PagineImbuzi, Inja Nenkomo
A free picture book in Zulu by Fabian Wakholi
Imbuzi, Inja Nenkomo is a picture book in Zulu for ages 5–8 by Fabian Wakholi that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Zulu
- Written by
- Fabian Wakholi
- Illustrated by
- Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter
- Translated by
- Ntswaki Vilane
- Reading level
- ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences
- From
- South Africa
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Imbuzi, Inja Nenkomo is a short illustrated picture book in Zulu by Fabian Wakholi, illustrated by Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter and translated by Ntswaki Vilane. 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 Zulu. 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
Imbuzi, Inja neNkomo babengabangane abakhulu. Ngelinye ilanga bathatha uhambo ngetekisi. Sebefike ekugcineni nohambo lwabo, umshayeli wabe esecela ukuthi bakhokhe. Inkomo yakhokha eyayo. Inja yakhokha imali ethe ukwendlula, ngoba kade Ingenayo imali eyanele. Uma umshayeli esezilungisela ukunika Inja ushintshi wayo, Imbuzi…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. “Imbuzi, Inja Nenkomo” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Bok, Hond en Koei
- Bemba · Imbushi, Imbwa ne ŋombe
- 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
Reading together in Zulu
- 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 Zulu
Ukuthungatha umoya wentwasahlobo
Ngingumbala woju
Ukucula iqiniso: Indaba kaMiriam Makeba
Ngizokusiza
Indlu kaMama uNyamazane
Masibe nosuku lwangaphakati
Ekabani le nkinobho?
Iqanda
See all 145 free Zulu books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Imbuzi, Inja Nenkomo” free to read?
Yes. “Imbuzi, Inja Nenkomo” 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 “Imbuzi, Inja Nenkomo” in?
It is written in Zulu. Pagine has 145 free children’s books in Zulu.
What age is “Imbuzi, Inja Nenkomo” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Imbuzi, Inja Nenkomo” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Nigerian Pidgin, Kiswahili, Kikamba, Kimaasai, Turkana and more.
Who wrote “Imbuzi, Inja Nenkomo”?
“Imbuzi, Inja Nenkomo” was written by Fabian Wakholi and illustrated by Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter; the Zulu translation is by Ntswaki Vilane.
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Get the free app →Credits: Imbuzi, Inja Nenkomo — Written by Fabian Wakholi; Illustrated by Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter; Translated by Ntswaki Vilane; Read by Beauty Ngwenya. Zulu, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (southafricareads.org), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=6380). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026