PagineWimbo wa Sakima
A free picture book in Kiswahili by Ursula Nafula
Wimbo wa Sakima is a picture book in Kiswahili for ages 5–11 by Ursula Nafula that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Kiswahili
- Written by
- Ursula Nafula
- Illustrated by
- Peris Wachuka
- Translated by
- Ursula Nafula
- Reading level
- ages 5–11 · kindergarten to 2nd grade, 3rd to 5th grade · Level 3 · First paragraphs
- From
- Kenya
- Source
- Global Storybooks
- Licence
- CC BY 4.0
- Price
- Free — read online, nothing to download
About this book
Wimbo wa Sakima is a short illustrated picture book in Kiswahili by Ursula Nafula, illustrated by Peris Wachuka and translated by Ursula Nafula. 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 Kiswahili. 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 19 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).
How it begins
Sakima aliishi na wazazi wake na dada yake wa miaka minne. Waliishi katika shamba la mtu tajiri. Nyumba yao ya nyasi ilikuwa mwisho wa safu ya miti iliyopendeza. Sakima alipokuwa na umri wa miaka mitatu, aliugua na kupoteza uwezo wa…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. “Wimbo wa Sakima” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Sakima se lied
- Bemba · Ulwimbo lwakwa Sakima
- English · Sakima's song
- Jamaican Creole · Sakiima Sang
- Kaonde · Lwimbo wakwa Sakima
- Khoekhoegowab · Sakimab di ams
- Lukhonzo · Olwimbo lwa Sakima
- Lunda · Mwasu wa Sakima
- Luvale · Mwaso wa Sakima
- Mauritian Creole · Sakima so sante
- Nyanja · Nyimbo ya Sakima
- Oshikwanyama · Eimbilo laSakima
- Oshindonga · Ondjimbo yaSakima
- Otjiherero · Eimburiro ra Sakima
- Somali · Heestii Sakima
- Spanish · La canción de Sakima
- Tonga · Nyimbo ya Sakima
- Tswana · Pina ya ga Sakima
- Xhosa · Iculo lika Sakima
Reading together in Kiswahili
- 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 Kiswahili
Mbweha na zabibu chachu
Nyumba ya Kobe
Mtoto aliyeleta Amani
Ninafurahi / I Enjoy
Kuwahesabu Wanyama
Meno aina gani?
Umoja
Moto
See all 100 free Kiswahili books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Wimbo wa Sakima” free to read?
Yes. “Wimbo wa Sakima” 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 “Wimbo wa Sakima” in?
It is written in Kiswahili. Pagine has 100 free children’s books in Kiswahili.
What age is “Wimbo wa Sakima” for?
It is best for ages 5–11 (Level 3 · First paragraphs). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Wimbo wa Sakima” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Somali, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Tswana, Lukhonzo and more.
Who wrote “Wimbo wa Sakima”?
“Wimbo wa Sakima” was written by Ursula Nafula and illustrated by Peris Wachuka; the Kiswahili translation is by Ursula Nafula.
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Get the free app →Credits: Wimbo wa Sakima — Written by Ursula Nafula; Illustrated by Peris Wachuka; Translated by Ursula Nafula; Read by Lauwo George. Kiswahili, Level 3. From Global Storybooks (global-asp.github.io/storybooks-kenya), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=13244). CC BY 4.0. · Page updated October 2026