Zama ndi wamkulu

Name: Zama ndi wamkulu
Availability: InStock
Author: Michael Oguttu

A free picture book in Nyanja by Michael Oguttu

Cover of Zama ndi wamkulu, a Nyanja picture book

Zama ndi wamkulu is a picture book in Nyanja for ages 5–8 by Michael Oguttu that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.

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Language: Nyanja
Written by: Michael Oguttu
Illustrated by: Vusi Malindi
Translated by: Jessy Sakala
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

Zama ndi wamkulu is a short illustrated picture book in Nyanja by Michael Oguttu, illustrated by Vusi Malindi and translated by Jessy Sakala. 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 Nyanja. 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 21 other languages — handy for bilingual families and classrooms (see below).

How it begins

M’ngono wanga amacedwa kugona. Ndimauka m’mamawa cifukwa ndine wamkulu! Ndine ndimalowetsa dzuwa. “Ndiwe nthanda yanga yam’mawa,” amatelo amai. Ndimasamba ndekha masiku onse, sindifunanso thandizo iliyonse. Ndingasambe ndi madzi odzidzila, ndi sopo wamtambo onunkhila. Amai amandikumbutsa, “osayiwala kutsuka mano.” Ndimawayanka kuti…

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. “Zama ndi wamkulu” is also available in:

Reading together in Nyanja

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 Nyanja

See all 105 free Nyanja books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩‍🏫 Assign this book to a class

Frequently asked questions

Is “Zama ndi wamkulu” free to read?

Yes. “Zama ndi wamkulu” 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 “Zama ndi wamkulu” in?

It is written in Nyanja. Pagine has 105 free children’s books in Nyanja.

What age is “Zama ndi wamkulu” for?

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

Is “Zama ndi wamkulu” available in other languages?

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

Who wrote “Zama ndi wamkulu”?

“Zama ndi wamkulu” was written by Michael Oguttu and illustrated by Vusi Malindi; the Nyanja translation is by Jessy Sakala.

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Credits: Zama ndi wamkulu — Written by Michael Oguttu; Illustrated by Vusi Malindi; Translated by Jessy Sakala; Read by Christine Mwanza. Nyanja, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (storybookszambia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=9984). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026