PagineIcilandushi ca ŋuni
A free picture book in Bemba by Zulu folktale
Icilandushi ca ŋuni is a picture book in Bemba for ages 8–11 by Zulu folktale that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Bemba
- Written by
- Zulu folktale
- Illustrated by
- Wiehan de Jager
- Translated by
- Sandra Mulesu
- Reading level
- ages 8–11 · 3rd to 5th grade · Level 4 · Longer paragraphs
- From
- Zambia
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Icilandushi ca ŋuni is a short illustrated picture book in Bemba by Zulu folktale, illustrated by Wiehan de Jager and translated by Sandra Mulesu. It is written for ages 8–11 (Grades 3–4) and is graded as Level 4 · Longer paragraphs, so it works as a read-aloud for little ones and as practice for children learning to read in Bemba. The book comes from Global Storybooks and is shared under an open CC BY 3.0 licence, which is why it is free to read. The same story is available in 18 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Ili lyashi lili pa ŋuni iitungulula ku buuci iyaleitwa ukuti Ngede, elyo no mulumendo wakaso Gingile. Ubushiku bumo ilyo Gingile aali mu mpanga alelunga, aumfwile aka kooni ka Ngede kalelila. Gingile aatontokenye pa buuci, awe na mate mu kanwa yasabuka.…Opening lines quoted from the openly licensed book (CC BY 3.0).
This story in other languages
Reading the same story in two languages helps bilingual children connect words they already know. “Icilandushi ca ŋuni” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Die Heuningwyser se wraak
- English · The Honeyguide's revenge
- Jamaican Creole · Di Onigaid Rivenj
- Kaonde · Kushinkanya kwaka Maimba
- Kiswahili · Kisasi cha Kiongozi
- Lukhonzo · Erithuhulia ly’omunyabukyi
- Lumasaaba · Intsilihaasa iy’omwoolesi we bubuukhi
- Lunda · Inkoku ya kazhila kawichi
- Lunyole · Omulagiriri w’aŋali omudungere n’omwegalulo gugwe
- Luvale · Linga mwalinga mukwenu yakatotaphako
- Mauritian Creole · Revans zwazo roder dimiel
- Nyanja · Kubwezela kwa Olozela kuli njuci
- Otjiherero · Ongore yokazera kouitji
- Somali · Aargoosigii shimbir-malabka
- Spanish · La venganza del Pájaro Miel
- Tonga · Cizyole ca Ngede
- Tswana · Pusoloso ya mogaka
- Zulu · Ukuziphindiselela kweNgede
Reading together in Bemba
- Read it aloud first, pointing at the pictures; then let your child “read” the pictures back to you.
- Ask open questions: what happened, how did the character feel, what would you do?
- Growing up with two languages? Talk about the story in whichever language feels easiest — the understanding carries over.
More free books in Bemba
Umulilo
Kandume yandi akanaŋani
Tingi ne ŋombe
Zama Alicenjela!
Inkoko ne Ciyongoli
Magozwe
Ifyakufwala fya kusukulu
Puushi wandi alikwisa?
See all 40 free Bemba books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Icilandushi ca ŋuni” free to read?
Yes. “Icilandushi ca ŋuni” is free to read online in Pagine on any phone, tablet or computer — no payment and nothing to download. It is openly licensed (CC BY 3.0).
What language is “Icilandushi ca ŋuni” in?
It is written in Bemba. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Bemba.
What age is “Icilandushi ca ŋuni” for?
It is best for ages 8–11 (Level 4 · Longer paragraphs). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Icilandushi ca ŋuni” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, Somali, Zulu, Afrikaans, Tswana and more.
Who wrote “Icilandushi ca ŋuni”?
“Icilandushi ca ŋuni” was written by Zulu folktale and illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; the Bemba translation is by Sandra Mulesu.
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Get the free app →Credits: Icilandushi ca ŋuni — Written by Zulu folktale; Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; Translated by Sandra Mulesu. Bemba, Level 4. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=2099). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026