PagineIrikiana
A free picture book in Kichaga by Ursula Nafula
Irikiana is a picture book in Kichaga for ages 5–8 by Ursula Nafula that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Kichaga
- Written by
- Ursula Nafula
- Illustrated by
- Vusi Malindi
- Translated by
- Rogath Lauwo
- Reading level
- ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences
- From
- Tanzania
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 4.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Irikiana is a short illustrated picture book in Kichaga by Ursula Nafula, illustrated by Vusi Malindi and translated by Rogath Lauwo. 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 Kichaga. 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 22 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Kijiji kyako kewore ukiwa ufoi. Luleoroka mstari fuleshi lukewera iraiya mringa fukeuka mfongonyi. Lulewera iyambilia ndarama ya kyelya. Luleshinga mba zaru kyukwanyi koiouo wiwi. Wana wafoi walera shule. Wana wa kika walerunda shirundio shijiji sha mraseni. Wana wa kisoro waleraraa…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. “Irikiana” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Die Besluit
- Bemba · Ukusalapo
- English · Decision
- Jamaican Creole · Disizhan
- Kaonde · Kufuukula
- Khoekhoegowab · Mîǁguib
- Kiswahili · Uamuzi
- Lukhonzo · Eritwamo
- Lunda · Kuzhina
- Luvale · Kusakula
- Mauritian Creole · Desizion
- Nyanja · Ganizo
- Oshikwanyama · Etokolo
- Oshindonga · Etokolo
- Otjiherero · Omazuvasaneno
- Sesotho · Qeto
- Somali · Go’aan
- Spanish · La decisión
- Tonga · Kusala
- Tswana · Tshwetso
- Turkana · Atiakun Akiroit
- Xhosa · Isigqibo
Reading together in Kichaga
- 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 Kichaga
See all 6 free Kichaga books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Irikiana” free to read?
Yes. “Irikiana” 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 “Irikiana” in?
It is written in Kichaga. Pagine has 6 free children’s books in Kichaga.
What age is “Irikiana” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Irikiana” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, Turkana, Somali, Xhosa, Afrikaans and more.
Who wrote “Irikiana”?
“Irikiana” was written by Ursula Nafula and illustrated by Vusi Malindi; the Kichaga translation is by Rogath Lauwo.
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Get the free app →Credits: Irikiana — Written by Ursula Nafula; Illustrated by Vusi Malindi; Translated by Rogath Lauwo; Read by Rogath Lauwo. Kichaga, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (global-asp.github.io/storybooks-tanzania), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=13304). CC BY 4.0. · Page updated October 2026