By Ayò Oyeku
East Africa is home to ten African countries. It is a diverse and vibrant region, defined by people known for their unique cultures, landscapes, and wildlife. Here, in this part of the world you will find the Serengeti, a vast golden plain that seems to stretch until the earth hugs the sky. The Ngorongoro Crater, a huge volcanic caldera, is a scary yet enchanting earthen bowl filled with wonder. The Maasai Mara is yet another green rolled out for the finest and rarest of animals to make their home. East Africa is nature’s own artwork; a home of dreams seen with eyes wide open.
The selected authors for this review are from East Africa. With their magic fingers, they write stories that evoke memories and spark great dreams in the minds of children. But it does not end there; some of the harsh realities of the region are retold in an inspiring way, urging children to find their dreams, believe in them, and pursue them with full confidence in themselves. These stories are not just about East African children, they are for every child. This is an encouragement that their wildest dreams can change the world. Let them dream.
Bahiya, the Little Zebra
Written by Nahida Esmail
Illustrated by Randa Abubakr
Published by African Bureau Stories
Country: Tanzania
Zebras are beautiful creatures that attract human curiosity with the beauty of their coat. Are they black with white stripes or white with black stripes? Nahida Esmail tells a delightful and heart-warming story about a small zebra in the Serengeti who does not want to be striped like the rest of the herd. This journey towards change leads to an unexpected twist that unfolds into self-discovery and acceptance.
This beautifully crafted text is both lyrical and accessible, making the story a joy to read aloud. The illustrations by Randa Abubakr complement the text. They are vibrant, rich in colour, particularly enchanting, and reflective of Bahiya’s emotions and experiences. This is a story I strongly recommend, as it draws children to Africa, her enchanting beauty, and the inspiring lessons that can be drawn from a striped zebra.
The Wooden Camel
Written by Wanuri Kahiu
Illustrated by Manuela Adreani
Published by Lantana Publishing
Location/Author’s Country: Kenya
This year, Lantana celebrates ten years of publishing children’s books that celebrate diversity, inclusion and all the happiness that can metamorphose into purpose in the lives of little minds. All their stories stand out; and one such is The Wooden Camel.
It is said that a dream can be the highest point of life. For Etabo, he does not have many, but one dream—racing camels. He dreams of riding a camel, a feeling that will be similar to an eagle gliding in the skies; this truly can be the highest point of his life. His brothers and sisters find it funny because he is too small to race camels. They think his dream is a big joke. But Etabo believes his dreams are taller than Mount Kenya and nothing can stop him. His dreams remain as bright as sunlight until his father sells all their camels for money to buy water. Etabo wonders if he will ever have the chance to race.
The Wooden Camel is a captivating tale of dreams, deftly weaving elements of culture, identity, reality, and the power of imagination. The illustrations feel like sand in the Sahara brushed into perfected images by whispering wind. They feel unreal, yet they evoke meaning and drive the narrative home. This is a meaningful and timeless story that tells children to dare to dream.
Written by Peace Kwizera
Illustrated by Inkstain
Published by Imagine We Publishers
Location/Author’s Country: Rwanda
Oh Rwandan Child is an exploration of memory and identity by former Miss Rwanda contestant, Peace Kwizera. The author makes a clarion call to Rwandan children across the pages, urging them to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams. The prose is rich with imagery, and the author offers examples of illustrious careers that children can pursue. The illustrator, with a keen eye for detail, brings the settings and characters vividly to life. The colours speak of joy, the strokes speak of happiness, and the book itself speaks of inspiration.
Overall, Oh Rwandan Child is a compelling and essential read for any children interested in finding a career path and believing in their dreams. It’s a powerful reminder of the importance of using storytelling as a tool for building great nations from tiny hands and big dreams.
About Ayo
Ayo Oyeku enjoyed kid lit as a child and still does as an adult. Countless adventures into the imaginary world of children spurred him into becoming an author. And today, he has written ten amazing books for children, and won notable awards, too. Not only does he write for kids, he also enjoys reading to them and discussing children literature at literary panels. He is also the founder of Eleventh House Publishing–a small press focused on bringing happy and meaningful books to the lives of children and adults. He chuckles every time he hears the Spanish phrase, mi casa es su casa, because he believes the world is our home, and should not be separated by our tribes, countries or continents. He hopes to travel to Vatican City to see the Sistine Chapel. His new children’s book, What Happened on Thursday? A Nigerian Civil War Story published by Amazon Crossing Kids is out this month.
World Kid Lit 