PagineImbushi, Imbwa ne ŋombe
A free picture book in Bemba by Fabian Wakholi
Imbushi, Imbwa ne ŋombe is a picture book in Bemba for ages 5–8 by Fabian Wakholi that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Bemba
- Written by
- Fabian Wakholi
- Illustrated by
- Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter
- Translated by
- Sandra Mulesu
- Reading level
- ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences
- From
- Zambia
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Imbushi, Imbwa ne ŋombe is a short illustrated picture book in Bemba by Fabian Wakholi, illustrated by Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter and translated by Sandra Mulesu. It is written for ages 5–8 (Grades 1–2) and is graded as Level 2 · First sentences, 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 32 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Imbushi, Imbwa ne ŋombe baali fibusa saana. Ubushiku bumo baile pa bulendo muli motoka. Ilyo baafikile uko baaleya, namutekenya aabebele ukulipila indalama. Iŋombe yalilipiile. Imbwa yaalipile indalama iikalamba pantu tayakwete indalama iinoono. Namutekenya cilya aalimukupeela Imbwa cenji, Imbushi yabutuka ukwabula…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. “Imbushi, Imbwa ne ŋombe” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Bok, Hond en Koei
- Dhopadhola · Dyel, Gwok Kodi Dhyaŋ
- English · Goat, Dog and Cow (Colour-in)
- Jamaican Creole · Guot, Daag an Kou
- Kaonde · Mbuzhi, Kabwa ne Ñombe
- Khoekhoegowab · Piris, Arib, tsî Gomas xa
- Kikamba · Mbui, Ngiti na Ng’ombe
- Kimaasai · Enkíné, Oldía ó Enkíténg
- Kiswahili · Mbuzi, Mbwa na Ng’ombe
- Luganda · Wambuzi, Wambwa ne Wante
- Lugbarati (official orthography) · Ndrí ‘ɨ, Òcó ‘ɨ àzɨ́nɨ Tí ‘ɨ
- Lukhonzo · Embene, Embwa, n’Ende
- Lumasaaba · Imbusi, Imbwa ni Ngaafu
- Lunda · Impembi, Kawa na Ng’ombi
- Lunyole · Embusi, Embwa n’Eῃombe
- Luvale · Phembe, Kawa, na Ngombe
- Mauritian Creole · Kabri, Lisien, ek Vas
- Nigerian Pidgin · Goat, dog, and Malu
- Nyanja · Mbuzi, Galu ndi Ng’ombe
- Oshikwanyama · Shikombo, Mbwa nOngobe
- Oshindonga · Oshikombo, ombwa nongombe
- Otjiherero · Ongombo, ombwa nongombe
- Rutooro · Embuzi, Embwa, N’Ente
- Sesotho · Podi, Ntja le kgomo
- Somali · Ri, Eey iyo Sac
- South Ndebele · Imbuzi, Inja Nekomo
- Spanish · La Cabra, el Perro y la Vaca
- Tonga · Mpongo, Mubwa a ŋombe
- Tswana · Podi,Ntsa le Kgomo
- Turkana · Akine, Ing’ok Ka Aite
- Xhosa · UBhokhwe, uNja, noNkomo
- Zulu · Imbuzi, Inja Nenkomo
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
Ifyakufwala fya kusukulu
Puushi wandi alikwisa?
Ukukandwa
Ulubuto Lunoono: Ilyashi lya pali Wangari Maathai
Icilandushi ca ŋuni
Ifyo ngumfwa
Ibuuku lya pamiceele
Abaana bepula
See all 40 free Bemba books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Imbushi, Imbwa ne ŋombe” free to read?
Yes. “Imbushi, Imbwa ne ŋombe” 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 “Imbushi, Imbwa ne ŋombe” in?
It is written in Bemba. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Bemba.
What age is “Imbushi, Imbwa ne ŋombe” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Imbushi, Imbwa ne ŋombe” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Nigerian Pidgin, Kiswahili, Kikamba, Kimaasai, Turkana and more.
Who wrote “Imbushi, Imbwa ne ŋombe”?
“Imbushi, Imbwa ne ŋombe” was written by Fabian Wakholi and illustrated by Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter; the Bemba translation is by Sandra Mulesu.
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Get the free app →Credits: Imbushi, Imbwa ne ŋombe — Written by Fabian Wakholi; Illustrated by Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter; Translated by Sandra Mulesu. Bemba, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=6380). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026