In 2020, when I had my daughter, Funke, I started to think consciously about the kind of education I wanted her to have. I’d only recently moved to the UK before then and had come to realise the differences between the world I’d just left behind and my current one.
Overtime, I came to realise how much of an inspiration Funke was especially when she began attending nursery. The inspiration came in different forms. Dropping off Funke at nursery in the mornings, I’d come across primary school kids of all shades and colours walking in groups as they made their way to nearby schools. Funke herself was living the life! Surrounded by kids from diverse backgrounds, there was a deep sense of intersecting worlds for me to see. Amidst the obvious differences, none of which matters to kids, I couldn’t shake off the thought of building on these colourful features. Hence I could borrow from the values that these kids had. That’s when the idea came to me to explore stories through the lens of kids. These narratives could be a tool for filtering out the noise that accompany certain societal issues and stereotypes, providing a healthy education for these kids.
How?
Telling authentic stories that mirror the different make-up of multicultural societies requires working with folks from those communities. Our goal as a team is to use Wafunk Publishing as a bridge into these worlds by working with as many creatives from different backgrounds to create relatable stories that celebrate their worlds. Though, targeted at children given their formative years, it’s also an approach paved with learning opportunities for all involved.
The Accent
Our first title is ‘The Accent‘, a heart-warming story that introduces us to Funke, the new girl in class, who hails from a diverse and distant land. At first, Caroline Smalling, a friendly and math-savvy 7-year-old is excited to meet the new girl. But as Caroline gets to know Funke, she’s puzzled by an unexpected twist – why does Funke refer to her as “Carorine“?
Set against the backdrop of a multicultural society, “The Accent” explores the intricate tapestry of cultural differences that often lead to feelings of insecurity and misunderstandings among children.
