• Building the stories that help African children become readers

    Through talent development, publishing partnerships and book-access programs, we are building a stronger and more sustained supply of African children’s books.

    Golden Baobab develops exceptional African writers and illustrators and helps them create beautiful, high-quality books that children can see themselves in and genuinely want to read.

  • About Us

    Golden Baobab is an African children’s literature nonprofit founded in 2010.

    Why We Exist

    We believe that learning to read requires more than reading instruction. Children also need regular access to books that capture their imaginations, reflect their lives and make them want to keep reading.

    The Problem

    Across Africa, schools, literacy organizations and early-childhood programs often struggle to find enough high-quality, culturally relevant books for the children they serve. Golden Baobab helps address this gap by finding and developing African writers and illustrators and supporting the creation of outstanding stories for children.

    Our Solution

    Golden Baobab helps address this gap by finding and developing African writers and illustrators and supporting the creation of outstanding stories for children. Over the years, our work has attracted thousands of story submissions from across the continent, supported emerging creative talent and contributed to books that have been published, licensed, translated and shared with readers in Africa and around the world.

    Our Vision

    We are now building the next chapter of Golden Baobab: a stronger creative pipeline and a growing supply of excellent African books that can support children, families and literacy programs at scale.

  • Our Programs

    Building the ecosystem for African children's literature.

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    The Golden Baobab Prize

    The Golden Baobab Prize discovers and celebrates exceptional African writers and illustrators creating stories for children.
    The Prize helps identify promising creative talent, gives African children’s literature greater visibility and creates opportunities for outstanding stories to move towards publication and reach wider audiences.
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    The Golden Baobab Fellowship

    The Golden Baobab Fellowship supports selected African writers to strengthen their craft and develop outstanding children’s books.
    Fellows receive editorial guidance, mentorship and structured support to turn promising ideas and manuscripts into publication-ready work. We invest deeply in African writers so that they can create many more children's books for years to come.
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    Library in a Bag

    Library in a Bag helps children in Ghana gain personal access to engaging African storybooks.
    Each child receives a thoughtfully selected collection of books in a reusable bag, together with simple materials that encourage reading, sharing and continued exploration. The program is designed for children who may attend school but have limited access to enjoyable books of their own.

  • Our Books

  • Support Us

    Golden Baobab is rebuilding for its next stage of growth.

    Your support will help us develop African writers and illustrators, create exceptional new books and ensure that more children can access stories that reflect their lives and inspire them to keep reading.

    Funding will support:

    • the Golden Baobab Prize and Fellowship;
    • manuscript, illustration and editorial development;
    • the creation of new African children’s books;
    • Library in a Bag distributions;
    • partnerships with schools and literacy organizations;
    • and the organizational capacity required to sustain and grow this work.

    Help us build the stories—and the creative infrastructure—that African children deserve.

  • Past Partners

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