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Nozibele a Masusu Otatwe Nozibele and the three hairs Nozibele no mushishi utatu

Written by Tessa Welch

Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager

Translated by Chester Mwanza

Language Tonga

Level Level 3

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


Ikaindi, basimbi botatwe bakaunkide kukutebba nkuni.

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

Kale saana, abakashana batatu baile mu kuteeba inkuni.


Oobo buzuba kwakali kupya kapati, aboobo, bakaunka kumulonga. Bakasobana akusamba mumeenda.

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.


Nikwakatalika kusiya, bakatalika kujoka kumaanda kwabo.

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

Basuka bamona ukuti bwaila. Baendeshe ukubwelela ku mushi.


Kabali afwaafwi akusika, Nozibele wakabikka kwaanza kwakwe munsingo. Wakaluba kalungu kakusama munsingo! “Ndalomba mundisindikile.” Pesi beenzyinyina bakati ciindi caunka kwasiya.

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.


Mpoona, Nozibele wakajokela akukajana kalungu kakwe kamunsingo. Wakatalika kujokela kuŋanda. Mukubula coolwe, wakasweeka nkaambo kamudima.

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.


Naakalangisya, wakabona mumuni kuzwa mukaanda. Wakeenda cakufwambaana akukonkomona amulyango.

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.


Wakanyandwa, niwakajuka mulyango, kwakazwa mubwa, “Uyanda nzi?” Nozibele wakati, “Ndazimina, aboobo ndiyanda busena bwakoona.” “Njila, biyo-biyo ndakuluma.” Nozibele wakanjila.

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.


Mubwa wakati, “Ndijikile.” Nozibele wakati, “Seninga jikila mubwa mubuumi bwangu.” Mubwa wakati, “Kojika biyo-biyo ndakuluma.” Mpoona Nozibele wakajika zyakulya zyamubwa.

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.


Mubwa wakati, “Kondiyalila bulo.” “Seninga yalide bulo bwamubwa,” wakaingula Nozibele. Mubwa wakati, “Koyala bulo biyo-biyo ndakuluma.” Mpoona Nozibele wakayala bulo.

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.


Mazuba oonse, wakali kujika, kupyaanga akuwaccila mubwa. Bumwi buzba, mubwa wakaambila Nozibele kuti uunka kukuswaya beenzyinyina. Wakalailila kuti milimo yoonse ibelekwe kataninga joka.

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.”


Mbwaakazwida biyo mubwa, Nozibele wakagusya masusu otatwe kumutwe wakwe akubikka lyomwe mujungusi abulo, limwi kunze aacijazyo, limwi muciba. Naakamana, wakatijila kuŋanda.

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.


Mubwa naakajoka, wakayandaula Nozibele. “Nozibele uli kuli?” Susu lyakusaanguna lyakavwiila lilaamba “Ndili mujungusi abulo.” Susu lyabili lyakati, “Ndili kunze aacijazyo.” Lyatatu lyakati, “ndili momuno muciba.”

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.”


Nikwakainda ciindi, mubwa wakazyiba kuti Nozibele wakamucenga. Aboobo, wakatalika kumuccilila. Pesi bana bokwabo Nozibele bakaimikila kunzila azyisamu. Mpoona mubwa wakajoka katija kuumwa. Kuzwa buzuba oobo, kunyina naakabwenwe alimwi mubwa ooyu.

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: Chester Mwanza
Language: Tonga
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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