wipike ifyakulya, no kuwasha ifyakufwala fyandi fyonse ilyo nshilabwela.”


Pamane galu anangocoka cabe, Nozibele anacotsa tsitsi itatu kucokera m’mutu wake. Anaika tsitsi limodzi pansi pa bedi, limodzi kumbuyo kwa citseko ndi lina mukhoira ya ng’ombe. Kenaka anathamangira kunyumba mwamsanga ndithu.

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.

Cilyafye Imbwa yaaya, Nozibele anukwile umushishi utatu mu mutwe. Abiika umushishi umo panshi ya busanshi, umbi kunuma ya ciibi elyo umbi mwitanga. Elyo abutuka na maka yonse ukuya ku ŋanda.


Pamene Galu anabwerera, anamsakira Nozibele. “Nozibele ulikuti?” Anafuula galu. “Ndirikuno, pansi pa bedi” Tsitsi loyamba linayankha. “Ndirikuno kumbuyo kwa citseko” Tsitsi laciwiri linayankha. “Ndirikuno kukhoira ya ng’ombe” Tsitsi lacitatu linayankha.

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.

Ilyo Imbwa yabwelele, yatampile ukufwaya Nozibele. Yapunda ati, “Nozibele, Ulikwi?” Umushishi uwali mwisamba lya busanshi wabalilapo auti, “Ndimuno!” Uwacibili auti, “Ndi kuno, kunuma ya ciibi.” Umushishi wacitatu nao auti, “Ndi muno, mwitanga.”


Galu anadziwa kuti Nozibele athawa. Galu anathamanga kupita kumudzi kwa Nozibele. Koma abale a Nozibele anali kuyembekezera ndi mitengo ikuluikulu. Galu anabwerera ndikuthawa ndipo akalibe kuonekelanso kucoka pomwepo.

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.

Imbwa yaishiba ukuti Nozibele naicenjesha naafyuka. Yaabutwike ulubilo ukuya ku mushi. Nomba bandume yakwa Nozibele baleilolela ne fimiti ifikulu. Efyo Imbwa yapilibwike no kubutuka kabili ukufuma apo tayatalile aimoneka na kabili.


Written by: Tessa Welch
Illustrated by: Wiehan de Jager
Translated by: Sitwe Benson Mkandawire
Read by: Christine Mwanza
Language: Nyanja
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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