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A girl opening a wooden window.

Zamas ge a kai! Zama is great!

Written by Michael Oguttu

Illustrated by Vusi Malindi

Translated by Mattheus Goraseb, Maureen So-oabes

Language Khoekhoegowab

Level Level 2

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A boy sleeping in his bed and a girl sitting up in her bed stretching.

Ti ǃgâsarob ge kaixuse ra ǁom. Tita ge furuse ra khâi kai ta a amaga.

My little brother sleeps very late. I wake early, because I am great!


A girl opening a wooden window.

Ti ta ge ǁî ta soresa ra gâxa kai ta.

I am the one who lets in the sun.


A woman standing in a bedroom doorway holding a bucket and a girl making her bed.

Ti îs ge ra mî, ti ta ge koma ǁîs di ǁgoaǀgamirota, ti.

“You’re my morning star,” says Ma.


A girl washing herself outside.

Hoa ǁgoade ta ra aitsama ǁāsen, hui-e ta hâba tama hâ.

I wash myself, I don’t need any help.


A girl leaning over a bucket washing her face.

ǃKhaiǁgam hâ, hoa ham ra sē hân ge ǁae-ūs tsîna ta hî tama xūna.

I can cope with cold water and blue smelly soap.


A woman thinking about brushing teeth and a girl brushing her teeth.

“Xawe ǁgûde tā ǀuru”, tis ra mamasa âiâiǃnâ te.

Ma reminds, “Don’t forget teeth.” I reply, “Never, not me!”


A girl waving at a man and woman.

ǁĀsentoa ta kara, o ta ge ti ǁnaob tsî mâkhams hâra ra tawedeǁnāxu tsî.

After washing, I greet Grandpa and Auntie, and wish them a good day.


A girl dressing herself and a woman sitting.

Sao rase ta ra gaegāsen, nēsisa ta kai hâ mamas ti ra mîse.

Then I dress myself, “I’m big now Ma,” I say.


A girl buckling up her shoes.

Tita ge ti kunubede aitsama ra ganam tsî ti ǁharode ra ǃgae.

I can close my buttons and buckle my shoes.


A girl holding a bag walking and chatting to a boy with a backpack.

Tsî ta ge ti ǃgâsarob skoli hôana nî ansa ra dītsâ.

And I make sure little brother knows all the school news.


A teacher standing and four students learning.

ǃGubis ǃnâ ra māhe ǁguiamde dīǀoaǀoasa ǃoa ta ra ǁgū.

In class I do my best in every way.


Children playing together in a playground.

Nē ǃgâi xūn hoana ta ge tsēkōrobe ra dī. Xawe ta tita ǃnāamsase ǀnamsas ge ǀhuru ga ǀhurusa.

I do all these good things every day. But the thing I like most, is to play and play!


Written by: Michael Oguttu
Illustrated by: Vusi Malindi
Translated by: Mattheus Goraseb, Maureen So-oabes
Language: Khoekhoegowab
Level: Level 2
Source: Zama is great! from African Storybook
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 International License.
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