Children in Africa, and Rwanda in particular, continue to struggle with insufficient published literature that promotes African values. Since the advent of colonialism in the 19th century, reports indicate that they have predominantly consumed European literature and, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO, the lack of sufficient locally relevant content in educational materials contributes to this issue. ALSO READ: Developing Children’s Literature that depicts local realities Many African countries have not properly reformed their education policies to promote publishers and writers of African literature, hence books in the classrooms still reflect a lot of European values, said Rwandan author John Rusimbi. Speaking at the 7th African Writers Conference (AWC 2024) on October 26 at Kigali Public Library, Rusimbi, who heads the Pan-African Writers Association (PAWA), emphasised the need to reignite the flame of authentic African stories that can influence the children and youth of the 21st century. African writers who specialise in children’s literature have this core responsibility to mould and shape children into future great leaders in various sectors of the continent’s development. Africa’s Agenda 2063 can only be achieved by children born today if only they can have the right literature to shape them into useful Africans, he said. ALSO READ: Reading-for-change to boost writing, reading skills among youth Rusimbi further called for appropriate policies for African cultural and social renaissance as well as promoting demand and supply of African children’s literature both in schools and in local communities. A constantly evolving arena While some Africans tend to define children’s literature within limiting frameworks, it's crucial to recognise that Africa has evolved, and so has African literature for children. Gasana Mutesi, a children’s book author and founder of Ubuntu Publishers, emphasised the need to redefine African content and reclaim the narrative around African literature. Mutesi criticized the way African content is often associated with poverty, marginalization, and despair, leading to a negative perception that discourages people from engaging with it. ALSO READ: Time to change the Africa narrative She stressed the importance of integrating Africa’s past, present, and future in literature, rather than being confined to any one aspect. Africa has grown, developed, and moved on; we need to reshape our thinking to reflect this evolution. It's not about writing in Kikuyu [a tribe in Kenya]; it's about conveying Kikuyu culture in a language the world can understand, she said. “When we talk about African content, let's go back to our roots without losing our connection to education and innovation. Mutesi further noted that current consumer habits reflect a preference for foreign books and characters, which in turn shape children's aspirations toward places like Paris, London, or New York instead of African realities. “If we don't write our stories, our children will only know the narratives that lead them to aspire to foreign cultures. Any country that lacks a culture, language, and symbolism risks losing its identity,” she said. ALSO READ: A closer look at challenges hindering local book industry To change this, Mutesi continued, Africa must embrace its cultural roots while staying forward-thinking by integrating technology and education into storytelling. ‘Write content that supports children’s mental health’ Rachel Twinomugisha, a Ugandan author and founding member of Writers Space Africa-Uganda chapter, tackled the importance of addressing children’s mental health in literature, arguing that neglecting this aspect could undermine the positive messages conveyed through stories. She referenced inappropriate foreign content featuring themes of sexuality and drug use aimed at children, warning against similar harmful narratives creeping into African children’s literature. “When we use African children's literature to shape the youth, we should be very keen on what we write for them. The African parent today is a very busy parent. As writers, we should help these parents groom their child instead of endangering the child's mental health,” she said. “We should be intentional about what we present to children by choosing themes that genuinely support their mental health.” Children’s literature can also be written by children, and we should motivate as many as possible to write, she added. The African Writers Conference 2024 was organized by African Writers Development Trust in collaboration with Writers Space Africa, particularly its Rwandan chapter. The annual conference brought together writers from 10 African countries under the theme “The Role of African Children’s Literature in Shaping the Youth” from October 22 to 27.
