PagineSimbegwire
A free picture book in Bemba by Rukia Nantale
Simbegwire is a picture book in Bemba for ages 8–11 by Rukia Nantale that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Bemba
- Written by
- Rukia Nantale
- Illustrated by
- Benjamin Mitchley
- Translated by
- Stephen Zulu
- Reading level
- ages 8–11 · 3rd to 5th grade · Level 5 · Read aloud / independent
- From
- Zambia
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Simbegwire is a short illustrated picture book in Bemba by Rukia Nantale, illustrated by Benjamin Mitchley and translated by Stephen Zulu. It is written for ages 8–11 (Grades 4–5) and is graded as Level 5 · Read aloud / independent, so it works as a read-aloud for little ones and as practice for children learning to read in Bemba. 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 15 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Lintu banyina Simbegwire baafwile, aali uwabulanda saana. Bawishi balyesesha na maka yonse ukumusunga bwino no kumusansamusha. Panoono-panoono, baatampile ukusansamuka na kabili, nangu banyina Simbegwire bashalipo. Cila lucelo baleikala pamo no kulanda pafya ubo bushiku buleba. Cila cungulo baaleepekanya umulalilo bonse.…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. “Simbegwire” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Simbegwire
- English · Simbegwire
- Jamaican Creole · Simbegwiere
- Kaonde · Simbegwire
- Kiswahili · Simbegwire
- Lukhonzo · Simbegwire
- Lunda · Simbegwire
- Lunyole · Sibahwana
- Luvale · Simbegwire
- Mauritian Creole · Simbegwire
- Nyanja · Simbegwire
- Somali · Simbegwire
- Spanish · Simbegwire
- Tonga · Simbegwire
- Tswana · Simbegwire
Reading together in Bemba
- 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 Bemba
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Andiswa kateya wa mupila waku makasa
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Inkonde shaba maama
Iŋwena iyansala
Ukwipika
See all 40 free Bemba books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Simbegwire” free to read?
Yes. “Simbegwire” 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 “Simbegwire” in?
It is written in Bemba. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Bemba.
What age is “Simbegwire” for?
It is best for ages 8–11 (Level 5 · Read aloud / independent). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Simbegwire” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, Somali, Afrikaans, Tswana, Lukhonzo and more.
Who wrote “Simbegwire”?
“Simbegwire” was written by Rukia Nantale and illustrated by Benjamin Mitchley; the Bemba translation is by Stephen Zulu.
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Get the free app →Credits: Simbegwire — Written by Rukia Nantale; Illustrated by Benjamin Mitchley; Translated by Stephen Zulu. Bemba, Level 5. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=7068). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026