Book O’Clock, a Sokoto-based literary nonprofit, is partnering with the Erasmus Mundus International Master’s in Children’s Literature, Media, and Cultural Entrepreneurship (CLMCE) to host a webinar panel discussion on African children’s literature. The event, themed “The Child in African Literature,” takes place Friday, November 7, 2025, from 4–6 PM GMT via Zoom.

The panel will spotlight the unique role of children in African storytelling traditions, challenges facing children’s publishing on the continent, and innovative interventions reshaping the field’s future. “African children’s literature is often dismissed as simplistic or unworthy of critical attention,” says Uchenna Emelife, Director of Book O’Clock, postgraduate scholar of children’s literature, and panel moderator. “This is ironic given that African literature is deeply rooted in oral storytelling traditions, many of which were, and remain, stories for children. So, 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 directed.”

The panel features leading voices actively reshaping the field: Thembalethu Shangase (South Africa), Executive Director of Book Dash; Namse Peter Udosen (Nigeria), children’s author, scholar, and educator; Louisa Kiwana Olafuyi (Uganda/UK), co-founder of Kunda Kids; Farida Ladipo-Ajayi (Nigeria), bookseller and founder of The Bookworm Café; and Dr. Elodie Malanda (Congo/Netherlands), Assistant Professor of Children’s Literature at 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.

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

Book O’Clock Literary Foundation is a youth-led organization established in 2020 and formally registered in 2023, dedicated to nurturing a culture of reading, storytelling, and creative engagement among children and young people in Sokoto, Nigeria. Notable projects include the Sokoto Book and Arts Festival, Book O’Clock Prize, and Literature and Film. More details here.