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Nozibele neendali nhatu deexwiki Nozibele and the three hairs

Written by Tessa Welch

Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager

Translated by Fritz David

Language Kwanyama

Level Level 3

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Nale nale, oukadona vatatu okwa li va ka tyava oikuni.

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


Fiku olo okwa li kwa pupyala neenghono nomolwaashi ova tokola va ye komulonga va ka yowe. Ova kala tava danauka nokulishinine omeva, tava nhukile momulonga vo tava yoo.

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


Divadiva, ova didilika kutya etango la toka. Ova endelela va shune komaumbo.

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


Eshi va fika popepi neumbo, Nozibele okwe li kwata mofingo. Okwa dimbuluka kutya okwa dimbwa ko oshilanda shaye! “Vakwetu kwafei nge mu ka teelele nge!” osho a pula omahewa aye. Ashike omahewa aye okwe mu lombwela kutya okwa toka unene.

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.


Nozibele okwa shuna komulonga oye aeke. Okwa mona oshilanda shaye ndele ta endelele a shune keumbo. Okwa puka ondjila yokushuna keumbo, shaashi okwa li kwa laula.

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


Okwa mona ouyelele tau dilile mokanduda komwiidi, ouyelele oo wa li okanano. Okwa endelela a yuka kokanduda oko ndele eshi a fika po okwa konghola pomuvelo.

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


Okwa li a kumwa neenghono eshi omuvelo wa yeululwa kombwa ndele tai ti, “Owahala shike?” Onda puka keumbo ohandi kongo omulele,” Nozibele osho a nyamukula “Ila mo, ngeenge ino hala ndi ku lye!” ombwa tai ti. Nopo nee Nozibele okwa ya mo.

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.


Konima yokafimbo ombwa oya ti, “Telekele nge!” “Inandi telekela nale ombwa ame,” ta nyamukula. “Oto telekele nge ngeenge ino hala ndi ku lye!” ombwa tai ti. Nopo nee Nozibele okwa telekela ombwa oikulya.

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.


Ombwa natango oya ti, “Yalele nge ombete!” Nozibele ta nyamukula, “Inandi yalela nande onale ombwa ombete.” Yalele nge ombete, ngeenge ino hala ndi ku lye!” Ombwa osho ya ti. Nopo nee Nozibele okwa yalela ombwa ombete.

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.


Keshe efiku okwa kala nokutelekifwa, okukombifwa ye ta koshifwa kombwa. Efiku limwe ombwa oye mu lombwela tai ti, “Nozibele, nena ohandi ka talela po ookaume kange. Eshi handi aluka nandi hange wa komba eumbo, wa teleka nowa kosha oinima aishe ya yela fimbo handi aluka.”

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.”


Eshi tuu ombwa ya pilamena ko, ye Nozibele ote lipandulula mo eendali nhatu deexwiki odo di li momutwe. Eexwiki dimwe okwe di tula koshi yombete, ikwao te di tula konima yomuvelo, do dikwao te di tula moshuunda. Konima okwa faduka po a mana mo a yuka keumbo lavo.

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.


Eshi ombwa ya aluka, oya li tai kongo Nozibele. “Nozibele, ou li peni?” tai ingida. “Aame ou ndi li koshi yombete,” oxwiki yotete tai nyamukula. Aame ou ndi li konima yomuvelo,” oxwiki onhivali tai nyamukula. “Aame ou ndi li moshuunda,” oxwiki onhinhatu tai nyamukula.

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.


Ombwa oye shi mona mo kutya Nozibele okwe i ninga oinheya. Ombwa oya lotoka ya lamba ondjila ya finda komukunda wooNozibele. Nozibele okwa hangwa a fika nale keumbo novamwainamati ova hangwa ve i nangela va tya eedibo da kula. Ombwa oya piluka ko meendelelo, ndele tai faduka po. Okudja kefiku olo inai monika vali.

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: Fritz David
Language: Kwanyama
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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