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A boy singing in front of a woman.

Sakima’s song Sakima's song

Written by Ursula Nafula

Illustrated by Peris Wachuka

Read by Darshan Soni

Language English

Level Level 3

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Autoplay story


A man, a woman, a boy and a girl standing outside a hut and some trees.

Sakima lived with his parents and his four year old sister. They lived on a rich man’s land. Their grass-thatched hut was at the end of a row of trees.

Sakima lived with his parents and his four year old sister. They lived on a rich man’s land. Their grass-thatched hut was at the end of a row of trees.


A boy thinking about when he was ill in bed.

When Sakima was three years old, he fell sick and lost his sight. Sakima was a talented boy.

When Sakima was three years old, he fell sick and lost his sight. Sakima was a talented boy.


A boy talking to three women.

Sakima did many things that other six year old boys did not do. For example, he could sit with older members of the village and discuss important matters.

Sakima did many things that other six year old boys did not do. For example, he could sit with older members of the village and discuss important matters.


A boy and girl waving to a man and woman leaving.

The parents of Sakima worked at the rich man’s house. They left home early in the morning and returned late in the evening. Sakima was left with his little sister.

The parents of Sakima worked at the rich man’s house. They left home early in the morning and returned late in the evening. Sakima was left with his little sister.


A boy singing to a woman.

Sakima loved to sing songs. One day his mother asked him, “Where do you learn these songs from, Sakima?”

Sakima loved to sing songs. One day his mother asked him, “Where do you learn these songs from, Sakima?”


A boy talking with a woman.

Sakima answered, “They just come, mother. I hear them in my head and then I sing.”

Sakima answered, “They just come, mother. I hear them in my head and then I sing.”


A boy singing to a girl smiling.

Sakima liked to sing for his little sister, especially, if she felt hungry. His sister would listen to him singing his favourite song. She would sway to the soothing tune.

Sakima liked to sing for his little sister, especially, if she felt hungry. His sister would listen to him singing his favourite song. She would sway to the soothing tune.


A boy sitting and a girl standing next to him.

“Can you sing it again and again, Sakima,” his sister would beg him. Sakima would accept and sing it over and over again.

“Can you sing it again and again, Sakima,” his sister would beg him. Sakima would accept and sing it over and over again.


A sad-looking man and woman sitting with their heads in their hands and a boy and girl next them.

One evening when his parents returned home, they were very quiet. Sakima knew that there was something wrong.

One evening when his parents returned home, they were very quiet. Sakima knew that there was something wrong.


A boy talking to a man and woman and a girl standing next to them.

“What is wrong, mother, father?” Sakima asked. Sakima learned that the rich man’s son was missing. The man was very sad and lonely.

“What is wrong, mother, father?” Sakima asked. Sakima learned that the rich man’s son was missing. The man was very sad and lonely.


A boy talking to a woman with her arms crossed and a man.

“I can sing for him. He might be happy again,” Sakima told his parents. But his parents dismissed him. “He is very rich. You are only a blind boy. Do you think your song will help him?”

“I can sing for him. He might be happy again,” Sakima told his parents. But his parents dismissed him. “He is very rich. You are only a blind boy. Do you think your song will help him?”


A girl with her hand on her tummy talking to a man, a woman and a boy.

However, Sakima did not give up. His little sister supported him. She said, “Sakima’s songs soothe me when I am hungry. They will soothe the rich man too.”

However, Sakima did not give up. His little sister supported him. She said, “Sakima’s songs soothe me when I am hungry. They will soothe the rich man too.”


A girl leading a blind boy with a stick through a forest.

The following day, Sakima asked his little sister to lead him to the rich man’s house.

The following day, Sakima asked his little sister to lead him to the rich man’s house.


A boy standing outside a building singing to a man looking out of the window, and a girl standing next to him.

He stood below one big window and began to sing his favourite song. Slowly, the head of the rich man began to show through the big window.

He stood below one big window and began to sing his favourite song. Slowly, the head of the rich man began to show through the big window.


A boy singing outside a building singing to a man looking out of the window, and a girl and some workers standing next to him.

The workers stopped what they were doing. They listened to Sakima’s beautiful song. But one man said, “Nobody has been able to console the boss. Does this blind boy think he will console him?”

The workers stopped what they were doing. They listened to Sakima’s beautiful song. But one man said, “Nobody has been able to console the boss. Does this blind boy think he will console him?”


A man standing outside a building calling a boy and girl walking away.

Sakima finished singing his song and turned to leave. But the rich man rushed out and said, “Please sing again.”

Sakima finished singing his song and turned to leave. But the rich man rushed out and said, “Please sing again.”


Two men carrying a boy on a stretcher towards a man standing next to a boy and girl.

At that very moment, two men came carrying someone on a stretcher. They had found the rich man’s son beaten up and left on the side of the road.

At that very moment, two men came carrying someone on a stretcher. They had found the rich man’s son beaten up and left on the side of the road.


A man standing between two boys in hospital beds and a girl standing in front of him.

The rich man was so happy to see his son again. He rewarded Sakima for consoling him. He took his son and Sakima to hospital so Sakima could regain his sight.

The rich man was so happy to see his son again. He rewarded Sakima for consoling him. He took his son and Sakima to hospital so Sakima could regain his sight.


Written by: Ursula Nafula
Illustrated by: Peris Wachuka
Read by: Darshan Soni
Language: English
Level: Level 3
Source: Sakima's song from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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