News – Page 4 – Muna Kalati

Christian Elongué, Executive Director Of Muna Kalati named in 2021 ILA Global list of Literacy champions

Jan 13, 2021 MunaKalatiComment

Christian Elongué, our executive Director, is one of 30 literacy leaders named to the International Literacy Association’s (ILA) 2021 30 Under 30 list. The global list celebrates rising innovators, disruptors and visionaries in the literacy field. Christian Elongué is an author and researcher on children and young adult literature. Dismayed by a lack of black characters in books available to African children, Christian founded munakalati.org in 2017 with the goal of building international recognition for African children’s book authors and increasing access to African children books.

Interview

“There are almost no political institutions which seriously engage with promoting children’s literature in Cameroon” – Interview with Nsah Mala

Jan 8, 2021 Christian ElongueComment

Nsah Mala is a Cameroonian poet, writer and children’s author of 2 fantastic, illustrated books which have been well acclaimed for their unique angle and the colorful and beautiful pictures they contain. Muna Kalati had the opportunity to interview him to know more about his journey as an author, his experiences, challenges, and vision of the children’s book industry in Cameroon.

News

Global Kidz House (GKH) publishes children books that dispel common stereotypes about Africa

Déc 31, 2020 Christian ElongueComment

GKH will specialize in children’s books (pre-K to seventh grade) that celebrate the history and diverse cultures of Africa and the African diaspora in fiction and nonfiction. Mapondera-Talley’s goal is to dispel common stereotypes about Africa and Africans.

Muna Kalati News

« Every African Children must be able to read and write » – an exclusive interview with Stacey Fru, Global literacy advocate and child Author

Août 7, 2020 Christian ElongueComment

tacey Fru, a South African International Multiple Award-Winning Child Author named a 2020 Global Child Prodigy. She is a Philanthropist and Activist whom at the age of 12 was honoured by the Egyptian President as one of 5 Most Promising African Youths in 2019. The now 13-year-old Stacey wrote her first book “Smelly Cats” at age 7. Since Muna Kalati is promoting Children and Young Adult authors, it was an immense pleasure to gather her views in this regard. In this interview, she openly speaks about her first reading experiences, the authors that inspired her, her reading practices and vision for the development of children literature in Africa.

Analysis Documentation

11 Children’s Books With Strong Black Characters

Juin 22, 2020 Christian ElongueComment

All children need exposure to diverse books, including the full spectrum of Black characters and their experiences. Explore these stories featuring strong Black characters that exude bravery, confidence, and curiosity.

vieillard dans une bibliothèque_Cameroun_Muna kalati

Analysis Documentation Library

6 major problems of libraries in Cameroon

Avr 13, 2020 Narcisse FomekongComment

The problems that readers encounter when visiting libraries are legion and diverse: the lack of updating of the collection, the absence of online information on the collections, the absence of books on African realities, the lack of professional librarians, the bad faith of some readers and the commodification of reading services.

Analysis Documentation

62 great books by Black authors, recommended by TED speakers

Fév 22, 2020 Christian ElongueComment

Here’s a curated selection of 62 fiction and non-fiction titles to check out now.

News

Nigerian-Canadian mom writes inspirational children’s book about legendary Queen Idia of Benin Kingdom

Fév 21, 2020 Christian ElongueComment

Considered the first Queen Mother of Benin, Idia was the mother of Esigie, the Oba (king) of Benin between 1504 and 1550. A great warrior and wise queen, she is believed to have saved the entire kingdom of Benin in a time of war and turmoil. Thanks to Nigerian-Canadian author Ekiuwa Aire, children can now relive the highly revered Nigerian queen’s story from a real African perspective.

Interview

Raising awareness about the misrepresentation of people of color in children literature – Vivian Yenika-Agbaw

Jan 7, 2020 Christian ElongueComment

Vivian Yenika-Agbaw is a professor of literature and literacy in the College of Education’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Penn State, a mentor to many Penn State students, and an advocate for marginalized peoples.
She has spent her life studying and analyzing hierarchical systems of oppression and race relations. Through her writing and teaching, she encourages compassion, empathy, inclusivity and social change. My aim is to identify those who are marginalized and work to include their voices through literature,” she said. Our Executive Director, Christian Elongué has met with Professor Vivian Yenika-Agbaw at the IBBY Africa Regional Meeting in Accra. In this article, we are presenting her and her contribution in the promotion of more inclusivity and representation in Children literature in the US and in the African diaspora.

Interview Muna Kalati

Children’s literature is the most important literature – Dianne Johnson Feelings

Nov 28, 2019 Christian ElongueComment

Through the IBBY Africa Regional Meeting, we had the pleasure to exchange with her about