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Lwaki Wanvubu Azira Bwoya Why hippos have no hair

Written by Basilio Gimo, David Ker

Illustrated by Carol Liddiment

Translated by Cornelius Wambi Gulere

Language Lusoga

Level Level 2

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Lwali lulala, Wakayima bwe yali atambulira ku mwalo ogwo mwiga.

One day, Rabbit was walking by the riverside.


Wanvubu yeena yaliyo, nga ali kutambulatambula eno bwalya ku isubi lya kilagala eilungi.

Hippo was there too, going for a stroll and eating some nice green grass.


Wanvubu tiyabona ati Wakayima yali agho era mu butali bugenderere yaaniina ku kigere kya Wakayima. Wakayima yaatandiika okuvuma Wanvubu, “Iwe Wanvubu! toli kubona nga oli kunniina ku kigere?

Hippo didn’t see that Rabbit was there and she accidentally stepped on Rabbit’s foot. Rabbit started screaming at Hippo, “You Hippo! Can’t you see that you’re stepping on my foot?”


Wanvubu yeetondera Wakayima, “Nkweghembye binsobeire. Tikuboine. Bambi nsonhigha!” Aye Wakayima nga tawuliriza era yaakaabukira Wanvubu, “Okikoze mu bugenderere! Lulala, oidha kukibona! Oidha kusasula!”

Hippo apologised to Rabbit, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you. Please forgive me!” But Rabbit wouldn’t listen and he shouted at Hippo, “You did that on purpose! Someday, you’ll see! You’re going to pay!”


Wakayima yaaja bwa kunoonia Muliro era yakoba, “Ja, yokya Wanvubu bwanavaayo mu maadhi okulya eisubi. Anniinieku!” Muliro yairamu, “Ghazira buzibu, Wakayima, mukagwa. Ndidha kukola nga bwokobye.”

Rabbit went to find Fire and said, “Go, burn Hippo when she comes out of the water to eat grass. She stepped on me!” Fire answered, “No problem, Rabbit, my friend. I’ll do just what you ask.”


Luvainhuma, Wanvubu yali ali kulya isubi ghalaku okuva ku mwiga meeni, “whooshi!” Muliro yaatumbuga ennimi. Ennimi dhaatandiika okwokya enviiri dha Wanvubu.

Later, Hippo was eating grass far from the river when, “Whoosh!” Fire burst into flame. The flames began to burn Hippo’s hair.


Wanvubu yaatandiika okulira era yaalumuka okuja mu maadhi. Enviiri dhe dhonadhoona dhaaya omuliro. Wanvubu yaasigala nga ali kulira, “Enviiri dhange dhiyiire mu muliro! Enviiri dhange dhonadhoona dhigiire! Enviiri dhange ennungi!”

Hippo started to cry and ran for the water. All her hair was burned off by the fire. Hippo kept crying, “My hair has burned in the fire! My hair is all gone! My beautiful hair!”


Wakayima yaaba musanhufu kuba enviiri dha Wanvubu dhiyiire. Era na buti, okutya omuliro, kwaleetesa Wanvubu obutagya ghala okuva ku maadhi.

Rabbit was happy that Hippo’s hair was burned. And to this day, for fear of fire, the hippo never goes far from the water.


Written by: Basilio Gimo, David Ker
Illustrated by: Carol Liddiment
Translated by: Cornelius Wambi Gulere
Language: Lusoga
Level: Level 2
Source: Why hippos have no hair from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 International License.
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