Smangele Mathebula

In the past three and a half years, the African Storybook has embarked on an incredible journey, weaving tales in nine diverse African languages, resulting in 736 captivating storybooks. This feat has been a celebration of the rich tapestry of our children's lives, highlighting the wealth of stories embedded in our cultures.

Here we share some interesting information about the Ulwazi Lwethu African languages reading materials project.

A collaborative endeavour: The Zenex Foundation's Ulwazi Lwethu - meaning “our knowledge” - project brought together key partners in literacy development including, Saide (African Storybook), Molteno, Room to Read, and the Nelson Mandela Institute. This collaboration aimed to craft high-quality reading books and resources for African languages, supporting literacy enhancement in South Africa.

Empowering Foundation Phase learning: Targeting Grades 1 to 3, this initiative fills a critical gap in the South African education system by providing essential reading materials in African languages. These storybooks not only nurture the basics of reading but also ignite the joy and habit of exploration that reading new stories for pleasure can bring.

A tapestry of voices and talent: Through collaboration with over 60 emerging Black illustrators, writers, translators, and editors, African Storybook birthed 736 diverse storybooks. This collection spans fiction and non-fiction, enriching languages like Tshivenda, Xitsonga, IsiNdebele, and more, including English and IsiMpondo – one of the local languages spoken in parts of the Eastern Cape.

Promoting cultural relevance: This endeavour aligns with African Storybook's mission to offer culturally and contextually appropriate content. It's a tribute to rich storytelling, unveiling non-fiction narratives on overlooked subjects, from commemorative days like Woman’s Day and Youth Day, to showcasing icons in various fields – from sport to art, including, John Kani, Gcina Mhlophe, Mmakgabo Helen Sebidi, Dr Bongani Mayosi, Dr Tebello Nyokong and Kgothatso Montjane.

Accessible learning materials: Accessing these invaluable resources will soon be easier. The Zenex Foundation plans to launch a dedicated website portal housing graded readers, anthologies, worksheets, and guides for parents and teachers. Additionally, all 1500 readers will be downloadable on the African Storybook website, catering to schools, education departments, and literacy partners.

How to Access: Dive into these enriching stories and resources via Ulwazi Lwethu's website. Let the magic of storytelling flourish in your classrooms and homes!

Join us in celebrating the beauty of African languages and the power of storytelling, by accessing these wonderful story books and other materials here: https://www.ulwazilwethu.org.za/