◀ Back to Story Family & Classroom Printable Folktale
Learn Shona · Ngano dzeChiShona
🦁

Tsuro naShumba

The Clever Hare and the Lion
Difficulty: Early Readers · Reading Time: 4 min
Sarungano: "Kare kare zvakako..."  ·  Vateereri: "Dzepfunde!"
Scene 1 ☀️
Scene 1: A long, long time ago, a terrible drought hit the wilderness and clean water became scarce.
Kare kare zvakako, pakaita zuva gobvu musango mvura ikashomeka zvikuru.
A long, long time ago, a terrible drought hit the wilderness and clean water became scarce.
Scene 2 🦁
Scene 2: Fierce, grumpy Shumba claimed the only remaining well was his alone, threatening any animal who came for a sip.
Shumba ane hasha akati tsime rose nderake chete, asingadi kuona chero mhuka ichinwa mvura.
Fierce, grumpy Shumba claimed the only remaining well was his alone, threatening any animal who came for a sip.
Scene 3 🐾
Scene 3: All the woodland creatures trembled with fear. But tiny Tsuro piped up, "Let me go talk to King Lion myself."
Mhuka dzose dzaitya zvikuru. Asi Tsuro akati, "Regai ini ndiende kunotaura naMambo Shumba."
All the woodland creatures trembled with fear. But tiny Tsuro piped up, "Let me go talk to King Lion myself."
Scene 4 🕳️
Scene 4: Tsuro arrived gasping, "Your majesty! There is another giant lion hiding inside the well shouting that HE is the new king!"
Tsuro akasvika achichema, "Mambo! Pane imwe Shumba hombe iri mukati metsime inoti ndiyo mambo mutsva!"
Tsuro arrived gasping, "Your majesty! There is another giant lion hiding inside the well shouting that HE is the new king!"
Scene 5 😡
Scene 5: Shumba roared in fury! He marched to the well, looked inside, and saw his own furious reflection scowling back.
Shumba akaguta nehasha! Akaenda kutsime, akatarisa mukati akavhundutswa nekuzviona achifinyama.
Shumba roared in fury! He marched to the well, looked inside, and saw his own furious reflection scowling back.
Scene 6 💦
Scene 6: Shumba let out a mighty roar and leapt right into the well to fight his rival, splashing into the cool water!
Shumba akadzvova akasvetukira mutsime kuti arwe nemupikisi wake, achibva anyura mumvura inotonhorera!
Shumba let out a mighty roar and leapt right into the well to fight his rival, splashing into the cool water!
Scene 7 🎉
Scene 7: And that is where our storyteller rests. All the happy animals drank freely thanks to clever Tsuro!
Ndipo pakafira sarungano. Mhuka dzose dzakanwa mvura dzikafara nekuda kwekungwara kwaTsuro!
And that is where our storyteller rests. All the happy animals drank freely thanks to clever Tsuro!
🏆 Chidzidzo cheNgano (Moral of the Tale):
Kufunga nekungwara kune simba kudarika utsinye nechisimba.
English: Wisdom and calm thinking are far more powerful than raw brute force and bullying.
🔤 Mashoko eMungano (Key Words)
ChiShona Pronunciation English
Shumba SHOO-mbah Lion
Mambo MAH-mboh King / Leader
Mvura MVOO-rah Water
Tsime TSEE-meh Well / Spring
Simba SEE-mbah Strength / Power
Kungwara koo-NGWAH-rah Cleverness / Wisdom
Dzidza ChiShona · Free Shona Learning for Little Ones · learnshona.com