…working with PwC UK, Africa Centre, and the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers.
Kunda Kids, an award-winning children's publishing and media studio, recently announced the launch of a new book titled 'A is for Africa' in celebration of UK Black History Month. The book is set to reconnect young Africans in the diaspora to their roots. It reestablishes Kunda Kids' commitment to inspiring the next generation to learn about and celebrate African history and culture through fun and engaging books, songs, and animations.
Unlike traditional alphabet books that follow normalized
teachings, A is for Africa transcends the norm by infusing the African Culture
into the text. The strategically developed book not only teaches varying
elements of African culture in an easily understandable format with creative
illustrations but also showcases Africa's kaleidoscopic history with snippets of
compelling historical and cultural knowledge.
Co-founder of Kunda Kids, Mrs Louisa Olafuyi, expressed the
inspiration behind the book and why it was an important project for the
company. She stated: "A is for Africa is a very special book
for Kunda Kids, African children and families in the diaspora, and the general
public who have misrepresented understandings of the complex continent of
Africa. Throughout the years, the stories we saw of Africa were not being told
by Africans but by others who had little comprehension of who we are as a
people and what our stories were.
A is for Africa was developed to challenge the misguided
representation of Africa, which has proved disadvantageous for Africans in the
diaspora looking to reclaim their identity and reconnect to their roots. The
book aims to bring up a new generation of Africans with a fuller understanding
of their history and culture in the ways and the voices it was meant to be
told." She concluded.
After discovering that only 5% of children's books published in
the U.K. featured a black main character, Kunda Kids was established in 2020
with the mission to positively disrupt children's content by improving the
diversity and representation of African culture and history in children's
literature, animations, and learning material.
Fellow Co-founder Mr Oladele Olafuyi underscored the mission of
the company and its anticipated impact. He said, "Many
of the ingrained prejudices and unfavourable perceptions of Africa that exist
in society are greatly influenced by how it is portrayed in the media and
literature. This is especially important when we examine early children's
education books that define the foundation of any child's life, value, and
beliefs. By providing easy-to-read illustrations of Africa's history and
culture, we are one step further in transforming our beloved continent's
reputation."
In addition to the launch of 'A is For Africa' this October, in
honour of UK Black History Month, Kunda Kids is working with various
organisations including PwC UK, The African Centre, and the Association for
Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers to empower children and educate the global
community on Africa in interactive and unconventional methods. These
partnerships will include hosting various free-to-attend sessions and
confidence workshops across the U.K.
Kunda Kids, along with PwC UK, will be facilitating a
confidence-building workshop on the 22nd of October 2022, focusing on key
themes from their beloved books 'Shaka Zulu Learns to Dance' and 'Funmilayo
Ransome-Kuti'. The event at the PwC UK office in London will feature special
guests D.J. Zel, Avya Couloute, and Dr Jason Apaloo-Shonibare.
Kunda Kids has partnered with the Association for Black and
Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE-UK) and the African Centre to host a Kids STEM
Day event on the 29th of October 2022 with their books 'Malik's Bridge' and
'Sameera Moussa' in focus.
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