Ukusalapo

A free picture book in Bemba by Ursula Nafula

Ukusalapo is a picture book in Bemba for ages 5–8 by Ursula Nafula that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

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Language

Bemba

Written by

Ursula Nafula

Illustrated by

Vusi Malindi

Translated by

Sandra Mulesu

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

Ukusalapo is a short illustrated picture book in Bemba by Ursula Nafula, illustrated by Vusi Malindi and translated by Sandra Mulesu. 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 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

Mu mushi wandi mwali amafya ayengi. Twalitantame umulongo pakuti twingatapa ameenshi kuli pompi umo. Twaleeloleela ifyakulya ifyakupeelwa ukufuma ku bantu bambi. Twaleekoma amayanda yesu bwangu pa mulandu wa bapuupu. Abaana abengi balilekele isukulu. Utukashana twaleebomba incito ya kuwamya mu mayanda…

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. “Ukusalapo” is also available in:

• Afrikaans · Die Besluit
• English · Decision
• Jamaican Creole · Disizhan
• Kaonde · Kufuukula
• Khoekhoegowab · Mîǁguib
• Kichaga · Irikiana
• Kiswahili · Uamuzi
• Lukhonzo · Eritwamo
• Lunda · Kuzhina
• Luvale · Kusakula
• Mauritian Creole · Desizion
• Nyanja · Ganizo
• Oshikwanyama · Etokolo
• Oshindonga · Etokolo
• Otjiherero · Omazuvasaneno
• Sesotho · Qeto
• Somali · Go’aan
• Spanish · La decisión
• Tonga · Kusala
• Tswana · Tshwetso
• Turkana · Atiakun Akiroit
• Xhosa · Isigqibo

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

• Ukwipika
• Tomu kashitisha wa nkonde
• Umwana Punda
• Ulwimbo lwakwa Sakima
• Nalitemwa ukubelenga!
• Umushishi
• Umubili wandi
• Andiswa kateya wa mupila waku makasa

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

Frequently asked questions

Is “Ukusalapo” free to read?

Yes. “Ukusalapo” 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 “Ukusalapo” in?

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

What age is “Ukusalapo” for?

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

Is “Ukusalapo” available in other languages?

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

Who wrote “Ukusalapo”?

“Ukusalapo” was written by Ursula Nafula and illustrated by Vusi Malindi; the Bemba translation is by Sandra Mulesu.

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Credits: Ukusalapo — Written by Ursula Nafula; Illustrated by Vusi Malindi; Translated by Sandra Mulesu. Bemba, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=13304). CC BY 4.0. · Page updated October 2026