PagineZama Wakosa
A free picture book in Kaonde by Michael Oguttu
Zama Wakosa is a picture book in Kaonde for ages 5–8 by Michael Oguttu that you can read free online in Pagine — no download, no cost.
📖 Read it free →- Language
- Kaonde
- Written by
- Michael Oguttu
- Illustrated by
- Vusi Malindi
- Translated by
- Edina Njovu
- 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 Wakosa is a short illustrated picture book in Kaonde by Michael Oguttu, illustrated by Vusi Malindi and translated by Edina Njovu. 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 Kaonde. 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
Nkasami wamulume kechi ulaala bukiji ne. Mbuuka bukiji, mambo nakosa! Amiwa yami nswisha mute kutwela mukachi. Ba maama bamba amba, “Yobe ntanda wami wakumakya.” Neovwa amiwa mwine, kechi nkebapo bukwasho ne. Amiwa nakonsha kukwanyisha kowa meema amunyango nangwa aji nasopo…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 Wakosa” is also available in:
- Afrikaans · Zama is oulik!
- Bemba · Zama Alicenjela!
- English · Zama is great!
- Irish · Tá Zama thar barr!
- Jamaican Creole · Zama a di bes!
- Khoekhoegowab · Zamas ge a ǂoaǂamsa
- Kiswahili · Zama ni mkubwa!
- Lukhonzo · Zama Niw’amani
- Lunda · Zama wang’ovu
- Luvale · Zama lyatwila!
- Mauritian Creole · Zama enn top!
- Nigerian Pidgin · Zana dey great!
- Nyanja · Zama ndi wamkulu
- Oshikwanyama · Zama omunandjungu
- Oshindonga · Zama ependafule!
- Otjiherero · Zama omusemba!
- Sesotho · Zama ya moholo
- Somali · Zama waa mid aad u wanaagsan!
- Spanish · ¡Zama es genial!
- Tonga · Zama Mukali!
- Tswana · Zama o godile.
Reading together in Kaonde
- 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 Kaonde
Mbongolo Mwana
Lwimbo wakwa Sakima
Natemwa Kutanga!
Nsuki
Mubuji Wami
Khalai wisamba na bijimwa
Kyaje ne Mpungu
Makonde aba Nkambo
See all 40 free Kaonde books by reading level → · Books in 200+ languages · 👩🏫 Assign this book to a class
Frequently asked questions
Is “Zama Wakosa” free to read?
Yes. “Zama Wakosa” 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 Wakosa” in?
It is written in Kaonde. Pagine has 40 free children’s books in Kaonde.
What age is “Zama Wakosa” for?
It is best for ages 5–8 (Level 2 · First sentences). Younger children can enjoy it read aloud.
Is “Zama Wakosa” available in other languages?
Yes — the same story is in English, Nigerian Pidgin, Kiswahili, Somali, Afrikaans, Tswana and more.
Who wrote “Zama Wakosa”?
“Zama Wakosa” was written by Michael Oguttu and illustrated by Vusi Malindi; the Kaonde translation is by Edina Njovu.
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Get the free app →Credits: Zama Wakosa — Written by Michael Oguttu; Illustrated by Vusi Malindi; Translated by Edina Njovu. Kaonde, 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