PagineOngombo, ombwa nongombe
A free picture book in Otjiherero by Fabian Wakholi
Ongombo, ombwa nongombe is a picture book in Otjiherero for ages 5–8 by Fabian Wakholi that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Otjiherero
- Written by
- Fabian Wakholi
- Illustrated by
- Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter
- Translated by
- Angelika Tjoutuku, Asnath Mundjindjiri
- Reading level
- ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences
- From
- Namibia
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Ongombo, ombwa nongombe is a short illustrated picture book in Otjiherero by Fabian Wakholi, illustrated by Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter and translated by Angelika Tjoutuku, Asnath Mundjindjiri. 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 Otjiherero. 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
Ongombo, ombwa nongombe vya ri omapanga omanene. Eyuva rimwe ovyo vya toora ouyenda mokasaru. Tji va vaza pu mave herukire, omuhinge wa pura otjisuta. Ongombe ya suta. Ombwa ya suta ovimariva ovingi kaṱiṱi mena rokutja vya ri mumwe. Omuhinge ngunda…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. “Ongombo, ombwa nongombe” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Bok, Hond en Koei
- Bemba · Imbushi, Imbwa ne ŋombe
- Dhopadhola · Dyel, Gwok Kodi Dhyaŋ
- English · Goat, Dog and Cow (Colour-in)
- Jamaican Creole · Guot, Daag an Kou
- Kaonde · Mbuzhi, Kabwa ne Ñombe
- Khoekhoegowab · Piris, Arib, tsî Gomas xa
- Kikamba · Mbui, Ngiti na Ng’ombe
- Kimaasai · Enkíné, Oldía ó Enkíténg
- Kiswahili · Mbuzi, Mbwa na Ng’ombe
- Luganda · Wambuzi, Wambwa ne Wante
- Lugbarati (official orthography) · Ndrí ‘ɨ, Òcó ‘ɨ àzɨ́nɨ Tí ‘ɨ
- Lukhonzo · Embene, Embwa, n’Ende
- Lumasaaba · Imbusi, Imbwa ni Ngaafu
- Lunda · Impembi, Kawa na Ng’ombi
- Lunyole · Embusi, Embwa n’Eῃombe
- Luvale · Phembe, Kawa, na Ngombe
- Mauritian Creole · Kabri, Lisien, ek Vas
- Nigerian Pidgin · Goat, dog, and Malu
- Nyanja · Mbuzi, Galu ndi Ng’ombe
- Oshikwanyama · Shikombo, Mbwa nOngobe
- Oshindonga · Oshikombo, ombwa nongombe
- Rutooro · Embuzi, Embwa, N’Ente
- Sesotho · Podi, Ntja le kgomo
- Somali · Ri, Eey iyo Sac
- South Ndebele · Imbuzi, Inja Nekomo
- Spanish · La Cabra, el Perro y la Vaca
- Tonga · Mpongo, Mubwa a ŋombe
- Tswana · Podi,Ntsa le Kgomo
- Turkana · Akine, Ing’ok Ka Aite
- Xhosa · UBhokhwe, uNja, noNkomo
- Zulu · Imbuzi, Inja Nenkomo
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
Ohunguriva norukoze
Omurumendu omutone worumbweze
Omuriro
Okangu kotjirweyo
Tingi nozongombe
Zama omusemba!
Nozibele nozondjise ndatu
Ongore yokazera kouitji
See all 40 free Otjiherero books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Ongombo, ombwa nongombe” free to read?
Yes. “Ongombo, ombwa nongombe” 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 “Ongombo, ombwa nongombe” in?
It is written in Otjiherero. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Otjiherero.
What age is “Ongombo, ombwa nongombe” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Ongombo, ombwa nongombe” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Nigerian Pidgin, Kiswahili, Kikamba, Kimaasai, Turkana and more.
Who wrote “Ongombo, ombwa nongombe”?
“Ongombo, ombwa nongombe” was written by Fabian Wakholi and illustrated by Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter; the Otjiherero translation is by Angelika Tjoutuku, Asnath Mundjindjiri.
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Get the free app →Credits: Ongombo, ombwa nongombe — Written by Fabian Wakholi; Illustrated by Marleen Visser, Ingrid Schechter; Translated by Angelika Tjoutuku, Asnath Mundjindjiri; Read by Angelika Tjoutuku. Otjiherero, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (storybooksnamibia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=6380). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026