Children’s books & African languages: Swahili literature for younger readers

Since independence, language and instruction policies in African countries have generally not promoted people's literacy or readership in African languages. In this context, one of the few exceptions is that of Swahili, an African language which, given its historical development as a vehicular language and its current status as national and transnational language, plays a significant role within the education sector in contemporary East Africa, especially in Kenya and Tanzania. This circumstance has led to the need to increase the number of children’s educational books in Swahili, creative writing included. The present book is an initial critical investigation, combining overview with more analytical perspectives, of this new trend of Swahili literature for young readers, which has bloomed over recent decades thanks to the commitment of many East African writers, illustrators and publishers.