Kisasi cha Kiongozi

A free picture book in Kiswahili by Zulu folktale

Kisasi cha Kiongozi is a picture book in Kiswahili for ages 8–11 by Zulu folktale that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

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Language

Kiswahili

Written by

Zulu folktale

Illustrated by

Wiehan de Jager

Translated by

Brigid Simiyu

Reading level

ages 8–11 · 3rd to 5th grade · Level 4 · Longer paragraphs

From

Kenya

Source

Global Storybooks

Licence

CC BY 3.0

Price

Free — read online, nothing to download

About this book

Kisasi cha Kiongozi is a short illustrated picture book in Kiswahili by Zulu folktale, illustrated by Wiehan de Jager and translated by Brigid Simiyu. It is written for ages 8–11 (Grades 3–4) and is graded as Level 4 · Longer paragraphs, so it works as a read-aloud for little ones and as practice for children learning to read in Kiswahili. 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 18 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).

How it begins

Hii ni hadithi ya Ngede, ambaye ni ndege mpenda asali, na mvulana mmoja mlafi anayeitwa Gingile. Siku moja Gingile alipokuwa akiwinda alisikia mwito wa Ngede. Kinywa chake kilianza kutokwa mate kwa kufikiria asali. Alisimama, akasikiliza na kuangalia vizuri hadi alipomwona…

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. “Kisasi cha Kiongozi” is also available in:

• Afrikaans · Die Heuningwyser se wraak
• Bemba · Icilandushi ca ŋuni
• English · The Honeyguide's revenge
• Jamaican Creole · Di Onigaid Rivenj
• Kaonde · Kushinkanya kwaka Maimba
• Lukhonzo · Erithuhulia ly’omunyabukyi
• Lumasaaba · Intsilihaasa iy’omwoolesi we bubuukhi
• Lunda · Inkoku ya kazhila kawichi
• Lunyole · Omulagiriri w’aŋali omudungere n’omwegalulo gugwe
• Luvale · Linga mwalinga mukwenu yakatotaphako
• Mauritian Creole · Revans zwazo roder dimiel
• Nyanja · Kubwezela kwa Olozela kuli njuci
• Otjiherero · Ongore yokazera kouitji
• Somali · Aargoosigii shimbir-malabka
• Spanish · La venganza del Pájaro Miel
• Tonga · Cizyole ca Ngede
• Tswana · Pusoloso ya mogaka
• Zulu · Ukuziphindiselela kweNgede

Reading together in Kiswahili

• 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 Kiswahili

• Andiswa Nyota wa Mpira wa Miguu
• Siku niliyoondoka nyumbani kuelekea mjini
• Siku ya Kutembelea Kiwanja cha Michezo
• Nin Anataka Kuvalishwa Nguo
• Sayari Jua ya Saba
• Kwa nini viboko hawana manyoya
• Namorutunga
• Fisi mlafi

See all 100 free Kiswahili books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩‍🏫 Assign this book to a class

Frequently asked questions

Is “Kisasi cha Kiongozi” free to read?

Yes. “Kisasi cha Kiongozi” 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 “Kisasi cha Kiongozi” in?

It is written in Kiswahili. Pagine has 100 free children’s books in Kiswahili.

What age is “Kisasi cha Kiongozi” for?

It is best for ages 8–11 (Level 4 · Longer paragraphs). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.

Is “Kisasi cha Kiongozi” available in other languages?

Yes — the same story is in English, Somali, Zulu, Afrikaans, Tswana, Lukhonzo and more.

Who wrote “Kisasi cha Kiongozi”?

“Kisasi cha Kiongozi” was written by Zulu folktale and illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; the Kiswahili translation is by Brigid Simiyu.

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Credits: Kisasi cha Kiongozi — Written by Zulu folktale; Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; Translated by Brigid Simiyu; Read by Lauwo George. Kiswahili, Level 4. From Global Storybooks (global-asp.github.io/storybooks-kenya), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=2099). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026