The antidote dictionary defines the word apprenticeship as "the state of being an apprentice; the period of training of an apprentice; the professional training followed by an apprentice". It is therefore a process that requires organization and stages. Children's literature could be used to follow a real learning process from theory to practice. Children's books are full of knowledge that needs to be passed on to African children (medicine, gastronomy, legends, etc.). This knowledge can really enable children to progressively improve themselves and become complete and qualified people later on. For the past three years, the Muna Kalati association has been focusing on the training of young children through reading pleasure workshops carried out in collaboration with the Alliance Franco-Camerounaise of Dschang . One of the objectives is to make reading a pleasure just like watching television or practicing a fun activity. At a purely practical level, a children's book such as La Fête des fruits, by Frida Akoa, for example, enables children to learn about fruit salad.  For this knowledge to be passed on to young readers, particular techniques need to be tried out depending on the book. Lay emphasis on the positive attributes given to characters, concepts used in children's books, etc. When it comes to children's books, there are terms or concepts that are sometimes used not only in the titles, but also in the content. In this first stage, the parent who accompanies the child in reading the children's book must intentionally insist on these terms. For example, in the book Mara, l'enfant autiste by Chimène Ngouekeu Koukam, the focus could be on the word autististe (autistic). Explain to the children the meaning of these terms and concepts according to their age The second phase is the explanation of the terms, the clarification of terminology. The advantage is that the children's book is designed according to age.  However, this is by no means a guarantee of full mastery of the concepts the book contains. Therefore, the teacher or parent who accompanies the child in reading the children's book should take the time to clearly explain the new word. In the above example, the parent may say that autism is a disease that creates distance between the patient and others. The affected child tends to withdraw into himself. His disability also distances other children from him. The role of the parent is therefore to make the child understand that these people must feel loved in order to overcome their disability. Write these words on the paper. To keep the child in touch with this new knowledge, it is necessary to write it on a paper. This will help him to better preserve it. The child should keep these words himself until the next step is implemented or achieved. Display the words in places accessible to the children At this stage, it is necessary to create at home a space  that is accessible to the child, a place where different words and concepts should be posted, a sort of secret board for the child, a place to store knowledge.  The child should be involved in the choice of this space. This could be the child's room. Encourage familiarization with new acquisitions. This is where the learning of values and the construction of knowledge are crucial. For the example mentioned above, the parent can regularly communicate on the characteristics of autistic children and the attitude to adopt towards them because of their specificity. If possible, he or she can accompany the child to meet autistic children. Conducting activities with autistic children with a view to creating a climate of acceptance of difference and tolerance would also be a good approach.  We believe that with this procedure, children will gradually learn ethical and existential values. Parents should already give importance to children's literature and understand the need to accustom children to books for their age.  In short, we believe that it is possible to use children's books to transmit knowledge and to promote the application of what children learn. Education is an investment in many ways. Parents must understand that, apart from the financial aspect, there is also the support aspect. This latter aspect is even crucial, because without the availability, the process of education and training of young children will be a failure.  Once awareness on these issues has been raised, a more consistent and efficient education for African children through African children's books will be possible.

Report of the conference-debate organised as part of the 10th edition of Muna Kalati Talks of 05 November 2021 under the theme « Storytelling: When Kongossa Intervenes in Literature » . Kemadjou Njanké is a writer of different kind, hardly categorizable if one looks at his texts and his speech. His desire to get off the beaten path or the imposed norms dates back to his childhood and adolescence.  An example of his non-alignment is his relationship with philosophical essays in his final year in upper sixth. Indeed, he never hesitated to draw from his closest environment, from the vast field of proverbs, to support his argument. This costed him the reproach of his teacher, who felt that he should rather quote the texts of famous authors. It is not surprising, therefore, that his writing style is far distanced from classical writings. He describes himself as neither a poet nor a novelist nor a playwright, but simply as a 'Storyteller'. What is the art of storytelling? During the discussion, he said "storytelling is not only a ‘'literary genre'’, but an art of living, an everyday style. It is an continual process of self-discovery that is first told before being written. It is a matter of presenting one's daily experience as one perceives it and never as the other perceives it. As such, there is no need to organise writing workshops to learn "storytelling": "unless you play roles and are not yourself" . Any honest and transparent person can practice storytelling. In storytelling, the writer is not different from the one who lives it. Moreover, the reading of texts by authors from other regions of the world, such as Latin America, made him rediscover his style. Among others we can mention José Marti and Gabriel Marcia Márquez with his text Los funerales de la Mamá Grande . Besides, storytelling is not exclusive to Cameroon and is practiced informally under different names in every African country or not. It is about passing on information about an experience. And this can only be done through the language used to describe the socio-cultural reality, to describe reality with existing words, whether scientific or not. Storytelling is closed to a Cameroonian practice known as Kongossa. This word of Cameroonian origin refers to talking about a person in his or her absence. It is part of the lifestyle  of many societies. Far from being pejorative, according to Kemadjou, it is the expression of an experience, and therefore perfectly suited to the art of storytelling: « Kongossa is an element of storytelling, a component, but not storytelling in the real sense. There is nothing pejorative in the expression Kongossa. It is simply talking about someone in his or her absence. In this sense, we have all practiced kongossa in one way or another » . What do you Think? Do You Consider Yourself to Be a Kongossa Person? Storytelling, a Writing Style that A ppropriates Culture. Kemadjou Njanké's texts, Dieu n'a pas besoin de ce mensonge, Les femmes mariées mangent déjà le gésier and Manuel des racontages , followed by Madame Faits-divers (2020), to name but a few, go beyond the narration of daily life to think of Africa differently: a return to the sources and to purely African realities.  In response to a question from a participant, Djimeli Raoul, about the possibility of having cultural identities and the influence of interculturality on storytelling, the panelist said it is impossible to have several identities. He differentiates between culture and cultural factor, which is superficial and cannot in itself be the founding element of culture. The fact for someone to dress in clothes that belong the members of a given culture does not make the person a member of that culture. It is also a struggle to safeguard local languages, whose main vehicle is orality . Storytelling is a bridge between orality and writing . This influence of local languages is reflected in the "French language" used in his texts. Proverbs and local slang expressions abound: "Language is culture. If you want to understand an author, you have to understand his culture.I have readers who have come to visit my neighbourhood to find the geographical and cultural elements present in my book...  « The reader's job is to try to penetrate the culture and the universe of the author in order to deeply understand the author » . Some tips for aspiring storytellers A storyteller should ask himself the following questions: Who am I? Why do I exist? Why do I walk, work etc.? Given that art cannot be taught, the storyteller must know that the form in storytelling is closely related to the content. It is a kind of architecture. Trying to dissociate the two is like starting to build a house without having the plan already designed. The storytelling uses the language of the environment, the jargon of the society. Simplicity and the strength of the symbol are the keys to the art of storytelling. The panelist Kemadjou, while thanking the audience and the organisers of the event, ended his speech by sharing, as he knows how to do, words of wisdom and above all of awareness. He specified that the two primary values of his culture are "responsibility" and "gratitude". It is certainly on the basis of these values that one could understand this proverb from the book Les Femmes mariées magnent déjà le gésier : "one should not leave the sauce in one's hand to lick the one that flows between the fingers". We invite you to subscribe to our newsletter here so that you don't miss the next Muna Kalati Talk scheduled for later this month.

In Graça’s Dream , the author Melissa Fagan presents the life of a hard worker and dedicated young girl called Graça, born in a very challenging environment. Through her involvement in school, particularly in reading books, she earns a scholarship, and after a long stay in Europe; she comes back to her country Mozambique, to transform it positively and profoundly.  Melissa Fagan is an Australian author, freelance writer, and editor based in Brisbane. She specializes in creative writing, and they have published her books on many platforms like BookDash . One of her more notable publications is Graça’s Dream . Through this book, she sought to explain two very important things: The government needs to pay more attention to children’s education by making books more accessible, and also, children have to believe in their dreams. Melissa Fagan wrote this story to experience her opinion on the current significance of education and her main juncture was: “Our children deserve to know the power of the story and the pleasure of reading” this book is worthwhile if we consider the African context nowadays. Whatever background you come from, never forget that you can bring some profound solutions depending on how much you apply yourself. This book presents the key to success: Hard work . Even though she wasn’t in the best condition, Graça earned a scholarship because she was a highly dedicated and hard-working student. As we learn from the story, reading books was one of Graça’s hobbies. If we look back at Ama Dadson’s statement: “The earlier a child is exposed to literature, the earlier they appreciate themselves, their culture and where they come from.” She never forgot about the unfortunate reality of her nation, Mozambique, which is why she came back to transform it and free people through education. The book also promotes solidarity among people . In fact, with the help of her friends, she was successful in changing the status quo. Melissa Fagan also tries to connect children with African heroes like Nelson Mandela. We know him as one of the most recognized social rights activists, not only in Africa but across the world. The character of Graça was further elaborated on by Ms. Fagan, who had this to say: “The subject of my team’s book was Graça Machel. Her story is inspirational, of course—from humble beginnings in Mozambique, she helped her country gain independence and significantly raised the literacy level of its children in her first two years as Minister of Education and Culture.”  “Here’s a book, my child. What will it inspire you to do?” inter-pleads parents in their duty of raising the next generation. Parents hold the ability to decide whom the next generation will become, whether prosperous or otherwise. The more they play a role, the more their children will have dreams like Martin Luther King and try to fulfill them like Graça.  Hermann Labou

The association Muna Kalati is recruiting a knowledge management Officer for a period of 1 year . He/she will be responsible for the identification, collection, formatting, and diffusion of knowledge (text, audiovisual) around the children's book industry in Africa. The aim is to increase the visibility and recognition of Muna Kalati as a knowledge hub leader in the children's book industry in Africa. He or she will develop research partnerships with other associations, libraries, networks, etc in Africa and beyond and will work closely with the Children's book program officer and the Communications Officer. 1.       Primary responsibilities - Research and documentation To develop a documentation strategy around the strategic pillars of Muna Kalati. Coordinate or initiate research programs on MK priority areas; To develop knowledge and databases on the book and videogame sectors in Africa. It will be specifically about: A database of African youth authors: list of writers, illustrators, cartoonists and other creators of content for children in different African countries. A database of book and video game publishers in different African countries A database of children's bookstores, libraries, and reading centers in different African countries An online database of youth literary awards in Africa. A database of African organizations working to promote reading. Any other database necessary to increase the visibility of the actors of the children's publishing and gaming industry in Africa. Establish a digital watch around the themes of the association in order to be regularly informed on the news in the children's book industry in Africa; Produce at least 2 blog or educational articles on current topics in children literature each month; Publish and distribute these articles (text or audiovisual) on different platforms of the association, in collaboration with the webmaster. Secondary responsibilities - Knowledge Management Coordinate internal and external knowledge gathering and sharing initiatives. Internally, s/he will facilitate learning and the exchange of best practices among team members through Smart Sessions, Muna Kalati Sabitou . The goal is to increase the team's performance through continuous learning and innovation in practices. Externally, it will be a question of inviting the actors of the book and video game industry in Africa to document their professional experiences in the form of articles, podcasts or video interviews, which will be published on the MK media platforms; Contribute to the elaboration and distribution of the MK newsletter to the partners; Any other duties as required. Profile required The candidate must be proactive, flexible and creative. He/she must also master digital collaboration tools such as (Google Drive, Slack, Dropbox, Wordpress etc.) Other appreciable aptitudes are: Good knowledge of the the publishing industry and children literature; Experience in project management and NGO sector; Autonomous, proactive, versatile, good interpersonal skills Enjoys teamwork and knows how to use LinkedIn; Google Alert or WordPress. Knowledge in the cultural field, performing arts and children's literature appreciated. Working hours 1 year renewable if satisfactory performance. Remote work possible, but 3 days in person at the Muna Kalati office in East Legon (Accra, Ghana) Competitive remuneration. DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSOCIATION Muna Kalati association aims to promote children books and video games in Africa. We facilitate networking among publishers, librarians and authors as well as video gamer producers.  More here: www.munakalati.org This vision is manifested through our: Passion - We are passionately committed to promoting the African children's book and game industry. Integrity - We provide access to quality, reliable information from youth sector organizations and individuals. Support - We run contests to encourage writers and respond to comments and requests from subscribers. Diversity - We believe that children's literature should reflect the reality and nourish the imagination of all children. Our objectives are therefore to: To contribute to the accessibility of books and video games in Africa. To increase the visibility of the actors of the youth edition and the African video game. Contribute to the legitimization of children's books and video games in Africa.  To integrate Muna Kalati is to have the chance: To benefit from real personal and professional development opportunities. Enrich your skills and develop your potential (access to professional training, functional and geographical mobility opportunities via our various partners in Africa). To take advantage of many professional development benefits Muna Kalati is committed to the prevention of discrimination and equal opportunities. All our positions are open to people with disabilities. Deadline: 21st April, 2022. Send CV at content@munakalati.org and delali@munakalati.org

Ms. Condé Mabéty Soumah is an author of children's literature based in Guinea and promoter of the platform for the dissemination and promotion of reading and children's literature Betty café littéraire. Hello M r s Condé Mabéty Soumah Thank you, hello Narcisse Could you briefly introduce yourself (what you do, how did you get in contact with books? Your role in the book industry in Africa or in your country) I am Mrs. Condé Mabéty Soumah, a Youth Author and the Founder of Betty Café Littéraire. My writing focuses on the sexual education of young girls to break the taboos in African societies in general and Guinean societies in particular. My first novel, En attendant la lune, is about puberty and menstruation to edify young girls who discover their bodies in adolescence without being prepared for it. I met the book in my childwood and we have never been apart since. I discovered my talent as a writer during my studies in literature when I took part in a competition called "Prix du jeune écrivain guinéen". Later, I attended a writing workshop for teenagers and this help me to complete my novel and continue the adventure. Could you present your initiative? (Its objectives, target and expected results) I promote reading, literature and culture through my literary Café named Betty Café Littéraire, an environment where young people can read, discuss and participate in cultural activities. The objective is to offer a place to meet and exchange; to offer books in French and English for reading in our place; to promote books and reading; to promote education and intellectual development; to develop a taste for and interest in reading; to involve young people in community and cultural activities; to strengthen social cohesion and tranquility; and to provide catering. All this in a cozy space that reflects young people. It was opened in March 2020 and soon after the world was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. The café has still been able to attract visitors over the months and I noticed the interest of young people in this type of space. In the long term, I would like this café to be a place where all kinds of children's books can be found for sale and/or for free access. A space where children and young people can develop through books and cultural activities, a space for free expression. Where did you get the idea to set up such an initiative? What was your inspiration? Why this initiative? Few young people are interested in books and reading in Guinea despite the existence of libraries and reading corners. Some complain about the scarcity of books and a community space for meeting and exchange. For these reasons, I created Betty Café littéraire, which is an innovation, because it is unique in its kind in Guinea. How is it different from similar existing projects? What is its added value? Betty Café Littéraire is a unique space that takes into account all aspects of literature and culture while including the beneficiaries, who are young people. It is a platform for the expression of young people, readers and authors. What progress or achievements have you made so far? (Please tell us about your activities and programmes). To date, more than 10 literary cafés with local authors and debates on books and on the role women in literature have been organised. Two reading clubs have been invited for reading sessions with children and young people. Restrictions measures due to Covid-19, forced me to suspend activities to avoid gatherings. Do you collaborate with other actors in your field/industry? We collaborate with publishers, booksellers and even authors in order to make books accessible. When a visitor wants to obtain a title that he or she has discovered in our platform, we contact these different collaborators to acquire the book. What are the main challenges or difficulties you face in the achievement of your project? I have a very big vision of creating and offering to the Guinean youth a community and diverse environment where a large collection of children books can be found. Our Café Littéraire can only accommodate a maximum of 20 people and there are not enough books. The major difficulty at the moment is related to funding to provide a large space that can accommodate at least 100 young people and children and offer a library rich in children's literature while organising literary and cultural activities. How did COVID-19 impact your activity? How did you adapt and what changes did you implement? Our activities usually reach a wide audience. The Covid-19 had a huge impact on the number of visitors because I had to postpone planned activities. Nevertheless, I succeeded in organising literary Cafés on Facebook to reach a good number of people and develop a food delivery service to survive. What support or backing would you need to increase the impact of your initiative and accelerate its evolution? The project is of great importance for the community, especially for young people who are looking for a cultural, working and debating environment dedicated to them, proximity and accessibility of books, etc. I need mentoring, partnership and financial support to develop the project. What is the impact of this initiative on the promotion of books and reading? Our aim is to stimulate a taste for reading and to promote books as an essential tool in education and the promotion of culture. Opened more than a year ago, the Betty Café Littéraire has become a meeting place for authors and readers and encourages some young people to take an interest in reading through our literary activities. Several authors spend time there to produce interesting stories for young people. Everyone who spends time there manages to read few pages and often comes back to finish the book. The Betty Café Littéraire is also a facilitator for finding a book. You just have to give the title and it's done. Personally, I managed to sell several copies of my book En attendant la Lune (Waiting for the Moon) through Betty Café. How do you see the future of book and reading industry in the next 5 to 10 years? In the next few years, the book industry will flourish and I aspire to be one of the biggest suppliers of children's books in Guinea. A final word for our readers? A question you would like to answer? Thank you all for reading. Stay tuned to Betty Café littéraire.

How many times have you picked up your pen or activated your keyboard and discarded it without writing a sentence or even a word? How many times have you thought you had a great idea to put down on paper and ended up with half a page of writing after hours of thinking? How many times have you wanted to give up, but the desire to be read as you read others has remained strong?  You then decide to find out how to write an article or a post. After some enriching readings on tips for writing, you realise that you are making progress in your knowledge but remain blocked in your thirst for writing. Perhaps the only difficulty in producing is in the area you wish to write in. There are authors who are able to write in several fields or to talk about several subjects but this may not be the case for you because you are particularly interested in one specific field. In this article, I will give you some techniques for writing, using literature as an example. Knowing your area of interest It is important to determine your interest. What is the area you are passionate about and from which you want to share your thoughts or deepen your knowledge? Because writing is above all about acquiring knowledge. The fact that you want to write may be due to the fact that you have already had to read texts in the field that appeals to you. It is an area that occupies your thoughts and perhaps your actions in some way. In the case of literature, you may decide to focus only on children's literature.  When the field is circumscribed, like a bookworm, you start reading about what has been said about the discipline in order to avoid rewriting, and probably with less efficiency, what has already been said. From idea to reading and from reading to idea When you start reading, you may already have ideas for topics, so use the keywords in your idea to search both library catalogues and search engines. With digitisation, it is easier to get articles, especially non-scientific ones, in large numbers on the internet. A reading leads you to what in scientific language would be called a literature review which helps you to take stock of the subject. Thus, you can start with a text on a topic and decide to go further on the topic by writing an article. BFor example, this article is not the first on how to write but the reflection is directed towards a specific field, that of literature. These readings allow you to either confirm your initial ideas or to change them altogether. So you can go from idea to reading and from reading to improved idea. Your readings in literature may lead you to narrow your field and choose a sub-genre, for example, children's literature. Once you have made your choice, you may decide to do only reading notes, only thematic analyses or focus on reviewing new writings. Adapt to the distribution channel Are you writing for a personal blog, a magazine, a journal or a website specialized in literature?  Each of these will allow you to plan your writing over time. If the publications are on daily or weekly base, make sure you don't keep your readers waiting. Because, if you write and publish, it is above all to be read. It is an informal agreement between you and your readers. You can be absent for moments, but it shouldn't be very long, or your readership will be driven away. Hold on to your notebook When you are interested in writing, it is difficult to choose the right time to be inspired. You can still choose the right time to write, but not the right time for inspiration. Very often, inspiration comes out of nowhere and flies through your mind like a rocket. You should therefore always hold on a notebook in order to immortalise your inspiration on it, whether paper or digital. Always formulate the idea as a theme or a question. For example, you come across a recently published comic book and you want to write: How can I be the first to make notes on comics produced by publishing houses in Côte d'Ivoire? The notebook should be consulted regularly to review the themes or ideas written down. An idea that is written down and considered obsolete may turn out to be topical later on and vice versa. Ask for advice Your desire to write may be linked to your taste for reading a particular writer. Never hesitate to contact someone whose writing appeals to you and ask for his advice. Not everybody will respond favourably to you, but remember that there are always people who are willing to help you. Your determination and desire to produce must be greater than your degree of shame, fear or rejection. It's all about daring, yes, you should dare! Get proofread Writing is special in that it requires grammar and spelling rules and style. Unless you want to make a grammatical or spelling revolution or you want to go against the norm, you must try, as far as possible, to improve the quality of your text. Be assured, few people are able to write without mistakes and without being proofread.  You should always have your text proofread, not only to reduce the risk of publishing a text full of mistakes, but also to get a first opinion on your production. Remember that the decision to publish, even after proofreading, is yours alone and you will be responsible for ensuring feedback from readers. Publish or Get Published Writing is about being read and to be read you have to publish. If after writing and proofreading you feel that your text can be published, do not hesitate to do so. Before the article is published, you have no idea of its impact. So you cannot remain in the eternal position of improving it before publication. It often happens that changes are made every time you read a document again. At some point you have to publish it, not only to benefit from the feedback but also to move on. The only reason to stop publishing an article or post you have written is if the publisher of the channel through which you are publishing your writing refuses to accept it. Because the rules of publishers are different, you may find that an article is not published if it does not fit the protocol of the channel. Cultivate the writing syndrome Writing is similar to most activities we carry out.  By repeating the same action over and over again, we end up treating it as a game. The so call blank page syndrome can therefore only be treated with the writing syndrome.   You must get used to writing. Practice, if possible, with all the writing styles available to us. Writing is first of all mastering the basic rules of a language, namely reading and writing.   Improving writing is a permanent quest and only stops with death or certain illnesses that can affect the mind or upper limbs.  Know that your style improves with practice. Very often, when reading one's first texts, one feels like denying authorship, but one should not forget the fact that it is these first texts that will pave the way for those that come after. Always have a bank of texts The writer Léonora Miano , while dedicating one of her books, responded to a reader's question about her regular publications and made it clear that she had several texts written and that were just waiting for the right moment to be published.  She is certainly a novelist with long texts that require more imagination, but this statement makes us to understand that publishing regularly requires having a text bank. It is a matter of always having several texts in your computer or your writing materials, even if they are unfinished. There will be days when you will have several ideas, so don't hesitate to find moments to develop them. Whatever the number, do it because there will be days when you will not be able to produce.  But your readers or editors may not forgive you. So produce as much as you can to add to your bank of unpublished material. The particularity of a blog post or article is that it escapes the scientific canons of research which oblige writers to read a certain number of texts, to use methods and concepts recognised only by researchers in the same field. A writer of single articles or blog posts therefore has fewer restrictions to produce. He or she must then use the opportunity to disseminate his or her thoughts.

Dans le cadre du projet Google  News initiative ,  nous avons travaillé sur les bases de données de 8 pays  d’Afrique de l’Ouest : la Côte d’Ivoire, le Sénégal, le Bénin, la Guinée Conakry, le Ghana, le  Nigeria, la Gambie et le Libéria. Au terme de cette recherche, des données ont été collectées. Nous avons, pour chaque pays, répertorié les auteurs ayant le plus grand nombre de publications. Une fois que ce tri a été effectué, nous avons constaté que parmi ces derniers, certains se démarquent davantage d’où le présent article. Toutefois, il est impérieux de noter que cette étude n’a pas pris en compte le Mali, le Burkina Faso et le Togo. Autrement dit, il est possible qu’avec une recherche plus complète couvrant toute l’Afrique de l’Ouest, ce classement puisse basculer. Dans la même veine, il n’est pas exclu que les données ne reflètent pas la stricte exactitude des réalités du terrain vu qu’elles ont été toutes collectées dans des plateformes numériques. 1-Béatrice Lalinon Gbado (Bénin : 72 œuvres) Source :  https://bit.ly/3WLZ6cg Béatrice Lalinon Gbado est une perle de la littérature de jeunesse au Bénin et en Afrique. Déjà, elle figure dans une réflexion antérieure sur les acteurs de la  littérature de jeunesse au Bénin . Au terme de notre entreprise heuristique sur les œuvres jeunesse dans les pays susmentionnés, il en ressort qu’elle a commis 72 œuvres entre 1995 et 2021. En d’autres termes, elle a une moyenne de presque trois livres par an.  Si l’on s’en tient à la base de données des œuvres jeunesse au Bénin, 37 publications ont été  entièrement éditées dans sa maison d’édition Ruisseaux d’Afrique soit 51, 38%.  30 œuvres ont été  coéditées  avec d’autres  maisons d’édition d’Afrique et d’ailleurs. Une étude plus profonde dans tous les autres pays d’Afrique permettra de déterminer si cette dernière reste en tête dans le continent africain. 2- Muriel  Diallo (Côte d’Ivoire : 36 œuvres) Source: https://www.babelio.com/auteur/Muriel-Diallo/104529 La deuxième est l’inévitable Muriel Diallo. Elle est l’une des amazones de la littérature de jeunesse en Côte d’Ivoire. Selon la base de données, elle a publié 36 œuvres dans l’intervalle temporel 1997-2022. Ce qui fait une moyenne 1,66 livre par an.  En ce qui concerne l’édition, la palme d’or revient aux Classiques Ivoiriens   car 25 de ses œuvres y ont été publiées, soit 69,44 % de toutes ses publications. La Côte d’Ivoire peut donc être fière de l’avoir. Muriel Diallo a cette spécificité d’être en même temps auteure et illustratrice, ce qui est plutôt rare. En d’autres termes elle illustre elle-même ses œuvres et le résultat est assez impressionnant. 3-Ifeoma Onyefulu ( Nigeria: 30 oeuvres) Source : http://www.saintbenets.org.uk/2018/11/ifeoma-onyefulu-reflects-on-our-pilgrimage-to-westminster-abbey-on-st-edwards-day/ Si  la Côte d’Ivoire a Muriel Diallo, le Nigeria a Ifeoma Onyefulu, une personnalité pluridisciplinaire puisqu’elle s’exerce en littérature  et  en photographie depuis 1984.   Née  en 1959 à Onitsha, elle  est diplomée du London College of Higher Education .  D’après la  base de données des œuvres jeunesse du Nigéria , Elle a publié 30 œuvres entre 1993 et 2014. En ce qui concerne l’édition, 27 ont été publiées à la maison d’édition Frances Lincoln à Londres, ce qui représente 90%.  Son tout premier livre A is for Africa a reçu une distinction comme l’un des meilleurs livres d’information pour l’éducation des enfants .  Elle a toujours opté pour le rapprochement  aux tout-petits,  c’est  la raison pour laquelle Ifeoma Onyefulu  visite généralement les écoles et participe aux festivals. Bien qu’elle ait élu domicile à Londres,  cette dernière ne manque pas de visiter le Nigéria dès que l’occasion se présente. 4- Marguerite Abouet(  Côte d’Ivoire : 28 œuvres) https://forbesafrique.com/marguerite-abouet-militante-de-la-creativite-africaine/ Maguerite Abouet est une célèbre bédéiste ivoirienne. Elle a surtout fait parler d’elle à travers ses œuvres Aya de Yopougon , Akissi et  C ommissaire Kouame . Tout comme Muriel Diallo, elle est considérée comme une amazone de la littérature de jeunesse en Côte d’Ivoire. Aya de Yapougon   est désormais un classique en Afrique et même dans le monde. En réalité, cette œuvre a été adaptée cinématographiquement et diffusée par Netflix . Elle a participé à des rencontres internationales notamment au très connu festival Angoulême . D’ailleurs, pour l’édition 2023, elle a particulièrement été mise en avant à travers une exposition de son œuvre . Selon la base de données des œuvres jeunesse de Côte d’Ivoire, toutes ses publications sont dans l’intervalle 2005-2022. En plus, 25 de ses 28 titres ont été éditées à Gallimard jeunesse ce qui représente 89,28 %. Elle est un poids lourd de la BD en Afrique et même dans le monde. 5-Meshack Asare ( Ghana: 26 oeuvres) Source : https://www.worldliteraturetoday.org/section/nsk-neustadt-prize-meshack-asare Meshack Asare  arbore en même temps la casquette d’auteur et d’illustrateur. Son talent lui a permis de décrocher pas mal de distinctions .  Il est d’ailleurs le tout premier Africain à remporter le prix Neustadt pour la littérature de jeunesse en 2015. Mais avant cette prestigieuse distinction, il faut noter qu’il a remporté d’autres prix non moins prestigieux tels que le prix Noma en 1982 .   Selon la base de données des œuvres jeunesse du Ghana,  ses 26 publications sont réparties entre  1971 et 2019. Bien qu’elles aient été éditées dans différentes maisons d’éditions, c’est le Subsaharan publisher  à Accra au Ghana qui est en tête avec 17 œuvres, ce qui correspond à 65,38 %. Somme toute, il était question ici de présenter le top cinq des auteurs jeunesse ayant le plus grand nombre de publications entre 1971 et 2022 en Afrique de l’Ouest.  On remarque qu’il y a plus de femmes (4 au total).  Autrement dit, elles sont les plus dynamiques dans le secteur jeunesse dans cette partie du continent. Aussi, l’on note que les deux parties de l’Afrique sont linguistiquement représentées (Afrique francophone et anglophone). Néanmoins, n’ayant pas pris en compte le Mali, le Burkina Faso et le Togo dans cette étude, une recherche future  plus complète viendra peut-être basculer ce classement. En attendant, vos réactions sont attendues, elles permettront sans doute de donner d’autres perspectives à ce premier jet.

Digibooks Ghana Limited Digibooks Ghana Limited is a reputable printing and publishing company that has been serving customers since its establishment in 2006. With a strong dedication to meeting all printing and publishing needs, Digibooks offers a wide range of services to authors, businesses, and educational institutions. Their experienced design team ensures the development of high-quality books, photos, and sketches, providing comprehensive support throughout the pre-publication and post-publication process. Digibooks specializes in publishing books in various formats, including hard copy, softcopy, and eBooks, catering to the preferences of their clients. From textbooks for schools to storybooks, novels, memoirs, and more, Digibooks Ghana Limited is committed to delivering excellence in publishing. Services Offered: Book Design and Development : Collaborative assistance in book development, including layout, formatting, and cover design. Dedicated design team to help authors bring their visions to life. Customization options for book illustrations, photos, and sketches. Publishing options: Publication of books in multiple formats: hard copy, softcopy, and eBooks. Flexibility to choose the preferred format based on individual requirements. Expertise in editing and publishing various genres, including textbooks, storybooks, novels, memoirs, etc. Comprehensive Support: Stress-free pre-publication and post-publication processes. Guidance in navigating the publishing industry. Assurance of high-quality publishing standards. Contact information: Location: Tema, Ghana Phone: 024 649 3842 / 030 341 4720 Digibooks Ghana Limited is a trusted printing and publishing company in Tema, Ghana, serving diverse clients in need of professional book publishing services. With their experienced design team and dedication to providing stress-free processes, Digibooks ensures a seamless journey from book development to publication. Whether authors require assistance in editing, formatting, or cover design, Digibooks offers comprehensive support to bring their creative works to life. By catering to various publishing formats, Digibooks Ghana Limited remains committed to meeting the unique preferences and needs of each client.

The story of Albertina Sisulu is one of resilience, pliability, striving, and the greatness that the woman accomplished and achieved from her childhood and throughout her life as an adult. Liesl Jobson, through the book: Together we are strong , sets to bring out this historical figure. Liesl Jobson is a writer and musician born in Durban, South Africa. Her work focuses on women’s empowerment and human rights. One such work of hers is the book: Together we are strong . The book’s title shows the themes of unity and hope and how we can overcome tribulations in the presence of these attributes. Alice Toich and Nazli Jacobs did the book’s illustrations and design.   The book highlights Albertina Sisulu’s achievements through the writer’s diction, illustrations, and metaphors in collaboration with the recurring themes in the book. It brought this in an easy-to-grasp manner, convivial to all age groups. Younger children can find it pleasant to read the entire book, as they embellished it with colorful illustrations that make it easy for a reader to relate and resonate with the real-life characters. They present the history of the freedom fighter in a way that is not too overwhelming to grip. One can learn about history in a palatable manner in just eighteen pages. Abletina’s strength is portrayed in the book as to have started even before she was born: ...when the baby’s powerful kicks woke her at night There is extensive symbolism and imagery in the book that spices it up. A reader gets the mental picture of a sunless period—the night/ winter that can represent the dark moments in South Africa’s history and Albetina’s restlessness to overcome such. The book also shows how she has always been up for a task even when the situations deemed it impossible, evidenced by that as a baby, she loved to eat meat before she had teeth! Be strong little one, winter is gone, be brave little one together we’re strong The book suggests that hope is closely linked to unity, as conveyed by the book’s title.  They discuss the effects of colonialism in the book, factors that forced many people to migrate to other cities and from rural to urban settings for reasons such as work or school. The restriction of movement of certain people as well as how African people had to adopt Anglicized names and how they imprisoned freedom advocates. It is clear in the book.   The book, however, lacks the personal touch of the subject—her story is told through the eyes of a distant observer. A reader does not get to share the subject’s emotions with the turn of each page. The illustrations are not too easy on the eye. The drawings, although good, are not very attractive to younger readers who are drawn and attracted to reading by pictures. My six-year-old niece can attest to this. Overall, the book is a good read that sheds light on South African history and is a thumbs up from me. Charlotte Chitambo

The month of July is almost upon us and as usual; a myriad of literary events will be held around Africa and in other parts of the world. June through October are the hotbed months for celebrating the knowledge, talents and hitherto undiscovered worlds found in books and arts.  Outlined here is a list of literary festivals around the world and some snippets of information about those events. After perusing, take time off and try to immerse yourself in the world of books and art at those literary events. Hargeysa International Book Fair 2022.  The Hargeysa International Book Fair which has been running for the past 15 years will take off from July 23 to July 28, 2022, in Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland.  “Solidarity’’ is the theme for this year’s festival. The Hargeysa International Book Fair usually partners with other countries and Senegal is their partner country for 2022.  Dates:  July 23- 28, 2022 Partner/Guest country:  Senegal Venue: Hargeysa Cultural Centre, Hargeisa, Somaliland  Further details can be obtained from http://www.hargeysabookfair.com/hibf2022/ web: www.redsea-online.org , e-mail: info@hargeysabookfair.org Ibom Art and Book Festival, July 28 – 31, 2022. The Ibom Art and Book Festival will be hosted at the Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort, Uyo, Nigeria from July 28-31, 2022. It is organized by the Inspire Community Network. The theme for the festival is; “refine and reclaim The Artist and the Art.”  Kate Ekanem-Hannum, Festival Director and Curator believes that “If you’ve been shouting and no one is hearing. Ibom International Art and Book Festival is where you shout and someone stands and says, I hear you, and oh, I see you too. And wait, I see you for who you are not who I was told you are.” Dates: July 28 – 31, 2022 Venue: Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort, Uyo, Nigeria For more information and to purchase tickets https://ibomartandbookfestival.com/ Ghana International Book Fair, August 25 – 28, 2022. Accra, Ghana. The 19 Ghana International Book Fair will be held from August 25 – 28, 2022 in Accra, Ghana. The theme for this year’s book fair is, “Reforming the Book Industry for Future Generations”.  Panel discussions, GPA SHS Debate Competition, workshops, readings, and performances will be given by book industry stakeholders. A book exhibition will also be held by book publishers from Ghana and beyond. Muna Kalati shall be part of discussions on African children's literature. Dates: August 25 – 28 Time: 9.00 AM – 6.00 PM Venue: Accra International Conference Centre, Accra, Ghana.  For more information contact the organisers via email at: info.ghanabookfair@gmail.com , info@ghanabookfair.com . or visit www.ghanabookfair.com African Book Festival, August 26 – 28, 2022. Berlin, Germany . Theme: “Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow”. The  African Book Festival offers discussions, interviews, readings, theatre, concerts and spoken word performances involving influential, famous, award-winning artists and writers from Africa and the diaspora.  Dates: August 26 – 28, 2022 Venue: Berlin, Germany Further information can be found at   https://africanbookfestival.de/ Purchase tickets here: https://africanbookfestival.de/tickets/ Gaborone Book Festival 2022 , September 15-17, 2022. Botswana.  The Gaborone Book Festival 2022 which is the leading literary event in Botswana kicks off from September 15-17, 2022. The festival was founded in 2017 by two sisters who are passionate about reading by two sisters Keikantse and Kenanao Phele. The aim of starting the book festival was to encourage the love for reading among indigenes and residents of Botswana and to promote engagement with the literary works of storytellers, authors from Botswana and Africa as a whole. It was first held in 2018. The Gaborone Book Festival Trust offers a variety of literary programs such as School outreaches, GBF Winter series, Monthly Book Reviews and Quarterly Book Nights all year round. Dates: September 15 – 17, 2022 Venue: Gaborone, Botswana Visit http://gaboronebookfestival.co.bw/ for more information. Macondo Literary Festival 2022, September 30 – October 2, 2022. Nairobi, Kenya.   The Macondo Literary Festival 2022 starts from September 30 – October 2, 2022, and will be held at the Kenya National Theatre, in Nairobi.  Founders of Macondo Book Society, Anja Bengelstorff, a journalist and Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor, an author, hosted the maiden edition of the festival. The festival was created to harness societal growth by initiating and fostering engagement between the founders and the general public by the use of literature as a conduit. Interestingly, the creators adopted ‘Macondo’, from the novel, One Hundred Years of Solitude by Colombian Nobel Laureate Gabriel Garcia Márquez. Macondo is the fantastical place in the novel where magical occurrences are the norm.  The Macondo Literary Festival engages Brazilian, Anglophone, Francophone, and Lusophone African writers in conversation far beyond the language barrier.   ​ Dates: September 30 – October 2, 2022 Venue: Kenya National Theatre, Nairobi, Kenya Further information available at https://www.macondolitfest.org/ or via email: macondobooksociety@outlook.com Pa Gya! Literary Festival, 2022 . October 14 – 16, 2022. Accra, Ghana.  The name, Pa Gya! Means to ‘strike a flame’ or ‘lift up’ in Twi, one of the languages spoken in Ghana. The festival is in its 6 year and was first launched by the Writers Project of Ghana in conjunction with the Goethe-Institut. Panel discussions, readings, book launches and sales, performances, and the award of literary prizes will be among the host of activities during the three-day-long festival.  Dates: October 14 – 16, 2022 Venue: Goethe-Institut, Accra, Ghana Visit https://writersprojectghana.com/pagya2022/ for more information. Muna Kalati loves to engage with our readers and followers, feel free to reach out and point out any events I may have missed or which had not yet been organised at the time of this publication.

Muna Kalati is recruiting a Knowledge and Resource mobilisation Officer for a period of  one year.   He/she will be responsible for mobilising resources to increase the organisation’s sustainability;  coordinating the identification of funding opportunities, developing of project proposals to attract funding; developing reading advocacy campaigns and managing a network of writers and publishers of children's books in Africa. The purpose is to amplify the visibility and sustainability of Muna Kalati as a knowledge hub in the children's book industry in Africa. He or she will work closely with the Communication officer and Programs Coordinator. Key Activities Knowledge mobilisation  Develop and implement a documentation and research strategy around the strategic pillars of Muna Kalati. Manage and expand Muna Kalati’s network of African children's books’ writers, publishers, authors and illustrators.   Coordinate and expand the online community of writers to ensure that quality content (children's book reviews, interviews, podcasts and infographics) on African children's literature is regularly produced.  Coordinate or initiate research programs for Muna Kalati and provide support to researchers on African children's literature.  Produce at least 2 opinion or educational articles on critical topics each month. Develop the following databases on children's books in Africa: African children's authors: list of writers, illustrators, cartoonists and other creators of content for children in different African countries. List of bookstores, libraries and reading centres for kids and young adults  Database of African literary prizes for illustrators and children's books actors. Database of African organizations working to promote reading etc. 2.Resource Mobilisation Develop and implement a resource mobilisation strategy to attract/generate funding to increase the organization’s sustainability.  Identify local support and implement innovative ways of generating financial and non-financial resources. Coordinate the identification of funding opportunities and development of project proposals. Profile required The candidate must have a background and experience in fundraising, resource mobilisation or research. He/she must be proactive, flexible, and ambitious. He/she must also master digital collaboration tools such as (Google Drive, Slack, Dropbox, WordPress, etc.) Interested and qualified candidates must be from a Francophone country (Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Mali etc.) or truly bilingual and based in Accra, Ghana.  Other appreciable aptitudes are: Strong experience in resource mobilisation activities for nonprofits. Strong research and analytical skills; Experience in project management and NGO sector; Autonomous, proactive, versatile, good interpersonal skills Enjoys teamwork and knows how to use LinkedIn; Google Alert or WordPress. Knowledge of the publishing industry, development financing and children's literature appreciated. Working hours 1 year, renewable if satisfactory performance. 5 days in person at the Muna Kalati office in East Legon (Accra, Ghana) Competitive remuneration. Deadline:   4 July  2022. Send CV and motivation letter to content@munakalati.org & programs@munakalati.org with the title: “Application for resource and knowledge mobilisation officer” DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSOCIATION Muna Kalati association aims to promote children's books and video games in Africa. We facilitate networking among publishers, librarians and authors as well as video game producers. More here: www.munakalati.org This vision is manifested through our: Passion  – We are passionately committed to promoting the African children's book and game industry. Integrity  – We provide access to quality, reliable information from youth sector organizations and individuals. Support  – We run contests to encourage writers and respond to comments and requests from subscribers. Diversity  – We believe that children's literature should reflect the reality and nourish the imagination of all children. Our objectives are therefore to: To contribute to the accessibility of books and video games in Africa. To increase the visibility of the actors of the youth edition and the African video game. Contribute to the legitimization of children's books and video games in Africa.  To integrate Muna Kalati is to have the chance: To benefit from real personal and professional development opportunities. Enrich your skills and develop your potential (access to professional training, functional and geographical mobility opportunities via our various partners in Africa). To take advantage of many professional development benefits Muna Kalati is committed to the prevention of discrimination and equal opportunities. All our positions are open to people with disabilities.

Muna Kalati is recruiting a Resource Mobilisation and research Officer  for a period of  one year.  He/she will be responsible for mobilising resources to increase the organisation’s sustainability;  coordinate the identification of funding opportunities, the development of project proposals to attract funding; develop reading advocacy campaigns and manage a network of writers and publishers of children's books in Africa. The purpose is to amplify the visibility and sustainability of Muna Kalati as a knowledge hub in the children's book industry in Africa. He or she will work closely with the Communication officer  and Programs Coordinator. Key Activities Resource Mobilisation Develop and implement a resource mobilisation strategy to attract/generate funding to increase the organization’s sustainability. Identify local support and implement innovative ways of generating financial and non-financial resources. Coordinate the identification of funding opportunities and the application and development of project proposals to submit to the appropriate development organizations. Knowledge mobilisation Develop and implement a documentation and research strategy around the strategic pillars of Muna Kalati. Manage and expand Muna Kalati’s network of African children books’ writers, publishers, authors and illustrators.  Coordinate or initiate research programs for Muna Kalati and provide support to researchers on African children literature. Produce at least 2 opinion or educational articles on critical topics each month. Develop the following databases on children book in Africa: African children's authors: list of writers, illustrators, cartoonists and other creators of content for children in different African countries. List of bookstores, libraries and reading centres for kids and young adults Database of African literary prizes for illustrators and children books actors. Database of African organizations working to promote reading etc. Profile required The candidate must have a background and experience in fundraising, resource mobilisation or research. He/she  must be proactive, flexible, and ambitious. He/she must also master digital collaboration tools such as (Google Drive, Slack, Dropbox, WordPress, etc.) Interested and qualified candidates must be  from a Francophone country (Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Mali etc.) or truly bilingual and based in Accra, Ghana. Other appreciable aptitudes are: Strong experience in resource mobilisation activities for nonprofits. Strong research and analytical skills; Experience in project management and NGO sector; Autonomous, proactive, versatile, good interpersonal skills Enjoys teamwork and knows how to use LinkedIn; Google Alert or WordPress. Knowledge of the publishing industry, development financing and children's literature appreciated. Working hours 1 year, renewable if satisfactory performance. 5 days in person at the Muna Kalati office in East Legon (Accra, Ghana) Competitive remuneration. DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSOCIATION Muna Kalati association aims to promote children's books and video games in Africa. We facilitate networking among publishers, librarians and authors as well as video game producers. More here:  www.munakalati.org This vision is manifested through our: Passion  – We are passionately committed to promoting the African children's book and game industry. Integrity  – We provide access to quality, reliable information from youth sector organizations and individuals. Support  – We run contests to encourage writers and respond to comments and requests from subscribers. Diversity  – We believe that children's literature should reflect the reality and nourish the imagination of all children. Our objectives are therefore to: To contribute to the accessibility of books and video games in Africa. To increase the visibility of the actors of the youth edition and the African video game. Contribute to the legitimization of children's books and video games in Africa.  To integrate Muna Kalati is to have the chance: To benefit from real personal and professional development opportunities. Enrich your skills and develop your potential (access to professional training, functional and geographical mobility opportunities via our various partners in Africa). To take advantage of many professional development benefits Muna Kalati is committed to the prevention of discrimination and equal opportunities. All our positions are open to people with disabilities. Deadline:   4 July  2022. Send CV and motivation letter to  content@munakalati.org  & programs@munakalati.org with the title: “Application for resource and knowledge mobilisation officer”