Zama omusemba!

Name: Zama omusemba!
Availability: InStock
Author: Michael Oguttu

A free picture book in Otjiherero by Michael Oguttu

Cover of Zama omusemba!, a Otjiherero picture book

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

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Language: Otjiherero
Written by: Michael Oguttu
Illustrated by: Vusi Malindi
Translated by: Angelika Tjoutuku, Asnath Mundjindjiri
Reading level: ages 5–8 · kindergarten to 2nd grade · Level 2 · First sentences
From: Namibia
Source: Global Storybooks
Licence: CC BY 3.0
Price: Free — read online, nothing to download

About this book

Zama omusemba! is a short illustrated picture book in Otjiherero by Michael Oguttu, illustrated by Vusi Malindi and translated by Angelika Tjoutuku, Asnath Mundjindjiri. 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 Otjiherero. 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

Okaṱena kandje ke tjirwa momara. Ami mbi penduka rukuru, mena rokutja owami omusemba! Owami ngu mbi hitisa ozohanya zeyuva. “Oove onyose yandje yomuhuka,” Mama wa tja. Ami mbi rikoha omuini, hi hepa okuvaterwa. Ami mbi rikoha nomeva omatarazu noheva omburau…

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 omusemba!” is also available in:

Reading together in Otjiherero

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 Otjiherero

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

Frequently asked questions

Is “Zama omusemba!” free to read?

Yes. “Zama omusemba!” 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 omusemba!” in?

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

What age is “Zama omusemba!” for?

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

Is “Zama omusemba!” available in other languages?

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

Who wrote “Zama omusemba!”?

“Zama omusemba!” was written by Michael Oguttu and illustrated by Vusi Malindi; the Otjiherero translation is by Angelika Tjoutuku, Asnath Mundjindjiri.

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Credits: Zama omusemba! — Written by Michael Oguttu; Illustrated by Vusi Malindi; Translated by Angelika Tjoutuku, Asnath Mundjindjiri; Read by Angelika Tjoutuku. Otjiherero, Level 2. From Global Storybooks (storybooksnamibia.net), originally from the African Storybook (https://africanstorybook.org/reader.php?id=9984). CC BY 3.0. · Page updated October 2026