Mbowadoma Nkanee

Name: Mbowadoma Nkanee
Availability: InStock
Author: Zanele Buthelezi, Thembani Dladla, Clare Verbeek

A free picture book in Fante by Zanele Buthelezi, Thembani Dladla, Clare Verbeek

Cover of Mbowadoma Nkanee, a Fante picture book

Mbowadoma Nkanee is a picture book in Fante for ages 2–8 by Zanele Buthelezi, Thembani Dladla, Clare Verbeek that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

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Language: Fante
Written by: Zanele Buthelezi, Thembani Dladla, Clare Verbeek
Illustrated by: Rob Owen
Translated by: Gabriel Ampah Sam (OLE Ghana)
Reading level: ages 2–8 · preschool, kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 1 · First words
From: Ghana
Source: Global Storybooks
Licence: CC BY 3.0
Price: Free — read online, nothing to download

About this book

Mbowadoma Nkanee is a short illustrated picture book in Fante by Zanele Buthelezi, Thembani Dladla, Clare Verbeek, illustrated by Rob Owen and translated by Gabriel Ampah Sam (OLE Ghana). It is written for ages 2–8 (Nursery–Year 1) and is graded as Level 1 · First words, so it works as a read-aloud for little ones and as practice for children learning to read in Fante. 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 32 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).

How it begins

Ɔson kor rokɔnom nsu. Kɔn sentsen abien rokɔnom nsu. Haban mu nantwisaa ebiasa na nnoma anan so rokɔnom nsu. Atwe enum na mprako aboyafo esia so nam rokɔ nsu no ho. Masae-mpɔnkɔ esuon dze mbirika rokɔ nsu no ho. Ntwɛr…

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. “Mbowadoma Nkanee” is also available in:

Reading together in Fante

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 Fante

Ma Yentu

See all 8 free Fante books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩‍🏫 Assign this book to a class

Frequently asked questions

Is “Mbowadoma Nkanee” free to read?

Yes. “Mbowadoma Nkanee” 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 “Mbowadoma Nkanee” in?

It is written in Fante. Pagine has 8 free children’s books in Fante.

What age is “Mbowadoma Nkanee” for?

It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.

Is “Mbowadoma Nkanee” available in other languages?

Yes — the same story is in Nigerian Pidgin, Hausa, Kiswahili, Somali, Xhosa, Afrikaans and more.

Who wrote “Mbowadoma Nkanee”?

“Mbowadoma Nkanee” was written by Zanele Buthelezi, Thembani Dladla, Clare Verbeek and illustrated by Rob Owen; the Fante translation is by Gabriel Ampah Sam (OLE Ghana).

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Credits: Mbowadoma Nkanee — Written by Zanele Buthelezi, Thembani Dladla, Clare Verbeek; Illustrated by Rob Owen; Translated by Gabriel Ampah Sam (OLE Ghana). Fante, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (global-asp.github.io/storybooks-ghana), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=9671). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026