PagineKubabesha
A free picture book in Lunda by Adelheid Marie Bwire
Kubabesha is a picture book in Lunda for ages 5–8 by Adelheid Marie Bwire that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Lunda
- Written by
- Adelheid Marie Bwire
- Illustrated by
- Melany Pietersen
- Translated by
- Oscar Zangata
- 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
Kubabesha is a short illustrated picture book in Lunda by Adelheid Marie Bwire, illustrated by Melany Pietersen and translated by Oscar Zangata. 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 Lunda. 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 22 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Ifuku dimu, mama wasendeli nyikabu yayivulu nankashi. “Tukadaku nyikabu ifukwinyi?” twehwili. “Tukuda nyikabu wufuku,” nindi mama. Manakwami Rahim wachifwa. Watompan’ga nyikabu yezhima. Wadan’ga yayivulu. “Tala zheliliyi Rahim!” manakwami wamunyanya wabidikili. “Rahim wamanya na chifwa,” nahoshi. Mama nahili na Rahim. Tunataminini…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. “Kubabesha” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Straf
- Bemba · Ukukandwa
- Jamaican Creole · Ponishment
- Kaonde · Kukambula
- Khoekhoegowab · ǁKharab
- Kiswahili · Adhabu
- Luganda · Ekibonerezo
- Lukhonzo · Ekifubiro
- Luvale · Kuzangamisa
- Mauritian Creole · Pinision
- Nyanja · Cilango
- Oshikwanyama · Ehandukilo
- Oshindonga · Egeelo
- Otjiherero · Omberero
- Sesotho · Kotlo
- Somali · Ciqaab
- South Ndebele · Isijeziso sakaThemba
- Spanish · Castigo
- Tonga · Cisubulo
- Tswana · Katlholo
- Xhosa · Isihlwayo
- Zulu · Umhobholo
Reading together in Lunda
- 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 Lunda
Hakunoka na nkanka wamubanda
In’gandu wanzala
Kuteleka
Tom namukakulandisha makondi
Mwana wa Donki
Mwasu wa Sakima
Naken’ga kutan’ga!
Insuki
See all 40 free Lunda books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Kubabesha” free to read?
Yes. “Kubabesha” 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 “Kubabesha” in?
It is written in Lunda. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Lunda.
What age is “Kubabesha” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Kubabesha” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in Kiswahili, Somali, Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Tswana and more.
Who wrote “Kubabesha”?
“Kubabesha” was written by Adelheid Marie Bwire and illustrated by Melany Pietersen; the Lunda translation is by Oscar Zangata.
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Get the free app →Credits: Kubabesha — Written by Adelheid Marie Bwire; Illustrated by Melany Pietersen; Translated by Oscar Zangata. Lunda, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=11989). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026