PagineJali Ma Bori Tektek Swa
A free picture book in Dhopadhola by Cornelius Gulere
Jali Ma Bori Tektek Swa is a picture book in Dhopadhola for ages 5–8 by Cornelius Gulere that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Dhopadhola
- Written by
- Cornelius Gulere
- Illustrated by
- Catherine Groenewald
- Translated by
- Hellen Alowo
- Reading level
- ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences
- From
- Uganda
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Jali Ma Bori Tektek Swa is a short illustrated picture book in Dhopadhola by Cornelius Gulere, illustrated by Catherine Groenewald and translated by Hellen Alowo. 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 Dhopadhola. 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 35 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
kweri pere oyido chieki swa. Dhioti pere oyido ni pinyi swa. Kitanda pere oyido cheiki swa. Gali pere oyido chieki swa. Jaali me oyido bori swa! Go oyiko furi kweri mabori swa. Go oyiko gute thigo pere mabori swa. Go…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. “Jali Ma Bori Tektek Swa” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · ‘n Baie lang man
- Aringati · Ágóbí ázó mbílíkó rĩ
- Ateso · Etunganan Lo Awojan Noi
- Bemba · Umuntu umutali saana
- English · A very tall man
- Ga · Nuu Kakadaŋŋ Ko
- Gurene · Budaa n ba’am wɔgε
- Hausa · Wani Dogon Mutum
- Jamaican Creole · Wahn taal-taal man
- Kakwa · Ŋ Utu Laga a Lojo
- Kaonde · Muntu Walepa Bingi
- Khoekhoegowab · Gaxu aob
- Kiswahili · Mwanamume mrefu
- Luganda · Omusajja Omuwanvu ennyo
- Lugbarati (official orthography) · Ágʉ̀pɨ́ ɨ́zʉ̀ rɨ́
- Lukhonzo · Omulhume muli
- Lumasaaba · Umusaani umuleeyi naabi
- Lunda · Iyala wamulehi nankshi
- Lunyole · Omusinde omuleeŋi obugali
- Lusoga · Omusaadha omuleeyi einho
- Luvale · Lunga wamusuku chikuma
- Mauritian Creole · Enn misie bien long
- Nigerian Pidgin · Na longie man o
- Nyanja · Bambo wamutali kwambili
- Oshikwanyama · Omulumenhu omule unene
- Oshindonga · Omulumentu omule unene
- Otjiherero · Omurumendu omure tjinene
- Somali · Nin aad u dheer
- South Ndebele · Uthimba Uyaphulukisa!
- Spanish · Un hombre muy alto
- Tonga · Mwaalumi Mulamfwu Kapati
- Tsonga · Wanuna Wo Leha Swinene
- Tswana · Monna o motelele-telele
- Turkana · Ekile Lokooyan Noi
- Xhosa · Indoda Ende Kakhulu
Reading together in Dhopadhola
- 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 Dhopadhola
See all 7 free Dhopadhola books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Jali Ma Bori Tektek Swa” free to read?
Yes. “Jali Ma Bori Tektek Swa” 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 “Jali Ma Bori Tektek Swa” in?
It is written in Dhopadhola. Pagine has 7 free children’s books in Dhopadhola.
What age is “Jali Ma Bori Tektek Swa” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Jali Ma Bori Tektek Swa” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Nigerian Pidgin, Hausa, Kiswahili, Turkana, Somali and more.
Who wrote “Jali Ma Bori Tektek Swa”?
“Jali Ma Bori Tektek Swa” was written by Cornelius Gulere and illustrated by Catherine Groenewald; the Dhopadhola translation is by Hellen Alowo.
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Get the free app →Credits: Jali Ma Bori Tektek Swa — Written by Cornelius Gulere; Illustrated by Catherine Groenewald; Translated by Hellen Alowo. Dhopadhola, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (global-asp.github.io/storybooks-uganda), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=918). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026