Eric Wainaina is a leading Kenyan musician. His music to date has been a blend of Kenyan Benga characterized by Soukouss-inspired guitar lines, pop harmony and traditional instruments. Mwarῖmῦ Njeri is a story about teacher Njeri whose teachings, stories about brave men and women, journeys, farming and songs inspire her students. He reads it in Kikuyu.
Written by - Lawrence A. Kanjuro
Translation -Kariha Nancy Wamaitha
Illustrations-Vusi Malindi
Language - Kikuyu
Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0Source www.africanstorybook.org
Dennis Ombachi (The Roaming Chef) is a former Kenyan rugby sevens playing Olympian, a self-taught chef, and a TikTok top creator from Kenya.
Hadithi Kumhusu Wangari Maathai is a story about the life of Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai. He reads it in Kiswahili.
Hadithi Kumhusu Wangari Maathai is written by Nicola Rijsdijk
Translation - Ursula Nafula
Illustrations - Maya Marshark
Language - Kiswahili
Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
Source www.africanstorybook.org
Dennis Ombachi (The Roaming Chef) is a former Kenyan rugby sevens playing Olympian, a self-taught chef, and a TikTok top creator from Kenya.
Tall with long necks, prickly tongues and fascinating patterns, these are some of the features that make giraffes loveable.
Towering Twiga is a story about Nuru, a curious boy, who, together with his family goes on a trip to the National Park to see giraffes.
Towering Twiga is written by Melissa Wakhu
Language - English
Source: Melissa Wakhu
Omukhana Omukara (The Lazy Girl Who Never Wanted To Help In Anything) A folk tale from the Bukusu community of Western Kenya.
It has been read in the Lubukusu and English languages by Pharell Wafubwa.
Wafubwa is an eloquent and fluent orator with vast experience as a radio presenter, an actor, and a facilitator. He has worked in different media houses and has been featured in various TV programs. He has also worked with Storymoja and The Theater Company in school (TTC) programs as an actor, facilitator, and community outreach with different organizations.
This episode was produced with the support of Africa No Filter.
Sifuno Sio Endoyu Khulekha Khunywa Kamechi Munjichi Chimbofu (How the rabbit swore to never drink water in a big river), a folk tale from the Bukusu community of Western Kenya. It has been read in the Lubukusu and English languages by Pharell Wafubwai.
Wafubwa is an eloquent and fluent orator with vast experience as a radio presenter, an actor, and a facilitator. He has worked in different media houses and has been featured in various TV programs. He has also worked with StoryMoja and The Theater Company in school (TTC) programs as an actor, facilitator, and community outreach with different organizations.
Ndaa Na Igu- The Louse And The Wasp. A folk tale from the Embu community of Eastern Kenya.
It is read in the Kiembu and English languages by Wambui wa John a secondary school teacher specialising in English and Literature.
Wambui enjoys imparting knowledge. She believes, through engaging in storytelling, we shall enrich each other.
Production of this episode has been made with the support of Africa No Filter
NGUKU NA MVUNGU(The hen and the hawk) is a folk tale from the Embu community of Eastern Kenya.
It is read in the Kiembu and English languages by Wambui wa John a secondary school teacher specialising in English and Literature.
Wambui enjoys imparting knowledge. She believes, through engaging in storytelling, we shall enrich each other. Production of this episode has been made with the support of Africa No Filter.
Mshushu Beshuka Or The Detached Tail is a folk tale from the Sagalla Taita community of Coastal Kenya.
The story is read in the Kisagalla and English languages by Jeritah Mwake, an actor, voice-over artist and Radio presenter with experience in the art scene.
Mwake has voiced popular TV and Radio Commercials, Documentaries, and animations and recently got into the storytelling world, an art form dear to her.
Swamseke Mbenyu or Don’t laugh at your friends, is a folk tale from the Sagalla Taita community of coastal Kenya. The story is read in the Kisagalla and English languages by Jeritah Mwake, an actor, voice-over artist and Radio presenter with experience in the art scene. Mwake has voiced popular TV and Radio Commercials, Documentaries, and animations and recently got into the storytelling world, an art form dear to her.
Ndiegu Numwana Weve ( Ndiegu And His Child). A folk tale from the Maragoli community of Western Kenya.
The story is told by Oyondi Imbuchi, a Kenyan actor and storyteller with over 20 years of storytelling to diverse audiences. As a performing artist, he has participated in many plays as a performer stage manager and director.
Ombuchi is a passionate advocate of the Ul'logoli language and the Maragoli culture.
Muhonja Nili Nani ( Muhonja And The Ogre) is a folk tale from the Maragoli community of Western Kenya.
The story is told by Oyondi Imbuchi, a Kenyan actor and storyteller with over 20 years of storytelling to diverse audiences. As a performing artist, he has participated in many plays as a performer stage manager and director.
Ombuchi is a passionate advocate of the Ul'logoli language and the Maragoli culture.
Atieno's friend is the story of a young girl from a small village in Kisumu, Kenya who loved to go fishing with her father.
It is read by Caroline Mutoko, one of Kenya's most renowned media personalities with a radio career spanning over 15 years.
Atieno's Friend written by Aisha Nelson
Translation - Ursula Nafula
Language - English
Illustrations - Idowu Abayomi Oluwasegun
Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
Source www.africanstorybook.org
Special thanks to the Kenya National Library Service (Maktaba Kuu) for providing us with the space and props
Tusome Hadithi is an initiative of Afrokidz Trust.
Our goal is to record, archive and share African Children's folklore. We also promote children's books by authors of African descent globally through our Tusome Hadithi Podcast & The Kids Lit Club initiatives.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Afro_Kidz Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tusomehadithi Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afrokidztrust/
Are you an African children's writer or would you like to narrate a story in your mother tongue? email us at afrokidzkenya@gmail.com
Friends (Osiepe) is the story of a boy named Simo describing his friends, Zizo, Lele, Sisa and Ayanda’s hobbies. The story is told in Dholuo and English by Suzanna Owiyo.
Born in Kasaye village, Nyakach near Kisumu city in Kenya, Suzanna Owiyo was introduced to music at a young age by her grandfather who was a prolific Nyatiti player.
She is an award-winning singer whose music is a fusion of traditional western Kenyan music (which features traditional instruments such as the Nyatiti & Orutu) and contemporary rhythms sang primarily in her mother tongue Dholuo and Kiswahili.
Osiepe is written by Zimbili Dlamini and Hlengiwe Zondi.
Translation by Emmaculate Onyango
illustrations by Catherine Groenewald
Language - Dholuo, English
Story source: www.africanstorybook.org
Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
Special thanks to the Kenya National Library Service (KNLS) for providing us with the space
Find and follow us on:
Twitter: @Tusome_Hadithi
Facebook: Tusome Hadithi
Instagram: Tusome Hadithi
Website: www.TusomeHadithi.Africa
Email: TusomeHadithi@gmail.com if are an African children's writer or would love to narrate a story in your mother tongue.
Nũũ_ũtonya_kũtala_nginya_ĩkũmi is the story of King Leopard who needed to choose the next ruler. It is told in Kikamba and in English by Vincent Muasya popularly known as Chipukeezy.
Chipukeezy is a comedian, former radio host, the director of St. Martins School and Vice-chair at the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA).
Chipukeezy was born and raised in Tala, Machakos County, Kenya. popularly known for his Kamba accent, he became one of the most successful comedians to have appeared on the Churchill show. Chipukeezy takes great pride in identifying as a Kamba, in knowing how to speak, read and write in his mother tongue Kikamba.
Nũũ_ũtonya_kũtala_nginya_ĩkũmi is written by Athieno Gertrude and Owino Ogot
Translation by Anna Kula
Illustration - Salim Kasamba
Language - Kikamba
© African Storybook Initiative 2017
Story source: www.africanstorybook.org
Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
Special thanks to the Kenya National Library Services (KNLS) for the location.
Find and follow us on:
Twitter: @Tusome_Hadithi
Facebook: Tusome Hadithi
Instagram: Tusome Hadithi
Website: www.TusomeHadithi.Africa
Email: TusomeHadithi@gmail.com if are an African children's writer or would love to narrate a story in your mother tongue.
Olkuoo Loltome Oikilikuanisho is the story of how the elephant got its big trunk told in the Maa (KiMaasai) language.
The story is read by Silayio -a Kora award winner, Best female Artist EA and The Voice of Holland Finalist who is passionate about her culture as a Maasai. She dedicates this story to her nephews, nieces and every Maasai child out there and hopes that such stories told in her mother tongue will spark a fire in them to learn and take pride in their identity and culture as Maasais.
Olkuoo Loltome Oikilikuanisho is written by Judith Baker and Lorato Trok
Translation by Leonard Kotikash
illustrations by Wiehan de Jager
Language - Maa
Story source: www.africanstorybook.org
Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
Special thanks to Cheche Bookshop for providing us with the space
Find and follow us on:
Twitter: @Tusome_Hadithi
Facebook: Tusome Hadithi
Instagram: Tusome Hadithi
Website: www.TusomeHadithi.Africa
Email: TusomeHadithi@gmail.com if are an African children's writer or would love to narrate a story in your mother tongue.
Silayio is a Kora award winner, Best female Artist EA and The Voice of Holland Finalist. She is passionate about her culture as a Maasai and carries it with pride in her tongue and on her skin.
Olkuoo Loltome Oikilikuanisho is the story of a curious baby elephant. She reads it in her mother tongue, Maa (KiMaasai) with an English translation.
The curious baby elephant is written by Judith Baker and Lorato Trok
Translation - Leonard Kotikash
illustrations - Wiehan de Jager
Language - Maa
Level - First sentences
Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0
Source www.africanstorybook.org
Special thanks to Cheche Bookshop for providing us with the space and props
Follow us on:
Twitter: Tusome_Hadithi
Facebook: Tusome Hadithi
Instagram: TusomeHadithi
Welcome to Tusome Hadithi.
A podcast where we read storybooks written by Africans for African children and told in African languages.
Joining us for Season one to celebrate our African heritage through the storybooks we read, we had the great pleasure of working with indomitable personalities and Kenyans of great renown. Caroline Mutoko, Eric Wainaina, Chipukeezy, Suzanna Owiyo, Dennis Ombachi and Silayio.
The first episode shall be out on 23rd April with new episodes out every two weeks. Subscribe to be notified when a new episode is out.
Our children deserve to see themselves and their culture in the books they read.
