Themba umtsengisi wabhanana

A free picture book in Swati by Humphreys Odunga

Themba umtsengisi wabhanana is a picture book in Swati for ages 5–8 by Humphreys Odunga that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

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Language

Swati

Written by

Humphreys Odunga

Illustrated by

Zablon Alex Nguku

Translated by

Phumla Madonsela

Reading level

ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences

From

South Africa

Source

Global Storybooks

Licence

CC BY 4.0

Price

Free — read online, nothing to download

About this book

Themba umtsengisi wabhanana is a short illustrated picture book in Swati by Humphreys Odunga, illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku and translated by Phumla Madonsela. 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 Swati. 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 22 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).

How it begins

Themba utfwele ikhredi yemabhanana lavutsiwe. Themba uya emakethe kuyotsengisa bhanana. Emakethe bantfu batsenga titselo. Kepha akekho namunye lotsenga emabhanana aThemba. Bantfu banconota kutsenga titselo kubesifazane. Bantfu bavame kutsi: “Emimmangweni yakitsi, besifazane bodvwa labatsengisa titselo.” Bantfu bebatibuta batsi: “Yindvodza lenjani lena?”…

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. “Themba umtsengisi wabhanana” is also available in:

• Afrikaans · Tom, die piesangverkoper
• Bemba · Tomu kashitisha wa nkonde
• English · Tom the banana seller
• Jamaican Creole · Taam Di Banaana-Man
• Kaonde · Tom Musulu Wamakonde
• Khoekhoegowab · Tommi banana ǁamaxū-aob
• Kiswahili · Tom muuza ndizi
• Lukhonzo · Tom omusuburi w’ameeru
• Lunda · Tom namukakulandisha makondi
• Lunyole · Tom omutundi w’amalafu
• Luvale · Tom mukakulanjisa makonde
• Mauritian Creole · Tom marsan banann
• Nyanja · Tom ogulitsa nthoci
• Oshikwanyama · Tom omulandifi womabanana
• Oshindonga · Tom omulandithi gwomambanana
• Otjiherero · Tom omurandise wovipanana
• Sesotho · Tom ya rekisang dipanana
• Somali · Tom muus iibiyaha
• Spanish · Tom, el vendedor de plátanos
• Tonga · Tom Sikusambala Mabbanana
• Tswana · Tom morekisi wa dipanana
• Xhosa · UTom, umthengisi webhanana

Reading together in Swati

• 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 Swati

• Ukhona Yini Lomunye Lofanana Nami?
• Ngesikhatsi semaholide nagogo
• Ibhasi lenkhulu leluhlata sasibhakabhaka
• Sikhukhukati ukhohlisa Lukhoti
• Pendo yinkhomo yakitsi
• Fifi naTeddy
• Ntjikita Mantjikita
• Licandza

See all 68 free Swati books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩‍🏫 Assign this book to a class

Frequently asked questions

Is “Themba umtsengisi wabhanana” free to read?

Yes. “Themba umtsengisi wabhanana” 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 “Themba umtsengisi wabhanana” in?

It is written in Swati. Pagine has 68 free children’s books in Swati.

What age is “Themba umtsengisi wabhanana” for?

It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.

Is “Themba umtsengisi wabhanana” available in other languages?

Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, Somali, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Tswana and more.

Who wrote “Themba umtsengisi wabhanana”?

“Themba umtsengisi wabhanana” was written by Humphreys Odunga and illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku; the Swati translation is by Phumla Madonsela.

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Credits: Themba umtsengisi wabhanana — Written by Humphreys Odunga; Illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku; Translated by Phumla Madonsela. Swati, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (southafricareads.org), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=13627). CC BY 4.0. · Page updated October 2026