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A rabbit jumping by the riverside.

Omolwashike oondjambameya dhaa na omafufu Why hippos have no hair

Written by Basilio Gimo, David Ker

Illustrated by Carol Liddiment

Translated by Rachel Nandjembo

Read by Rachel Nandjembo

Language Oshindonga

Level Level 2

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Reading speed

Autoplay story


A rabbit walking by a riverside.

Esiku limwe Kalimba okwa li te ende kooha dhomulonga.

One day, Rabbit was walking by the riverside.


A hippo eating grass by a riverside.

Ndjambameya naye wo okwa li ta yanga mpoka nokwa li ta li omwiidhi gwa hapa nawa.

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


A hippo stepping on a rabbit's foot.

Ndjambameya ina mona kutya Kalimba naye opo a li wo pehala mpoka. Okwe mu lyata kompadhi mokwaashiwo. Kalimba okwa tameke ta igidha, “Ngoye Ndjambameya! Ku wete ano kutya owa lyata ndje?”

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?”


A rabbit holding its injured foot looking up at a hippo.

Ndjambameya okwa indile ombili tati: “Ombili, inandi ku mona nando. Dhimina ndje po. Ashike Kalimba ka li a hala okupulakena nokutaamba ombili.” Okwa igidha Ndjambameya ta ti: “Owe shi ningile owina! Otandi ku talitha nawa esiku limwe! Owu na okufuta!”

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!”


A rabbit jumping next to fire.

Kalimba okwa ka konga Mulilo e te mu lombele ta ti: “Inda wu ka fike Ndjambameya ngele a zi mo momeya e ye komutunda a lye omwiidhi. Okwa lyata ndje!” “Kapu na uupyakadhi kuume kandje, otandi ningi ngaashi wa pula.” Omulilo osho gwa yamukula.

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.”


A hippo running away from fire.

Komatango Ndjambameya okwa li ta napa kokule kashona nomulonga, ohaluka owala e li kohi yomalaka gomulilo, “Wuu!” Omulilo ogwa fike ko omafufu agehe kolutu lwaNdjambameya.

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


A hippo crying in the river.

Ndjambameya okwa lili ta tondokele momeya. Omafufu ge agehe oga li ga pya ko komulilo. “Omafufu gandje ga pi ko komulilo! Omafufu gandje agehe ga pi ko! Omafufu gandje omawanawa!” osho a lili.

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!”


A rabbit jumping by the riverside.

Kalimba okwa li a nyanyukwa sho omafufu gaNdjambameya ga pi ko. Okuza tuu kesiku ndyoka sigo onena, ondjambameya ihayi yi we kokule nomeya.

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: Rachel Nandjembo
Read by: Rachel Nandjembo
Language: Oshindonga
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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