Storymoja launches “SHIZU”, a powerful new children’s book series that takes young readers on time-traveling adventures through Africa’s rich past.
The well-known adage says: History is told in the words of victor. For decades, the histories of Africa have been widely expressed through the lens of colonialism and its perpetrators. Storymoja’s “SHIZU Movement” is here to reclaim the continent’s history, through the hearts and minds of its most influential audience – children.
Where Are the African Stories for Young Readers?
Walk into any bookstore, and the reality is stark – African history is conspicuously absent from children’s literature. While adult African literature thrives, young readers remain disconnected from their rich heritage, with shelves dominated by Western narratives. To remedy this, Storymoja has launched SHIZU, a historical fiction series aimed at 11 – 14 year olds that immerses young readers in pivotal African moments.
The Series Editor, Linda Were, said that growing up in Kenya,
We hear more of Western history and it makes us feel like we don’t belong on a world stage. The role of SHIZU books is to really show us our history and where we come from – to highlight the positions and structures [in African societies] that we can be proud of.”
Time Travel Meets Tradition: The SHIZU Storytelling Style
The SHIZU series blends researched history with captivating storytelling, crafted by a team of acclaimed African writers who have breathed life into these stories that will shape identities. The books will transport children across ancient civilizations, legendary battles, and into past kingdoms that we should all have knowledge of.
The books use the very clever device of time-travelling modern children into past stories, not just telling the stories, but allowing modern sensibilities an introduction to those worlds. Storymoja has set itself the mission of ensuring that African children see themselves as the heroes of their own stories.
Launching With Royalty and Rhythm
Storymoja’s launch event for SHIZU was as immersive as the books themselves. A number of schools were invited, showing their intent to infuse the learning of history with pride and with fun. The dress code—“African Royalty”—saw the audience dressed in vibrant kitenge and Maasai beads. There were face painting stations, each relating to a tribe, using unique markings derived from traditional symbols.
Once everyone was marked as part of a tribe, the singing battle began! Facilitators taught the groups call & response chants, which the children belted out joyfully, each trying to be louder and more energetic than the other groups.
This was followed by a panel discussion with vivid storytelling which kept the children rapt. Finally, there was a mock trial of Princess Njinga – Bane of the Portuguese, where children from the audience weighed in with their questions and opinions, infusing fun with learning, bringing history to life.
History Is Personal
The history of the SHIZU stories is not in the distant past. One title focuses on the reign of Chief Odera of Gem, in western Kenya. The descendants of Chief Odera attended the launch event, his granddaughter gray-haired and walking with a stick – which she raised in the air with pride when her family’s history was retold on stage.
The family of Chief Odera with Storymoja presenters
These narratives can still be reclaimed but there is some urgency as the holders of the knowledge are aging and oral histories are being lost to the digital age.
Sneak Peeks at the Stories
You might be wondering – But are the stories good? Storymoja put evocative storytellers on stage and gave us a sneak peek:
Calamity of the Kasigau
Many of us are familiar with the Agikuyu, Kamba, Luo, and Maasai communities, but how many of us have heard of the Kasigau?
When Betty and Safari, modern-day children, accidentally travel back in time to 1914, they land amongst the Kasigau, a small Taita community on the border of Kenya and Tanzania. There could not have been a worse time for the twins to land there as it was during the First World War.
At the time, Kenya was colonized by the British, while Tanzania was under German rule. And in 1914, the Germans and British were sworn enemies, in a war to destroy each other.
One day, a troop of German soldiers, on border patrol, came across Kasigau honey hunters gathering honey in the trees around Kasigau hill. The Germans asked, “Have you seen our brothers?”
Unaware of the difference between the Germans and the British – to them all white people looked the same – the Kasigau honey hunters, a kind and helpful people, pointed as they replied, “Ndungu wenu wako kule …”. They even used a long stick to scratch a map on the ground to ensure these brothers united with their white brothers.
Creep, creep, creep. Bang! Bang! Bang! The Germans ambushed the British soldiers, killing all …but one who survived only long enough to pass on a message to his commander that it was the Kasigau who had betrayed them….
Can you imagine what happened next?
The series does more than tell histories. Through storytelling, the series will inevitably provoke children to question the frameworks of history, morality and leadership. For example, look at Chief Odera:
Two Faces of Chief Odera
They say if you throw a stone in Gem, Western Kenya, it is likely to land on the head of a professor! How did this come to be? In 1915 Chief Odera Akango was captivated by the Bugandan way of life, especially the British imported education system that breeds discipline, power, and progress.
Chief Odera Akango returns to Gem, fired up, ready to do whatever it takes to advance his Kingdom even more than the Bagandan Kingdom. To the delight of the British colonials, Chief Odera Akango forces the adoption of British-style education on his people. Children who do not attend the hastily built schools are publicly whipped. He enforces hut and animal taxes to fund the schools and builds prisons for parents, farmers and political detractors who rebel against his vision.
Tax collectors move through villages like locusts, taking even the seed meant for next season’s planting. When famine comes, bellies distend while school attendance swells.
“You would have us eat books!” shouts Chief Odera’s own brother at the council gathering. “Our children will be too dead to become your precious scholars!”
The Chief’s voice remains unnervingly calm. “And your grandchildren will be too ignorant to rule themselves if we falter now.”….
Tales of Powerful African Women
There are currently two further books in the series. “Princess Njiri, Bane of the Portuguese” by Emily Khalayi Wekulo has twins Lara and Moises time travel back to the 17th century Ndongo kingdom, in the country now known as Angola. The kingdom is under attack. Can Princess Njinga, a fierce warrior leader, protect the kingdom from dangerous Imbangala warriors and powerful Portuguese invaders?
In “Zulu Kingmaker: Queen Mkabayi” by Hellen Akeyo, twins Kaya and Vusi time travel to the 18th Century Zulu Kingdom, in present-day South Africa. The king is dead and powerful Ndwandwe warriors fight to take over the Zulu Kingdom. How much blood will Queen Mkabayi need to spill to impose a suitable Zulu king?
These books also raise questions about leadership, difficult choices and ethics while entertaining children in the rich histories of kingdoms across the reaches of Africa, keeping them engaged as they wonder if the modern day visitors will make it through the challenging times and back home.
These two titles purposely focus on female rulers, reminding readers that history was not only made by men. Storymoja’s editors felt that women in history have often been sidelined, whereas not only is there a history of women in official positions of power, but matriarchy has been a way of life in many places prior to colonialism. Storymoja is keen that all children have knowledge and pride in their ancestry and their history.
As Storymoja’s CEO Muhiddin Ngashe said at the book series launch: “You hold the power to shape dreams. When you buy SHIZU for your children, you are not just buying a book—you are gifting them the pride of their heritage, the magic of their ancestry, and the thrill of an adventure that mirrors their world.”
The SHIZU series books are available at Text Book Centre and Nuria Bookstore plus outlets where Books First stock their books, such as supermarkets. They can also be ordered directly from Storymoja’s website on the Redhot Africa e-store.
More Stories to Come
Storymoja is just getting started. Upcoming SHIZU titles include:
Rwot Awich Defends the Acoli
A Battle of Blood
The First Kabaka
Koitalel Leads The Long Resistance
The Might of King Msiri
Mekatilili Fights for Freedom
Last Stand of the Ajuran
The Chetambe Massacre