My Keynote Speech at the 37th Congress of the International Board of Books for Young People (IBBY) in Russia I debunked some myths about reading culture in Africa and presented the key pillars of the Children books industry. Explored the existing challenges, progress achieved so far and possibilities. Also presented the work and impact of Muna Kalati, in advancing development and peace in Africa through Children books.

1. D i v e r s i t y i n w o r l d
k i d l i t e r a t u r e :
a n a f r i c a n
p e r s p e c t i v e
C h r i s t i a n E l o n g u é
R e s e a r c h e r & F o u n d e r o f M u n a
K a l a t i ( e l o n g u e @ m u n a k a l a t i . o r g )

2. READING MYTH OR REALITY?
• If you want to hide a secret to
a black, put it in a book
• African don’t read (much)!
• Africa has an oral tradition

3. CAN YOU LOVE
CHILDREN BOOKS
WITHOUT LOVING FUN
OR GAMES?

4. LET’S BE HONEST
• We are all parents or readers !
• Stand up if you have ever read a children book from an
American author?
• Asian Author?
• Latino?
• African author?
• Can you name three children book authors from Africa?
• Is it easy for us to find children books from Africa in our
library?

5. THERE IS A PROBLEM…
Of more than 5,000 picture
books, less than
1% reflected any
contemporary images of
African Americans.
Each year, there are more
children’s books published
about animals than Black
people.
Less progressive
attitudes depicted in
books could be
reproduced in the real
world (Vandergrift,
1995).
Black people continue to be,
underrepresented,
misrepresented, or invisible
in children’s literature

6. 5 PILLARS OF AFRICAN CHILDREN BOOK INDUSTRY
Uncertain border
Language
Barriers
Academic Reading
Foreign book veil
Online Invisibility

7. AUTHORS
• More CB Authors than we may think
• More incentives are created
• Greater collaboration
• Most authors are unknown & ghettorized

8. PUBLISHING
• Publishing in local languages
• The cost of quality children
books
• The distribution challenge
• Digital opportunities
• Self publishing
• Publishing imperialism?
Francophone & Anglophone
dynamics

9. DISTRIBUTION
• Difficult access to children books
• Mobile libraries in schools: South
Africa Mobile Library Project,Valise
de Livres
• Street libraries
• Book donation?
• Increased effectiveness of publishing
networks:AEI,Afrilivres, IPA

10. RECEPTION
• More specialised critics, teachers and researchers
– PRAESA in South Africa etc.
– Muna Kalati : network of African CL Professionals
• More literary awards on Children literature
– Few Africans awarded globally: Christian Andersen,
Astrid Lindgren,ASAHI,

11. READING 2.0?
• Several reading centres have been created.
• Greater awareness from parents
• Digital reading practices
• Vlogging

12. M U N A K A L A T I : A F R O S O L U T I O N ?
C O L L A B O R A T I V E P L A T F O R M F O R T H E P R O M O T I O N O F A F R I C A N B O O K S F O R K I D S &
Y O U N G A D U L T S

13. MUNA KALATI ACTIVITIES
BLOGGING & E-ZINE ON
CHILDREN BOOKS
WORKSHOP & EVENTS :
READ2LEAD (AFC
DSCHANG)
RESEARCH ON CB AND
ITS POTENTIAL IN
EDUCATION
RESEARCH CENTRE ON
CL + TEACHING
CURRICULUM ON CL

14. MK CHALLENGES
Continuous access to new children books from Cameroonian or
African Publishers
Financial Sustainability Model?
Active pool of English contributors

15. What next?
Createa supportfund dedicatedto co-publishing,
translationand mobilityprojects.
Institutionalizeand strengthenthe use of the
children'sbookin educationalprogrammes
Organizeeventswith prizesaroundthe LJ to stimulate
creation.

16. WHAT NEXT (2)
Adopt international production standards.
Integrating digital technology into practices
Review pedagogical approaches to reading.
Co-publishing in solidarity and Bibliodiversity

17. CONCLUSION
The strength of any tree is in its roots. (identity)
Children books are fundamental to develop a
lasting reading culture in Africa.
Faciliting access to diverse children books is
contributing to global peace

18. WHAT CAN WE START DOING
• Change is the fruit of a choice, commitment & consistency.
• Let’s Offer diverse books to your children !
• Let’s increase the number of diverse book in our collections
• Let’s adventurous and explore unknown territories
• Increase collaboration with foreign CB authors, publishers.
• Let’s not preach but practice.
• Wisdom is not taught but caught !

19. THANKYOU
Shoukran !
Questions
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