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Tom omulandithi gwomambanana Tom the banana seller

Written by Humphreys Odunga

Illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku

Translated by Rachel Nandjembo

Read by Rachel Nandjembo

Language Ndonga

Level Level 2

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Autoplay story


Tom okwa humbata oshimbamba shoombanana dha pya nawa.

Tom carries a tray of ripe bananas.


Tom oku uka komatala a ka landithe omambanana.

Tom goes to the market to sell bananas.


Aantu ohaa landa iiyimati pomatala.

People at the market are buying fruit.


Ashike kapwa li nando ogumwe a landa omambanana gaTom. Oya li ya panda okulanda iiyimati kaakulukadhi.

But no one is buying Tom’s bananas. They prefer to buy fruit from women.


“Momudhingoloko gwetu, aakulukadhi oyo owala haa landitha iiyimati,” yalwe osho ya ti. “Omulumentu gwashike nguno ta landitha,” yamwe wo taa pula.

“In our community, only women sell fruit,” people say. “What kind of a man is this?” people ask.


Ashike Tom ina teka omukumo. Okwa igidha nuupenda, “Landa omambanana ga hapa nawa go omatoye!”

But Tom does not give up. He calls, “Buy my bananas! Buy my sweet ripe bananas!”


Omukulukadhi gumwe okwa hogolola mo okapandi komambanana moshimbamba shaTom. Okwe ga tala nuukeka.

One woman picks up a bunch of bananas from the tray. She looks at the bananas carefully.


Omukulukadhi okwa landa omambanana.

The woman buys the bananas.


Aalandi oyendji oye ya kokatala kaTom. Oya landa e taa li omambanana.

More people come to the stall. They buy Tom’s bananas and eat them.


Mbalambala moshimbamba omwa pu. Tom okwa yalula iimaliwa mbyoka a likola.

Soon, the tray is empty. Tom counts the money he earned.


Tom okwa ka landa ihe oothewa, osuuka nomboloto. Okwa tula iinima moshimbamba she.

Then Tom buys soap, sugar, and bread. He puts the things in his tray.


Tom okwa yi kegumbo a humbata oshimbamba she ontengelelwa.

Tom balances the tray on his head and goes home.


Written by: Humphreys Odunga
Illustrated by: Zablon Alex Nguku
Translated by: Rachel Nandjembo
Read by: Rachel Nandjembo
Language: Ndonga
Level: Level 2
Source: Tom the banana seller from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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