“My First Book of Shona and Ndebele Words” is an accessible, engaging and easy-to-follow children’s picture book authored by cultural curator, lawyer and Philisa Creatives founder, Yeve C. Sibanda and designed to make chief vernacular languages in Zimbabwe, Shona and Ndebele fun.
The book is set in Zimbabwe and builds around the character of a young Rufaro and her sibling who introduces the reader to Shona and Ndebele vocabulary (greetings, transportation, family members etc) with accompanying English translations as they experience their daily life activities.
Yeve, a native of Zimbabwe who now calls the US home and a mom raising a first-generation, multi-lingual, American child, said the book was born out of a commitment to teaching her daughter Minnie her roots, having been frustrated by the absence of adequate and quality modern Shona/Ndebele books that teaches the basics.
“I found it hard to come across books in our languages for kids in the diaspora. I noticed a lack of diversity of books with black characters in them. People have given positive feedback on the quality of the book and illustrations. The fact that the book features an African black family and has positive images about Zimbabwe being great too. People are also thrilled to have an all-in-one resource to learn and teach Shona and Ndebele with a lot of non-Zimbabweans also enjoying it as a way to learn about another culture and country,” she told the Newsday.
To prioritise the essence of learning and time, the book is accompanied by a “My First Shona and Ndebele Calendar” and both transports the reader to Zimbabwe and gives them a glimpse into the family life and culture of the Southern African country.
Yeve is passionate about sharing African stories and believes humanity should all aim to be global citizens who appreciate other cultures and languages. Her creative media company, Philisa Creatives, does so in amplifying Black and African voices through storytelling and various creative products.
“My hope is that people get interested in learning more about other cultures. I’m especially inspired by the idea that BIPOC children can read books with characters that resemble them. Specifically, I’m excited to create a book that resonates with boys and girls of African descent. With your purchase of My First Book of Shona and Ndebele Words, not only are we revolutionizing and diversifying children’s literature, we are telling the world that Black and African stories and languages should be shared,” she said of her new book.
The book and calendar are available for sale on her website: www.philisacreatives.com.
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Out this month, the book will be virtually launched on the 28th of March on Zoom and Clubhouse, details of which can be accessed via www.philisacreatives.com/contact
