PagineUAnansi noBulumko
A free picture book in Xhosa by Ghanaian folktale
UAnansi noBulumko is a picture book in Xhosa for ages 5–11 by Ghanaian folktale that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Xhosa
- Written by
- Ghanaian folktale
- Illustrated by
- Wiehan de Jager
- Translated by
- Bukiwe Tiyane
- Reading level
- ages 5–11 · kindergarten to 2nd grade, 3rd to 5th grade · Level 3 · First paragraphs
- From
- South Africa
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
UAnansi noBulumko is a short illustrated picture book in Xhosa by Ghanaian folktale, illustrated by Wiehan de Jager and translated by Bukiwe Tiyane. 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 Xhosa. 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 27 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Kudala dala abantu babengazi kwanto. Babengazi ukuba zityalwa njani izityalo, okanye olukwa njani amalaphu, okanye zenziwa njani izixhobo zeentsimbi. Uthixo uNyame phezulu esibhakabhakeni wayenabo bonke ubulumko behlabathi. Wayebugcine bukhuselekile embizeni yodongwe. Ngenye imini, uNyame wagqiba ekubeni le mbiza yobulumko uza…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. “UAnansi noBulumko” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Anansi en Wysheid
- Ateso · Anansi Keda Acoa
- Bemba · Anansi na Maano
- EkeGusii · Anansi n’obong’aini
- English · Anansi and wisdom
- Jamaican Creole · Anansi an Wizdom
- Kaonde · Anansi ne Mpoto ya Maana
- Khoekhoegowab · Anansib tsî Gā-aisib
- Kikamba · Ananzi na ũĩ
- Kimaasai · Anansi ó Eng’énó
- Kiswahili · Anansi na hekima
- Lugbarati (official orthography) · Èbìó pɨ Òndʉ̀á be
- Lukhonzo · Anansi n’Obwenge
- Lumasaaba · Manaasi ni Kamakhula
- Lunda · Anansi na Kashinshi
- Luvale · Anansi na Chinyingi
- Mauritian Creole · Anansi ek Lasazes
- Nyanja · Anansi ndi Nzelu
- Oshikwanyama · Anansi nokayuma keendunge
- Oshindonga · Anansi nokayuma koondunge
- Otjiherero · Anansi nOndjiviro
- Sesotho · Anansi le bohlale
- Somali · Anansi iyo xikmad
- Spanish · Anansi y la sabiduría
- Tonga · Anansi a Busongo
- Tswana · Botlhale jwa ga Anansi
- Turkana · Anansi Ka Aosou
Reading together in Xhosa
- 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 Xhosa
Lusuku lwam lokuzalwa!
Eyona Ndlwane Ibalaseleyo
Indlela yoKwenza Mbuna iRhamncwa
Ilifu loMnyama: Ibali likaMkabayi Mmama
Kufanele ukuba kubekho umnyama
Ukucoca Okukhulu
Owu Mvula Yiza
USloth Vilavoco
See all 145 free Xhosa books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “UAnansi noBulumko” free to read?
Yes. “UAnansi noBulumko” 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 “UAnansi noBulumko” in?
It is written in Xhosa. Pagine has 145 free children’s books in Xhosa.
What age is “UAnansi noBulumko” for?
It is best for ages 5–11 (Level 3 · First paragraphs). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “UAnansi noBulumko” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Kiswahili, EkeGusii, Kikamba, Kimaasai, Turkana and more.
Who wrote “UAnansi noBulumko”?
“UAnansi noBulumko” was written by Ghanaian folktale and illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; the Xhosa translation is by Bukiwe Tiyane.
Log books, set goals and build a daily reading habit — free on iOS, Android and the web.
Get the free app →Credits: UAnansi noBulumko — Written by Ghanaian folktale; Illustrated by Wiehan de Jager; Translated by Bukiwe Tiyane. Xhosa, Level 3. From Global Storybooks (southafricareads.org), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=1938). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026