PagineUkukandwa
A free picture book in Bemba by Adelheid Marie Bwire
Ukukandwa is a picture book in Bemba for ages 5–8 by Adelheid Marie Bwire that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Bemba
- Written by
- Adelheid Marie Bwire
- Illustrated by
- Melany Pietersen
- Translated by
- Joseph Mwansa
- Reading level
- ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences
- From
- Zambia
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 3.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Ukukandwa is a short illustrated picture book in Bemba by Adelheid Marie Bwire, illustrated by Melany Pietersen and translated by Joseph Mwansa. 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 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 22 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Ubushiku bumo bamaayo balikwete ifisabo ifingi. Twaipusha ati, “Ni nshitanshi twalalyapo ifitwalo?” Bamaayo abati, “Tuleelya ifitwalo ubushiku.” Ndume yandi Rahim alifunuka. Alyako ku fitwalo fyonse. Aalya ifingi. “Moneni ifyo Rahim acitile,” efyapundile kandume yandi. Nayasuka nati, “Rahim toomfwa kabili aliitemwa.”…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. “Ukukandwa” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Straf
- Jamaican Creole · Ponishment
- Kaonde · Kukambula
- Khoekhoegowab · ǁKharab
- Kiswahili · Adhabu
- Luganda · Ekibonerezo
- Lukhonzo · Ekifubiro
- Lunda · Kubabesha
- Luvale · Kuzangamisa
- Mauritian Creole · Pinision
- Nyanja · Cilango
- Oshikwanyama · Ehandukilo
- Oshindonga · Egeelo
- Otjiherero · Omberero
- Sesotho · Kotlo
- Somali · Ciqaab
- South Ndebele · Isijeziso sakaThemba
- Spanish · Castigo
- Tonga · Cisubulo
- Tswana · Katlholo
- Xhosa · Isihlwayo
- Zulu · Umhobholo
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
Ubushiku nafumine pa ŋanda ukuya ku kalaale
Cuuti kuli bamaama
Iŋwena iyansala
Ukwipika
Tomu kashitisha wa nkonde
Umwana Punda
Ulwimbo lwakwa Sakima
Nalitemwa ukubelenga!
See all 40 free Bemba books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Ukukandwa” free to read?
Yes. “Ukukandwa” 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 “Ukukandwa” in?
It is written in Bemba. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Bemba.
What age is “Ukukandwa” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Ukukandwa” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in Kiswahili, Somali, Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Tswana and more.
Who wrote “Ukukandwa”?
“Ukukandwa” was written by Adelheid Marie Bwire and illustrated by Melany Pietersen; the Bemba translation is by Joseph Mwansa.
Log books, set goals and build a daily reading habit — free on iOS, Android and the web.
Get the free app →Credits: Ukukandwa — Written by Adelheid Marie Bwire; Illustrated by Melany Pietersen; Translated by Joseph Mwansa. Bemba, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=11989). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026