PagineMakonde akhaka
A free picture book in Luvale by Ursula Nafula
Makonde akhaka is a picture book in Luvale for ages 8–11 by Ursula Nafula that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Luvale
- Written by
- Ursula Nafula
- Illustrated by
- Catherine Groenewald
- Translated by
- Masho Kaloza
- Reading level
- ages 8–11 · 3rd to 5th grade · Level 4 · Longer paragraphs
- From
- Zambia
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Makonde akhaka is a short illustrated picture book in Luvale by Ursula Nafula, illustrated by Catherine Groenewald and translated by Masho Kaloza. 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 Luvale. 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
Wande wakhaka waphwevo wapwile wamwaza, wakuzala namasa, masangu nalupa. Oloze vyawahileho chikuma vyapwile makonde. Chipwe tuhu khaka apwile navazukulu vavavulu, ngwejivile mumuchima wami ngwami ami yami azangileho chikuma. Angusanyikilenga kakavulu kuzuvo yenyi. Kaha nawa angulwezelenga tuvyuma tumwe twakuswama. Oloze kwapwile…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. “Makonde akhaka” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Ouma se piesangs
- Bemba · Inkonde shaba maama
- EkeGusii · Amatoke A’baba
- Jamaican Creole · Granmaa banaana dem
- Kaonde · Makonde aba Nkambo
- Kikamba · Maiũ ma Sũsũ
- Kimaasai · Ilmaisurîn le kokoô
- Kiswahili · Ndizi za bibi
- Lugbarati (official orthography) · Dede vile A’bua ri
- Lukhonzo · Ameeru A’mukaka
- Lumasaaba · Kamarofu ka Kuukhu
- Lunda · Makondi aNkanka
- Mauritian Creole · Banann granmer
- Nyanja · Nthochi za Agogo
- Somali · Mooskii ayeeyo
- Spanish · Los plátanos de mi abuela
- Tonga · Mabbanana Aabaneene
- Tswana · Dipanana tsa ga mmemogolo
Reading together in Luvale
- 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 Luvale
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Mukanda wajingonde
Vana vandunda
Lunga wamusuku chikuma
Likumbi ngwafumine hembo nakuya kumbaka
Simbegwire
Tala tunyama
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See all 40 free Luvale books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Makonde akhaka” free to read?
Yes. “Makonde akhaka” 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 “Makonde akhaka” in?
It is written in Luvale. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Luvale.
What age is “Makonde akhaka” for?
It is best for ages 8–11 (Level 4 · Longer paragraphs). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Makonde akhaka” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in EkeGusii, Kikamba, Kimaasai, Somali, Afrikaans, Tswana and more.
Who wrote “Makonde akhaka”?
“Makonde akhaka” was written by Ursula Nafula and illustrated by Catherine Groenewald; the Luvale translation is by Masho Kaloza.
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Get the free app →Credits: Makonde akhaka — Written by Ursula Nafula; Illustrated by Catherine Groenewald; Translated by Masho Kaloza. Luvale, Level 4. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=2094). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026