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OUR FIRST CHILDREN'S BOOK IS OUT!

Mon, 18 Dec 2023 01:41:22 GMT

You can now purchase your copy of The Peace Kalimba here .

After a year and a half of writing, selecting illustrators, editing, formatting, and more editing, our very first published book is out for sale. The Peace Kalimba is a semi-fictitious story of the Bantu people, one of the largest ethnic groups in the Motherland. Their peace and unity is shattered when their most valued possession disappears.

This tale leads us into a world where fantasy, magic, and self-reflection blend seamlessly. It delivers a message of love and resilience with a witty pinch of African humor. A must-read for all generations.

Our stories

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 05:12:43 GMT

This month, we take you to the west coast of the Motherland, in a place formerly called "The Gold Coast". A coast that has a lot of tales to tell. One them is that of Yaa Asantewaa, a brave Queen Mother who risked her life and stopped at nothing to protect the identity of her beloved people.

As always, we carefully crafted this tale to deliver the incredibly epic nature of this legend while maintaining the authenticity of the setting and integrity of the people who were directly or indirectly affected by this event.

There is no doubt in our minds that once you and your family listen to this story, Yaa Asantewaa's bravery will become a source of inspiration like none other before.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT3JBoHjmes&t=12s

The road less travelled

sites@tailorbrands.com — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 23:51:48 GMT

The Congo I did not know

Have you ever dreamt of tropical paradises for most of your life? Or looked at magazines depicting far-away lands worthy of blockbuster motion pictures? Pictured yourself tubing in a tropical rainforest or sipping pina coladas on a warm sandy beach? I have. Too many times to count.

I cannot describe my utter shock and embarrassment to discover that the tropical paradise I had longed for, for the majority of my adult life, was right there in my backyard. Well, my country backyard that is. Don't get me wrong, I always knew that there were pretty places to visit here and there in my native Congo. I just did not know HOW beautiful those places were. Part of it is because it is hard to access remote areas, due to lack of infrastructures and a lagging tourism industry in the country.

I was therefore over joyed to recently find out about a local Congolese tour operator who specializes in country tours, right there in my beloved Republic of Congo. Check out his website, filled with pictures of jaw-dropping sceneries of this tropical paradise in Central Africa. From the roaring Congo River to the Diosso Gorges and more, his tours are sure to leave you with memories that will last a lifetime.

While in Congo, make sure to savor delicious traditional dishes such as saka-saka (ground cassava leaves mixed with an assortment of seasonings and meats), moambe (ground palm nuts sauce), fufu, and more.

Also, feel free to splurge on unique art pieces and other souvenirs.

To find out more, visit Kiki Lawanda's website: https://www.kikilawanda.com/

“Inside each of us is a natural-born storyteller, waiting to be released.”

- Robin Moore, author

We all have a story

Thu, 29 Oct 2020 19:49:37 GMT

We just don't realize it.

“Stories have to be told or they die, and when they die, we can't remember who we are or why we're here.”

― Sue Monk Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees

Ah...storytelling, this old ritual that raptures children and adults alike.

There is a deep body of research that shows that storytelling is one of the best practices to engage our brains in. Not only does it help with early childhood development and overall well-being, but we can also reap its benefits as we get older. According to Harvard Business Publishing: "Scientists are discovering that chemicals like cortisol, dopamine and oxytocin are released in the brain when we’re told a story. Why does that matter? If we are trying to make a point stick, cortisol assists with our formulating memories. Dopamine, which helps regulate our emotional responses, keeps us engaged. When it comes to creating deeper connections with others, oxytocin is associated with empathy, an important element in building, deepening or maintaining good relationships."

https://www.harvardbusiness.org/the-science-behind-the-art-of-storytelling/

This age-old tradition, passed on from one generation to the next, might very well be the one tradition most common to all cultures. From Mongolia to Ireland, Machu Picchu to Dakar and Gaborone, we've all heard of that sacred moment when the fire was crackling, children and grownups gathered around it and the magic of the story was unveiled.

Growing up, I remember we replaced the iconic crackling fire with a tool whose static provides just as much background noise: the radio. I remember my siblings and I clustering around the promising device and tune it to Africa #1, one of the most popular stations at the time (yes, I just inadvertently pretty much gave you and idea of how old I am), in anticipation for the most famous storyteller on radio in French-speaking Africa. His name was Patrick Ngema-Ndong. This Gabonese radio host had the gift of transporting his audience to a magic world were trees and animals could speak, and genies could make you jump off your seat. His impersonations sent our senses to new heights and made our skin crawl in chilling fright.

Prior to Patrick Ngema Ndong's era, in the neighboring Republic of Congo, another legend had left his mark on the storytelling scene: George Embanda. His weekly TV show captivated adults and children the same, with true stories soaked in witty humor and presented with his signature tenor voice. His approach was more humoristic, easing his audience into the stories by lightening topics that not always but sometimes involved murder, larceny, or family issues.

Those are just two of the few well-known storytellers most people in my generation remember. I am sure there are many more that I just did not know due to lack of access.

Storytelling serves many purposes; it entertains, educates, and helps promulgate cultural traditions, norms and values. In west Africa, there were entire schools that trained a highly respected group of storytellers known as griots. These were people who, through their family lineage, were the chosen guardians of the tribe's history, as well as the genealogist, counselor, ambassador for the king. They were called Giots (pronounced GREE-YO). This role was most often attributed to males but some females had the opportunity to ascend to this title as well, though the female ones (called griottes and pronounced GREE-YUT) did not get as much recognition as their male counterparts.

The practice and belief of the goodness of storytelling was no different in African culture. Most adults born before 1990 (and very few, later) can testify that they had at least once been part of a mesmerized audience of children who had the chance to listen to an awe-inspiring storyteller who usually happened to be a family-member (mom, dad, uncle, or the most adored ones: grandpa or grandma).

This word-of-mouth tradition worked pretty well for many generations of Africans throughout its history. However, with colonization came a shift in priorities; much of the knowledge passed on through art and language started to wane as drastic lifestyle changes occurred and people were forced into new rituals and ways of doing things, including learning and adopt different languages. Written language became the norm and, although many African kingdoms already had written languages prior to colonization, it was mostly reserved for the educated class; and in modern days, few people see the value in writing down stories they once heard from their parents and grandparents. It has been a challenges, in the midst of changing economic models and cultural trends to hold on to an authentic African identity and to this day, many traditions struggle to keep their standing. Unfortunately, storytelling is one of those affected.

With the advancement of technology, traditional storytelling is becoming a practice on the verge of extinction, at least in the Motherland. As much as I love technology myself, there are big distraction and mere entertainment elements to it that, if not careful, can end up leaving us in a worst state of mind than we were when we first turned our devices on.

When was the last time your family gathered around the dinner/coffee table or just sat quietly to listen to a tale? If you cannot remember, it is time to get back to it. If you've actually never done so, it's not too late to start a new tradition.

Try it. Go home today and make some time to just sit, relax, and listen to the stories we have carefully crafted to calm your mind and transport you to new places where everything is possible.

Enjoy your trip to The Motherland.

“If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.”

― Rudyard Kipling, The Collected Works