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Nkuku a Joongolo Chicken and Millipede

Written by Winny Asara

Illustrated by Magriet Brink

Translated by Vision Milimo

Language ChiTonga

Level Level 3

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Inkuku a Joongolo bakali benizinyina. Nokuba boobo, lyoonse bakali kuyanda kuzundana. Bumwi buzuba bakayeeya kuti baume mupila kutegwa bazyibe mukali akati kabo.

Chicken and Millipede were friends. But they were always competing with each other. One day they decided to play football to see who the best player was.


Bakaunka kubbuwa lya mupila akutalika musobano wabo. Nkuku yakali alubilo, pele Joongolo lyakali kwiinda. Nkuku yakauma mulpila kule, pesi Joongola lyakaindilizya kuuma kwiindilila akasisya nkuku. Inkuku yakatalika kulimvwa kutyompwa.

They went to the football field and started their game. Chicken was fast, but Millipede was faster. Chicken kicked far, but Millipede kicked further. Chicken started to feel grumpy.


Bakayanda kuti baume mupila wa kunwisya . Joongolo nguwakasaanguna kuya mugoolo. Inkuku yakanywinsya biyo goolo lyomwe. Mpoonya ono cakasika ciindi cakuti nkuku ayalo ijate bbola mugoolo.

They decided to play a penalty shoot-out. First Millipede was goal keeper. Chicken scored only one goal. Then it was the chicken’s turn to defend the goal.


Njoongolo lyakauma mupila akunywinsya. Joongolo lyakanyunya akunywinsya. Joongolo lyakauumya mutwe mupila akunywinsya. Eelyo Joongolo antoomwe lwakanywinsya magoolo osanwe.

Millipede kicked the ball and scored. Millipede dribbled the ball and scored. Millipede headed the ball and scored. Millipede scored five goals.


Nkuku yakanyema akaambo kakuzundwa. Yakazundwa cibyaabi. Joongolo lyakagwagwamuka kuseka mweenzyinyina akaambo kambuli mbwaakali kulibonya kumeso.

Chicken was furious that she lost. She was a very bad loser. Millipede started laughing because his friend was making such a fuss.


Nkuku yakanyema mpoona yakajula mulomo akumena Joongolo.

Chicken was so angry that she opened her beak wide and swallowed the millipede.


Nkuku niyakali kweenda kuya kumunzi, yakaswaanganya banyina Joongolo. “Sena wamubona mwanaangu Joongolo?” bakabuzya banyina. Inkuku kunyina nciyakaamba nociba comwe.

As Chicken was walking home, she met Mother Millipede. Mother Millipede asked, “Have you seen my child?” Chicken didn’t say anything. Mother Millipede was worried.


Kabacili antoomwe banyina joongola bakamvwa kajwi kasyoonto kakalila kuti, “Amundigwasye baama!” Banyina joongola bakazibauka koonse-koonse cakubikkila maanu. Kajwi kakali kulimvwisya kuti kazwida mwida lyankuku.

Then Mother Millipede heard a tiny voice. “Help me mom!” cried the voice. Mother Millipede looked around and listened carefully. The voice came from inside the chicken.


“Belesya nguzu zyako zyaandeene mwanaangu!” Bakapozomoka banyina joongolo. Majoongolo alabamba kanunko kamwi kaya kabi alimwi akupa kubija mukanwa. Inkuku yakatalika kumvwa bubi, kuvwundaukwa kumoyo.

Mother Millipede shouted, “Use your special power my child!” Millipedes can make a bad smell and a terrible taste. Chicken began to feel ill.


Inkuku limwi yakatifwuka, “vuuu,” mpoonya yamena alimwi akuswida. Alimwi yakakola alimwi yakeesyemuka, itisyaaaa! Joongolo lyakali kusesemya!

Chicken burped. Then she swallowed and spat. Then she sneezed and coughed. And coughed. The millipede was disgusting!


Yakakola nkuku kusikila limwina joongolo yazwa mwida. Banyina joongolo alimwi amwana bakakalaba kutanta mucisamu akuyuba.

Chicken coughed until she coughed out the millipede that was in her stomach. Mother Millipede and her child crawled up a tree to hide.


Kuzwa ciindi eeco, majoongolo alimwi ankuku tazyilyatani.

From that time, chickens and millipedes were enemies.


Written by: Winny Asara
Illustrated by: Magriet Brink
Translated by: Vision Milimo
Language: ChiTonga
Level: Level 3
Source: Chicken and Millipede from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 International License.
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