Ukupenda Inama

Name: Ukupenda Inama
Availability: InStock
Author: Zanele Buthelezi, Thembani Dladla, Clare Verbeek

A free picture book in Bemba by Zanele Buthelezi, Thembani Dladla, Clare Verbeek

Cover of Ukupenda Inama, a Bemba picture book

Ukupenda Inama is a picture book in Bemba for ages 2–8 by Zanele Buthelezi, Thembani Dladla, Clare Verbeek that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

📖 Read it free →

Language: Bemba
Written by: Zanele Buthelezi, Thembani Dladla, Clare Verbeek
Illustrated by: Rob Owen
Translated by: Agnes Chileshe Chibamba
Reading level: ages 2–8 · preschool, kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 1 · First words
From: Zambia
Source: Global Storybooks
Licence: CC BY 3.0
Price: Free — read online, nothing to download

About this book

Ukupenda Inama is a short illustrated picture book in Bemba by Zanele Buthelezi, Thembani Dladla, Clare Verbeek, illustrated by Rob Owen and translated by Agnes Chileshe Chibamba. It is written for ages 2–8 (Nursery–Year 1) and is graded as Level 1 · First words, 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 32 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).

How it begins

Insofu imo ileeya mu kunwa ameenshi. Indyabuluba shibili shileeya mu kunwa ameenshi. Imboo shitatu ne fyuni fine nafyo fileeya mu kunwa ameenshi. Impombo shisaano na bamunjili mutanda baleeya ku meenshi. Bacoolwa cine-lubali baleebutukila ku meenshi. Baacuula cine-konse-konse ne sabi pabula…

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. “Ukupenda Inama” is also available in:

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

See all 40 free Bemba books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩‍🏫 Assign this book to a class

Frequently asked questions

Is “Ukupenda Inama” free to read?

Yes. “Ukupenda Inama” 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 “Ukupenda Inama” in?

It is written in Bemba. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Bemba.

What age is “Ukupenda Inama” for?

It is best for ages 2–8 (Level 1 · First words). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.

Is “Ukupenda Inama” available in other languages?

Yes — the same story is in Nigerian Pidgin, Hausa, Kiswahili, Somali, Xhosa, Afrikaans and more.

Who wrote “Ukupenda Inama”?

“Ukupenda Inama” was written by Zanele Buthelezi, Thembani Dladla, Clare Verbeek and illustrated by Rob Owen; the Bemba translation is by Agnes Chileshe Chibamba.

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Credits: Ukupenda Inama — Written by Zanele Buthelezi, Thembani Dladla, Clare Verbeek; Illustrated by Rob Owen; Translated by Agnes Chileshe Chibamba. Bemba, Level 1. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=9671). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026