Okandwi okaṱikona: Ehungi ra Wangari Maathai

A free picture book in Otjiherero by Nicola Rijsdijk

Okandwi okaṱikona: Ehungi ra Wangari Maathai is a picture book in Otjiherero for ages 5–11 by Nicola Rijsdijk that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

📖 Read it free →

Language

Otjiherero

Written by

Nicola Rijsdijk

Illustrated by

Maya Marshak

Translated by

Angelika Tjoutuku & Asnath Mundjindjiri

Reading level

ages 5–11 · kindergarten to 2nd grade, 3rd to 5th grade · Level 3 · First paragraphs

From

Namibia

Source

Global Storybooks

Licence

CC BY 4.0

Price

Free — read online, nothing to download

About this book

Okandwi okaṱikona: Ehungi ra Wangari Maathai is a short illustrated picture book in Otjiherero by Nicola Rijsdijk, illustrated by Maya Marshak and translated by Angelika Tjoutuku & Asnath Mundjindjiri. It is written for ages 5–11 (Grades 2–3) and is graded as Level 3 · First paragraphs, so it works as a read-aloud for little ones and as practice for children learning to read in Otjiherero. The book comes from Global Storybooks and is shared under an open CC BY 4.0 licence, which is why it is free to read. The same story is available in 21 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).

How it begins

Motjirongo tjoharive, komiṱurukira vyondundu ya Kenya, koutjiro wa Afrika, okakazona aake ungura movikunino pamwe na ina. Ena rako ra ri Wangari. Wangari wa suverere okukara pendje. Eye aa tanaura ehi notjikatana motjikunino tjavo. Eye aa ṋiṋikizire oundwi ouṱikona mehi epyu.…

Opening lines quoted from the openly licensed book (CC BY 4.0).

This story in other languages

Reading the same story in two languages helps bilingual children connect words they already know. “Okandwi okaṱikona: Ehungi ra Wangari Maathai” is also available in:

• Afrikaans · ‘n Klein saadjie: Die verhaal van Wangari Maathai
• Bemba · Ulubuto Lunoono: Ilyashi lya pali Wangari Maathai
• Hausa · Mitsitsin Iri: Labarin Wangari Maathai
• Jamaican Creole · Wahn Biini Siid: Di Stuori Bout Wangaari Matai
• Kaonde · Kalukunwa Kakacheeche; Jishimikila jakwa Wangari Maatai
• Khoekhoegowab · ǂKhari ǃKhomros: Wangari Maathais di ǂhôas
• Kiswahili · Mbegu Ndogo: Hadithi ya Wangari Maathai
• Lukhonzo · Erihera embutho: Omwatsi wa Wangari Maathai
• Lunda · Kambuntu kakanyanya: insan’gu ya Wangari Maathai.
• Luvale · Mbuto yayindende: Mujimbu wa Wangari Maathai
• Mauritian Creole · Enn tipti lagrin : Zistwar Wangari Maathai
• Nyanja · Kambewu kangóno: Nkhani ya Wangari Maathai
• Oshikwanyama · Okambuto kanininini: Ehokololo laWangari Maathai
• Oshindonga · Okambuto okashonashona: Ehokololo lyaWangari Maathai
• Sepedi · Peu Ye Nnyanennyane
• Somali · Mir yar: Sheekadii Wangari Mathaay
• Spanish · Una pequeña semilla: la historia de Wangari Maathai
• Tonga · Mbuto Nsyoonto: Kaano ka Wangari Maathai
• Tswana · Peo E Nnye: Tlhamane ya ga Wangari Maathai
• Xhosa · A Tiny Seed: The Story of Wangari Maathai
• Zulu · Imbewu Encane

Reading together in Otjiherero

• 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 Otjiherero

• Uvari
• Ongwaye ozonḓuu tji ze hi na omainya
• Andiswa onyose yotjimberere
• Eyuva ndu mba za ponganda okuyenda kotjihuro
• Okutjaara mOzambezi
• Ongandu yondjara
• Okutereka
• Tom omurandise wovipanana

See all 40 free Otjiherero books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩‍🏫 Assign this book to a class

Frequently asked questions

Is “Okandwi okaṱikona: Ehungi ra Wangari Maathai” free to read?

Yes. “Okandwi okaṱikona: Ehungi ra Wangari Maathai” 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 4.0).

What language is “Okandwi okaṱikona: Ehungi ra Wangari Maathai” in?

It is written in Otjiherero. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Otjiherero.

What age is “Okandwi okaṱikona: Ehungi ra Wangari Maathai” for?

It is best for ages 5–11 (Level 3 · First paragraphs). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.

Is “Okandwi okaṱikona: Ehungi ra Wangari Maathai” available in other languages?

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

Who wrote “Okandwi okaṱikona: Ehungi ra Wangari Maathai”?

“Okandwi okaṱikona: Ehungi ra Wangari Maathai” was written by Nicola Rijsdijk and illustrated by Maya Marshak; the Otjiherero translation is by Angelika Tjoutuku & Asnath Mundjindjiri.

Track reading with the free Pagine app

Log books, set goals and build a daily reading habit — free on iOS, Android and the web.

Get the free app →

Credits: Okandwi okaṱikona: Ehungi ra Wangari Maathai — Written by Nicola Rijsdijk; Illustrated by Maya Marshak; Translated by Angelika Tjoutuku & Asnath Mundjindjiri; Read by Asnath Mundjindjiri. Otjiherero, Level 3. From Global Storybooks (storybooksnamibia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=9809). CC BY 4.0. · Page updated October 2026