Stories that mirror children boost reading and self-esteem—Aboderin-Talabi

Olubunmi Aboderin-Talabi, a renowned children’s author and convener of Akada Children’s Book Festival, Nigeria’s first and largest literary festival dedicated exclusively to children, in this interview with CHARLES OGWO, gives insight on how children seeing themselves reflected in content they engage with boosts their literacy and self-expression, among others. Excerpts…

“Ultimately, our goal is to build a pipeline of confident young readers, storytellers, and creators. When children see themselves reflected in the content they engage with, literacy becomes more meaningful, and self-expression becomes a natural extension of who they are.”

The Akada Children’s Book Festival is the first and largest Nigerian book festival dedicated to children. What inspired the creation of this festival, and what gap did you see in the literary and educational landscape for children in Nigeria?

When we started the Akada Children’s Book Festival, there was nowhere for parents and children to come together to celebrate the joy of reading.

Most book events at the time were designed for adults, and while we had many talented Nigerian authors, very few were writing storybooks that reflected the world of African children.

I wanted to change that. As a children’s author, I knew how powerful it could be for a child to pick up a book and see themselves on its pages, their names, cities, and realities. That was missing.

The festival was born out of that gap and passion, to create a space where children could discover stories that look and sound like them, and where the authors behind those stories, many of them women and self-published writers, could finally connect directly with their readers.

Looking back from the very first edition to the seventh in 2025, what defining milestones stand out for you in this journey?

The festival has grown tremendously in both reach and influence. One of the most significant milestones has been seeing more authors creating quality books specifically for children, helping to fill a gap in the literary landscape.

In the beginning, we featured authors such as Tonye Faloughi-Ekezie, Basirat Razaq-Shuaib, and Olayemi Ejemai, and it’s great to see how they have grown and developed over the years.

We’ve also expanded the ways children engage with literature, introducing activities like chess and Scrabble tournaments, storytelling sessions, and interactive workshops.

During the pandemic, the festival went online and reached over 23 countries, transforming it from a national event into a geographically dispersed festival.

Each year, these moments reinforce our vision: to make reading and learning exciting, accessible, and meaningful for Nigerian children.

Read also: Akada Children’s Book Festival 2025 opens new door to discovery

This year’s theme, “Book an Adventure”, celebrates reading as a journey of imagination and discovery. How did this shape the experiences, storytelling sessions, and overall programming of the 2025 festival?

Every year, the festival adopts a new theme, and this year’s, ‘Book an Adventure’, captures the spirit of curiosity, discovery, and imagination.

The theme plays on multiple levels: a book itself is an adventure; you never know where it will take you or what you will learn; reading a book is an adventure in thinking and exploring; and, in a playful sense, it invites children to ‘book’ their own journey into learning and creativity.

We designed the 2025 festival around this idea, shaping storytelling sessions, workshops, competitions, and interactive activities to spark imagination and broaden perspectives.

In recent editions, the festival introduced Yoruba-themed storytelling and animation workshops. How do these activities help children connect with their language, culture, and creativity while nurturing literacy?

Our programming is intentionally designed to meet children at the intersection of culture, creativity, and learning. Every activity, whether it’s a book reading, a chess tournament, or a creative workshop, is curated to help young learners build confidence, curiosity, and connection.

The introduction of Yoruba-themed storytelling and animation workshops, in particular, has been a game changer. Many children are deeply engaged with global content but often disconnected from the richness of their own language and heritage.

By creating immersive experiences that bring Yoruba stories, characters, and expressions to life, we’ve seen children embrace their identity in a way that feels organic and exciting. It becomes more than just language learning; it becomes cultural ownership.

Ultimately, our goal is to build a pipeline of confident young readers, storytellers, and creators. When children see themselves reflected in the content they engage with, literacy becomes more meaningful, and self-expression becomes a natural extension of who they are.

The festival introduced annual awards in 2024 to celebrate excellence in children’s literature and honoured Lola Shoneyin, who won the Picture Book of the Year. This year, it recognised Ogbu Eme’s The Water School as Early Reader Book of the Year and Tayo Oyetayo’s Komtu, the Grumpy Chameleon, as Picture Book of the Year. What impact do these recognitions have on motivating authors and shaping the future of African children’s literature?

The awards were introduced to shine a spotlight on the incredible talent emerging across the continent and to elevate the standard of children’s literature in a very intentional way. For many writers, particularly those working in the children’s genre, visibility can be a challenge.

Recognising their works sends a powerful signal: that their stories matter, that African narratives deserve a global platform, and that creating quality content for children is a respected, valued pursuit.

By recognising works like The Water School and Komtu, the Grumpy Chameleon, we are not just celebrating achievement; we are nurturing a movement that ensures African children see themselves, their languages, and their realities reflected in books that are joyful, engaging, and world-class.

Representation is a core part of the Akada Children’s Book Festival’s mission. Why is it important for African children to see themselves reflected in the books they read and the stories they hear?

Representation is central to our mission because children’s literature shapes how they see themselves and the world around them. When African children consistently fail to see their language, culture, or environment reflected in the stories they read, it can send the subtle message that their experiences are less important or less valued.

By creating books with heroes who look like them, speak their language, celebrate familiar traditions, and live in environments they recognise, we provide children with a sense of validation and belonging. This connection not only strengthens self-esteem but also encourages engagement, curiosity, and a love of reading.

The festival has reached over 10,000 attendees. Beyond the numbers, how do you define impact and how do you know that the festival is making a difference?

Impact goes beyond numbers. It’s about the moments that show reading has become a source of joy, curiosity, and creativity for children. When we see children reading for pleasure in the library rather than out of obligation, or when schools return year after year to participate in the festival, we know we’re making a difference.

Impact is also visible in parents who are inspired to buy books for their children and in children who feel encouraged to create their own stories.

Besides, the festival is a member of the Global Association of Literary Festivals, which gives authors and books that are featured at the festival the opportunity to be seen and discovered by festival organisers around the world.

Looking ahead, what is your long-term vision for the festival to inspire a lifelong love for reading across Africa?

Our long-term vision for the Akada Children’s Book Festival is to expand its reach across Nigeria, bringing the joy of reading to children in every community.

We aim to build strong partnerships with schools, publishers, cultural organisations, and sponsors to ensure that every child, regardless of background, can participate.

Charles Ogwo is a proactive journalist, driving education, and business innovations for over 10 years.

He leads initiatives leveraging tech to enhance storytelling and build topnotch performing team.

Charles is passionate about harnessing technology to inform, engage and empower communities.

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