Tom namukakulandisha makondi
A free picture book in Lunda by Humphreys Odunga

Tom namukakulandisha makondi is a picture book in Lunda for ages 5–8 by Humphreys Odunga that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Lunda
- Written by
- Humphreys Odunga
- Illustrated by
- Zablon Alex Nguku
- Translated by
- Oscar Zangata
- Reading level
- ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences
- From
- Zambia
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 4.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Tom namukakulandisha makondi is a short illustrated picture book in Lunda by Humphreys Odunga, illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku and translated by Oscar Zangata. 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 Lunda. 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
Tom wasenda’ga chimban’gu cha makondi akwiha. Tom wayan’ga kuchisankanu nakulandisha makondi. Antu ha chisankanu anakulanda makondi. Ilan’ga ninowu nakulanda makondi a Tom kosi. Aken’ga kulanda makondi kudi muka mama. “Muchitun’gili chetu akamama hohu diwu alandishan’ga nyikabu,” chahoshan’gawu antu. “Iyala wakufwana…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. “Tom namukakulandisha makondi” 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
- 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
- Swati · Themba umtsengisi wabhanana
- Tonga · Tom Sikusambala Mabbanana
- Tswana · Tom morekisi wa dipanana
- Xhosa · UTom, umthengisi webhanana
Reading together in Lunda
- 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 Lunda
Andiswa Mukanguja
Kasumbi na Kambembi
Makondi aNkanka
Kesi
Mwanyikami wamunyanya wakatala
Tingi nawa ng’ombi
Impembi, Kawa na Ng’ombi
Nozibele na nansuki zhisatu
See all 40 free Lunda books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Tom namukakulandisha makondi” free to read?
Yes. “Tom namukakulandisha makondi” 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 “Tom namukakulandisha makondi” in?
It is written in Lunda. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Lunda.
What age is “Tom namukakulandisha makondi” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Tom namukakulandisha makondi” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, Somali, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Tswana and more.
Who wrote “Tom namukakulandisha makondi”?
“Tom namukakulandisha makondi” was written by Humphreys Odunga and illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku; the Lunda translation is by Oscar Zangata.
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Get the free app →Credits: Tom namukakulandisha makondi — Written by Humphreys Odunga; Illustrated by Zablon Alex Nguku; Translated by Oscar Zangata. Lunda, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=13627). CC BY 4.0. · Page updated October 2026