This document discusses the representation and promotion of Cameroonian children's and young adult literature. It begins with an objective to share considerations about the global representation of black people in children's books and research findings on the children's book industry in Cameroon. The research found that the children's book industry in Cameroon is dominated by French publishers, there is a lack of local distribution networks, and technology is not used efficiently for promotion. Muna Kalati is presented as an Afro-solution - a collaborative platform working to increase the visibility of African children's books, facilitate access to reading materials, and promote the use of local languages in publishing. The document concludes that strengthening children's literature is fundamental to developing a lasting reading

1. ( R E ) P R E S E N T AT I O N
A N D P R O M O T I O N O F
C A M E R O O N I A N
C H I L D R E N & Y O U N G
A D U LT L I T E R AT U R E
C H R I S T I A N E L O N G U É
R e s e a r c h e r & F o u n d e r o f M u n a
K a l a t i ( e l o n g u e @ m u n a k a l a t i . o r g )
4 0 0 Y E A R O F R E T U R N , T R I P & C o n f e r e n c e
G I M PA , A C C R A , 0 5 A U G U S T 2 0 1 9

2. OBJECTIVE & PLAN
OBJECTIVES
• Share some considerations about the
global (re)presentation of Blacks in Children
Literature (CL)
• Share the research findings on the children
book industry in Cameroon
• Demonstrate how Muna Kalati is changing
the narrative on CL in Africa
PL AN
• A bit of brainstorming
• There is a problem
• Let’s brainstorm… again
• Global representation of Blacks in CL
• Glocal promotion of CL in Cameroon
• Presentation of research findings
• Muna Kalati, an Afrosolution.
• What next?

3. A BIT OF
BRAINSTORMING (1)
• Have you ever spend a few minutes in the
children’s section of a library and see how
long it takes you to pick up a book with a
black child as the main character.
• Have you ever wondered where to buy an
illustration/story book which positively reflect
your son or daughter ?
• What was your favourite folktale and why?
• Can you name the title of 3 children books
from your childhood?
• Can you name the name of 3 children books
authors? Illustrators? Editors?
• What do your observe from your answers to
the two last questions?

4. THERE IS A PROBLEM…Finding children
books for kids that
have black children
as their main
characters can be
extremely difficult.
There is a lack of
visibility of black
and brown kids in
the world of
children’s books.
Mainstream
society and
culture as it
stands does not
construct a
healthy or
positive image
African Children’s
certainly do exist, but
they are not plentiful,
for economic and
information reasons.

5. LET’S BRAINSTORM… AGAIN
ABOUT CHILDREN LITERATURE
• What is children’s literature? Books,
stories, folklore, riddles, poems, etc
• From birth through age 18?
• Are there books for different age
groups?
• Simpler expression of ideas
• Attention span & Simple vocabulary
• Stories are told more directly with
relationship among characters shown
clearly
• Children find spontaneous pleasure in
rhyme & jokes, comics, cartoons etc
BENEFITS
• develop aesthetic sensibility,
reading skills, use of imagination,
awareness of things beyond their
own experience
• develops cultural awareness and
understanding of differences
• supports the development of
language skills
• develops critical thinking skills

6. REPRESENTATION
IN CHILDREN
LITERATURE (CL)
Historically, children's
literature has reflected the
ideology of the dominant
culture in society.
CL is ‘culturally coded’ and
could influence learner’s
attitudes, values and
identities (Grenby and
Reynolds, 2011).
Less progressive attitudes
depicted in books could be
reproduced in the real world
(Vandergrift, 1995).
CL have the power to
socialise the child into their
expected role in the future.
As a result of this power, the
presence of stereotypes
could have a significant
impact on children’s
representation and
strengthen prejudices.
Nancy Larricks
groundbreaking study : The
All-White World of
Childrens Books (1965)
revealed that of more than
5,000 picture books, less
than 1% reflected any
contemporary images of
African Americans.
Each year, there are more
children’s books published
about animals than Black
people.
Black people continue to be,
underrepresented,
misrepresented, or invisible
in children’s literature

7. FROM
AFRICA TO
CAMEROON
A G L O C A L A P P R O A C H O N T H E
P R O M O T I O N O F C A M E R O O N I A N
C H I L D R E N L I T E R AT U R E

8. METHODOLOGY
Data
Collection
Documentary research
Bibliographic
databases (553
titles)
Interviews (91)
Participant
observation
Processing
Content
analysis
EXCEL
2016
ATLAS TI V.
6.2
Natural
Dragon

9. OVERVIEW CHILDREN BOOK INDUSTRY IN CAMEROON
Uncertain border
Language
Barriers
Academic Reading
Foreign book veil
Online Invisibility

10. RESULTS 1A: MORE WOMEN AUTHORS
Overview of
Cameroon Children
books author
Global:119
Specific: 47
+ Woman
61%
39%
Differentiation per frequency
Only one title
At least two titles

11. RESULT 1B: MOST PROLIFIC AUTHORS IN FRANCE
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
BoudjekaKamto
GuntherMoss
JaphetMiagotar
JosetteEvelyneNjock
LéopoldMbonde-Mouangue
Christian-DanielOva'a
LilianeOnguene-Mirtil
SimonPierreMbumbo
OlivierTimma
FrançoisFampou
PatriceKayo
VincentNomo
Alain-SergeDzotap
AmélieEsséssé
JoëlEbouéméBognomo
FrançoisEssindi
BrigitteTsobgny
anuelMatateyou(Cameroon)
IIMballaElanga(Cameroon)
BiyongDjehouty(France)
ëlleEsso(France-Cameroon)
LouisAtangana(France)
topheN'galleEdimo(France)
KidiBebey(France)
arie-FélicitéEbokéa(France)
istianKinguéEpanya(France)
JessicaReuss-Nliba(France)
Numberofpublications
Cameroonian Children Books Authors (2000-2016)

12. 2A: CHILDREN PUBLISHING UNDER CONTROL
A market in structuring
but dependent on the
outsideworld.
Monopoly of French
publishing
Shortness of the local
market
The difficult distribution
Invisibility of diaspora
production.
79%
21%
Publishers local/diaspora
Weight of authors residing in France
Weight of authors residing in Cameroon

13. 2B: A GROWING & DYNAMIC INDUSTRY
A dynamic book
production.
1932: Yohanes Yerima, author of the
first French-speaking African book
for young people
1958: Claire Matip, first African
novelist for young adults: Ngonda
2000: Lures and glimmers

14. 2C: UNTAPED
ECONOMIC POTENTIAL
• Lack of regulatory
framework on children
publising and teaching
• Most of the text or
academic books are
imported
• Corruption

15. 3. DISTRIBUTION
Low
knowledge
of local
production
Local: SILYA,
Mboa BD,
Fescarhy.
Int’l:
Takam
Tikou,
White
Ravens,
Montreuil
Absence of
distribution
networks: AEI,
Afrilivres
Only one
youth bib
(Luciole)

16. 4. MEDIATION: NOT EFFICIENT USE OF TECHNOLOGY
Low

17. M U N A K A L A T I : A F R O S O L U T I O N ?
C O L L A B O R A T I V E P L A T F O R M F O R T H E P R O M O T I O N O F A F R I C A N B O O K S F O R K I D S & Y O U N G
A D U L T S

18. MUNA KALATI OBJECTIVES
Increase the
visibility of
African
Children
books
Facilitate the
access and
mediation of
reading for kids
Promote the
use of local
languages in
children book
publishing
Contribute to
the
institutionnalis
ation of children
literature in
Cameroon &

19. MUNA KALATI ACTIVITIES
BLOGGING & E-ZINE ON
CHILDREN BOOKS
WORKSHOP & EVENTS :
READ2LEAD (AFC DSCHANG)
RESEARCH ON CB AND ITS
POTENTIAL IN EDUCATION
RESEARCH CENTRE ON CL +
TEACHING CURRICULUM ON CL

20. CHALLENGES
Continuous access to new children books from Cameroonian or African Publishers
Financial Sustainability Model?
Active pool of English contributors

21. WHAT NEXT?
STATUS
Createa supportfund dedicatedto co-publishing,
translationand mobility projects.
Institutionalizeand strengthenthe use of the
children'sbookin educationalprogrammes
Organizeeventswith prizesaroundthe LJ to stimulate
creation.
Creationof a CNLJ-Cameroon
Book professionals
Adopt internationalproductionstandards.
Integratingdigitaltechnologyinto practices
Reviewpedagogicalapproachesto reading.
Co-publishingin solidarityand Bibliodiversity.

22. CONCLUSION
The strength of any tree is in its roots. (identity)
Children books are fundamental to develop a
lasting reading culture in Africa.
Reading is leading, it’s the gate to the world.

23. THANK YOU Questions