PagineIculo lika Sakima
A free picture book in Xhosa by Ursula Nafula
Iculo lika Sakima is a picture book in Xhosa for ages 5–11 by Ursula Nafula that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Xhosa
- Written by
- Ursula Nafula
- Illustrated by
- Peris Wachuka
- Translated by
- Mqakama Aza
- Reading level
- ages 5–11 · kindergarten to 2nd grade, 3rd to 5th grade · Level 3 · First paragraphs
- From
- South Africa
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 4.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Iculo lika Sakima is a short illustrated picture book in Xhosa by Ursula Nafula, illustrated by Peris Wachuka and translated by Mqakama Aza. It is written for ages 5–11 (Grades 2–3) and is graded as Level 3 · First paragraphs, so it works as a read-aloud for little ones and as practice for children learning to read in Xhosa. The book comes from Global Storybooks and is shared under an open CC BY 4.0 licence, which is why it is free to read. The same story is available in 19 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
USakima wayehlala nabazali bakhe kunye nosisi wakhe oneminyaka emini. Babehlala kumhlaba wendoda esisityebi. Uronta wabo ofulelwe ngengca wawusekupheleni kokelo lwemithi. Xa wayeneminyaka emithathu uSakima, wagula waze waba yimfama. USakima wayeyinkwenkwe enekhono. USakima wayesenza izinto ezininzi amanye amakhwenkwe aneminyaka esithupha ayengazenzi.…Opening lines quoted from the openly licensed book (CC BY 4.0).
This story in other languages
Reading the same story in two languages helps bilingual children connect words they already know. “Iculo lika Sakima” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Sakima se lied
- Bemba · Ulwimbo lwakwa Sakima
- English · Sakima's song
- Jamaican Creole · Sakiima Sang
- Kaonde · Lwimbo wakwa Sakima
- Khoekhoegowab · Sakimab di ams
- Kiswahili · Wimbo wa Sakima
- Lukhonzo · Olwimbo lwa Sakima
- Lunda · Mwasu wa Sakima
- Luvale · Mwaso wa Sakima
- Mauritian Creole · Sakima so sante
- Nyanja · Nyimbo ya Sakima
- Oshikwanyama · Eimbilo laSakima
- Oshindonga · Ondjimbo yaSakima
- Otjiherero · Eimburiro ra Sakima
- Somali · Heestii Sakima
- Spanish · La canción de Sakima
- Tonga · Nyimbo ya Sakima
- Tswana · Pina ya ga Sakima
Reading together in Xhosa
- 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 Xhosa
Isiphiwo sikaMogau
Masibe nosuku lwangaphakati
Molo
UFudo ufumene ikhaya lakhe
uMihlali uyadanisa!
Iimpahla zesikolo
Umzimba wam
Upalesa Uthanda Izityalo
See all 145 free Xhosa books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Iculo lika Sakima” free to read?
Yes. “Iculo lika Sakima” 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 4.0).
What language is “Iculo lika Sakima” in?
It is written in Xhosa. Pagine has 145 free children’s books in Xhosa.
What age is “Iculo lika Sakima” for?
It is best for ages 5–11 (Level 3 · First paragraphs). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Iculo lika Sakima” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, Somali, Afrikaans, Tswana, Lukhonzo and more.
Who wrote “Iculo lika Sakima”?
“Iculo lika Sakima” was written by Ursula Nafula and illustrated by Peris Wachuka; the Xhosa translation is by Mqakama Aza.
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Get the free app →Credits: Iculo lika Sakima — Written by Ursula Nafula; Illustrated by Peris Wachuka; Translated by Mqakama Aza. Xhosa, Level 3. From Global Storybooks (southafricareads.org), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=13244). CC BY 4.0. · Page updated October 2026