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Tenka and his Magic Drum is a Call to Action for Nigerian Publishers
Temi Halim is very critical of the Nigerian children’s book industry. According to her, local publishers don’t spend enough money on non-set texts and the only books African children have access to bombard them with images of places and norms they cannot relate to or understand. As an academic (Halim holds a Masters degree in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos) it’s also not surprising that Halim also blames an uneducated government for the lack of developemnt in children’s literature. To her credit though, Halim has done more than just complain about the problem: she’s trying to change things too and the start to a solution comes in the form of a truly beautiful 29-page book, Tenka and his Magic Drum: A Story Adapted From Yoruba Folklore. Right from the very attractive cover of an exquisite rich-colour illustration of Tenka and his magic drum; the book has all the ingredients that will greatly appeal to children. In her self-published book, she takes the young reader on a mental magic carpet ride across nations and cultures in Africa. Halim’s also borrowed names and words from across the continent: Tenka, for example, was a King of ancient Ghana.The author also offers the reader a taste of her lyricism. “…when the world was young and new, when trees grew lush and green, mountains stood tall and proud, rivers gushed out in full excitement, eager to begin the journey of discovery…”.
Expertly exploiting the fluidity of African folktales, she employs her artistic licence in a narrative rich in kaleidoscopic imagery that inform and educate, with twists and turns and, people and places spanning centuries of African history. If the primary intentions was to turbo-charge and fire the imagination of her young readers to spark their quest for answers and more explanations, she has indeed succeeded. For example; the fascinating story in which the magic drum also sings will trigger their interest in the traditional connections between drums, ‘talking’, speech, song and drum language.
Book details
- Tenka and his Magic Drum by Temi Halim, illustrated by Judith Bicking
EAN: 9789003927
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- Tenka and his Magic Drum by Temi Halim, illustrated by Judith Bicking
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