As a society rooted in traditional cultures and value systems, Ethiopians have various methods of passing on knowledge and wisdom to the younger generation. One powerful medium for conveying cultural heritage and values is through children’s books.
Children’s books that feature diverse characters and cultures play a crucial role in representation. When children encounter characters who resemble them or share their cultural backgrounds, they feel acknowledged and appreciated. This representation helps foster a positive sense of identity and self-worth among children.
Experts agree that children’s books serve as windows into different cultures, traditions, and ways of life. They introduce children to diverse customs, languages, and perspectives, promoting cultural awareness and understanding. Through stories, children can explore the richness and diversity of the world, while developing respect for different cultures.
In recent times, a consultation forum was organized in Adama town to discuss the role of children’s books in nurturing moral values and preserving cultural identity. The event focused on the growth and challenges of children’s books in Ethiopia.
During the forum, Nefisa Almahad, the State Minister of Culture and Sport, Arts and Creative Development Sector, emphasized the importance of expanding and developing children’s books. She underscored their significance in educating future generations with proper ethical values and moral systems.
Nefisa stressed the need for collaborative efforts in the development of children’s literature, enabling children to have a deep understanding of their culture, history, and identity from an early age. She emphasized the importance of giving attention to the preparation and accessibility of children’s books, as this is crucial in ensuring that the future generation is well-informed about their identity and their country. She highlighted that investing in children’s books is an investment in the future of the nation.
Furthermore, Nefisa addressed the issue of parents exerting pressure on their children to prioritize foreign languages, particularly English, over local languages. She also noted a trend where parents encourage their children to consume Western movies instead of nurturing them with local cultural values. She emphasized the benefits of preserving and promoting local cultural values for the well-being of children, families, and the entire nation.
During the forum, scholars shed light on the challenges facing Ethiopian children’s books. They highlighted several gaps that still exist in the realm of children’s literature, including issues related to quality, production, content, knowledge, cultural relevance, and more. These challenges require careful consideration and attention.
They also emphasized the importance of diverse content and formats to make children’s books accessible and engaging. The government and stakeholders were encouraged to address these issues in order to enhance the development of children’s literature in Ethiopia.
One of the presenters at the forum, Yetagezu Atnafu, conducted a study on children’s books and emphasized the lack of proper research and understanding in key areas such as content, preparation, language proficiency, cultural relevance, and the developmental needs of children.
According to Yetagezu, it is crucial for authors in the field to possess the necessary knowledge and skills to create high-quality children’s books. In order to achieve this, he suggested that universities and training centers play a significant role in developing the expertise, skills, and capacity required for preparing children’s books.
He further stressed the importance of publishing children’s books in diverse content and formats to ensure accessibility for children. This involves considering different themes, genres, and styles that cater to children’s reading practice and entertainment. He called upon the government and stakeholders in the sector to prioritize this aspect of children’s book development.
Indeed, as it is attested by experts, children’s books offer a window into different cultures, traditions, and lifestyles. They introduce children to diverse customs, languages, and perspectives, fostering cultural awareness and understanding. Through stories, children can learn about the richness and diversity of the world and develop respect for different cultures. Promoting empathy and inclusion is one aspect of children books. It is well understood that children’s books that depict characters from various cultures and backgrounds help children develop empathy and understanding for others. They learn to appreciate differences, embrace diversity, and cultivate inclusive attitudes. By reading stories that showcase different experiences, children can develop a sense of belonging and learn to celebrate diversity rather than fear it.
What is more, children’s books can help them to explore and understand their own cultural identity. Ethiopia-as a land of different Nation, Nationalities and peoples- has a lot to provide to children. Stories that reflect the various cultural heritage, traditions, and values of Ethiopian peoples can provide them a platform for self-reflection and connection to their roots. It allows children to ask questions, explore their identity, and develop a sense of pride in their cultural background. This is one way of identity exploration. All cultural values and systems are not always constructive and helpful to children. There are several cultural practices and stereotypes that block the minds of children from seeing beyond the horizon. In this regard, children books have a key role to help them to see things from different perspectives.
Children’s books have the power to challenge stereotypes and break down cultural barriers. By portraying diverse characters in non-stereotypical ways, books can challenge preconceived notions and promote a more accurate understanding of different cultures. This helps children develop a more nuanced and inclusive worldview.
Building bridges and fostering dialogue is the other advantage of children’s book. Whenever little children build a culture of dialogue and asking questions they will be able to develop a new experience of addressing questions, share experiences, explore new culture and identities, and expand their mind horizon. In other word, children’s books that explore culture and identity can spark meaningful conversations and discussions among children, parents, and educators. Through these conversations and exploration children will develop a sense of fostering mutual respect and understanding. In this regard, it is the responsibility of all stakeholders to take all necessary measure so as to create responsible citizens who are aware of their cultural identity, history, the world around them and ethical generation.
BY LEULSEGED WORKU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2023
