African Children’s Literature Takes Centre Stage in Global Webinar

Leading voices across publishing, scholarship, and literacy initiatives come together to interrogate the role of the child in African literature.

African children’s literature will be the focus of an international webinar this November, as leading voices across publishing, scholarship, and literacy initiatives come together to interrogate the role of the child in African literature.

The virtual panel, themed The Child in African Literature, will take place on Friday, 7 November 2025 (4–6 PM GMT, via Zoom). It is organised by Book O’Clock, a Nigerian literary nonprofit promoting literacy and African literature, in collaboration with the Erasmus Mundus International Master’s in Children’s Literature, Media, and Cultural Entrepreneurship (CLMCE).

Speaking on the event, Uchenna Emelife, Director of Book O’Clock, postgraduate scholar of children’s literature, and panel moderator, notes:

The genre is often dismissed by both literary scholars, enthusiasts, and platformers as simplistic and unnecessary, which is particularly ironic given that African literature is deeply rooted in oral storytelling traditions, many of which were, and remain geared towards children. If we must talk about African literature (as we should), the place to begin is with the child to whom our stories have long been targeted.

The panel will feature leading voices from across Africa and the diaspora who are actively reshaping the field. It will spotlight the opportunities and challenges shaping African children’s literature, highlight innovative publishing and literacy interventions, and discuss the genre’s untapped potential in both local and global contexts.

Confirmed panellists include:

• Thembaletu (Thembi) Shangase (South Africa): Executive Director of Book Dash
• Namse Peter Udosen (Nigeria): Children’s Author and Educator
• Louisa Kiwana Olafuyi (Uganda/UK): Co-founder, Kunda Kids
• Farida Ladipo-Ajayi (Nigeria): Founder, The Bookworm Café
• Dr Elodie Malanda (DRC/Netherlands): Assistant Professor of Children’s Literature Studies, Tilburg University

Together, these thought leaders will examine how African children’s literature contributes to global book markets while disrupting, enriching, and complicating dominant narratives in children’s literature scholarship.

This event is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required. Register here.

About Book O’Clock

Book O’Clock Literary Foundation (Book O’Clock) is a youth-led literary organisation based in Sokoto, Nigeria, dedicated to nurturing a culture of reading, storytelling, and creative engagement among children and young people.

Established in 2020 and formally registered in 2023, Book O’Clock operates at the intersection of education, culture, and social change—creating inclusive literary experiences that reflect local realities while connecting with global conversations.

Notable projects include the Sokoto Book and Arts Festival, Book O’Clock Prize and Literature and Film.

About CLMCE

Children’s Literature, Media, and Cultural Entrepreneurship (CLMCE) is an Erasmus Mundus International Master’s program, co-funded by the European Union. It examines the relationship between children’s and young adult texts and media, exploring how this relationship is interpreted, understood, and responded to across diverse educational, social, and cultural frameworks.

The program also equips students with both research and entrepreneurial skills, advancing competencies that prepare graduates to engage effectively in the global market of children’s literature and related cultural industries.

Host institutions include the University of Glasgow, Aarhus University, Tilburg University, Nantes University and the University of Wroclaw.