Adults and children were encouraged to share stories, imagine, and create at the launch of a new children's book series, The Stories that Ran Away, at the Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA), BMW Centre for Art Education, at the V&A Waterfront on Saturday, April 25.
The event celebrated the release of three new titles in the impactful children's book series: Nkanyamba, One World, One Family, and Why Fire and Water Are Enemies.
Guest speaker and storyteller Philippa Namutebi Kabali-Kagwa said that the series, written by Meridian Berndt and brought to life by local illustrators Isabelle Grobler, Jax Lamb, Vix Venter, and Zhi Zulu, aimed to empower young pupils by reflecting on humanity’s critical relationship with the natural world.
"These stories delve into themes of biodiversity, sustainability, and our collective responsibility toward the earth, often by honouring and reclaiming African myths, legends, and creation stories," she said.
Ms Kabali-Kagwa, acclaimed Cape Town–based Ugandan author and TEDx speaker, known for her memoir, Flame and Song, enthused children to read to their parents and vice versa.
She noted that it is acceptable to feel various emotions, such as sadness, pain, and anger, as characters do when they resolve their disagreements.
She stressed that giving children emotional and visual literacy makes them more observant.
She highlighted the power of storytelling, which connects children and adults to their identity.
"That is the beauty of the story, that is the power of storytelling, which has been exemplified through these particular stories. For many African cultures, we're an aural culture, and the colonial experience has been that we forget our stories, that people are not telling stories anymore," she said.
Ms Kabali-Kagwa suggested that, by taking fragments of forgotten African stories, due to colonial experience, and creating new narratives, a sense of confidence in children and pride in adults was restored.
"We remember fragments, and when you take those fragments, you create new stories. You remember who you are, and remembering who you are is so important. It gives children a sense of confidence, even adults a sense of pride," she said.
The celebration extended beyond the book signing, including an exhibition featuring original and digital artworks from the books.
Children were invited to explore this magical world, inhabited by strange creatures and enchanting characters, on Level -1 of the museum. The exhibition will be on view until Sunday, June 7.
The new titles are available for purchase at the Zeitz MOCAA shop.
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