On the 29th of October 2019, OkadaBooks was announced as one of six recipients of the inaugural Africa Publishing Innovation Fund (worth $20,000). This fund was created by the International Publishers Association and Dubai Cares to help drive literacy by giving teachers, students and parents free access to stories they can all relate to. Over a year and a pandemic later, here we are. We present to you The OkadaBooks Write The Future project, powered by Dubai Cares.
See the official project launch here.
Just One Bite by Olusayo Ajetunmobi
Otini and Kuti are fishing friends. When their stream dries up, they go to the river where there’s plenty of fish. There they meet the hippo, Dama, who joins their fishing gang. But Otini and Kuti are now unhappy and hungry all the time. Will they have to move again?
Kemi & Khadijat by Aduke Gomez
Kemi and Khadijat are best friends. While Kemi is a talented drummer, Khadijat has a beautiful voice. They’re both excited about a talent competition at school and have been practising very hard. Then something unexpected happens – only one of them can compete. Will the friends find a way around this challenge?
I Want a Pig by Ugo Anidi
Nene wants a pig and nothing is going to stand in her way.
What the Eyes See by Yejide Kilanko
Why are there strange men in the king’s compound? Yanibo, the young tortoise is curious and decides to find out. When Yanibo sees a sack of bones inside the palace, she does what she feels is right – she tells. Will the older animals believe her?
Ugo Gets Her Wish by Chika Unigwe
Ugo does not like tidying her room. She wishes she never has to tidy her room again. What happens when her wish comes true?
Onome’s Cooking Disaster by Sope Martins
When her mother has to work late for a month, Onome is put in charge of cooking. Problem is, Onome hates cooking. Every time she tries, something goes wrong. She has to figure things out or they will be eating burnt food for a month!
The Girl With the Magic Spanner by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim
Fati’s mother wants her to become a tailor or hair stylist, but Fati wants to be a mechanic. She loves cars and wants to learn how to fix them. When she gets an opportunity to work at Musa Makaniki’s workshop, how do people react?
Houses in the Sand by Elnathan John
Bitrus does not have any friends. The other boys refuse to play with him because he is a person with albinism. When a new boy, Adamu, moves to his school, he becomes friends with Bitrus and they spend their free time building houses in the sand. Before long, their friendship is tested and Bitrus makes a decision that could mean losing his only friend.
For comments or enquiries about the OkadaBooks Write The Future project sponsored by Dubai Cares, please send us an email at writethefuture@okadabooks.com