It's Thursday, which means we've got another wonderful Storyshaped podcast for you all! We're speaking with the incredible Efua Traoré, author of Children of the Quicksands and The House of Shells, two beautiful Middle Grade novels set in Nigeria and infused with the folklore, magic, and culture of that vibrant country. Efua takes us through her early days as an adventurer, tree-climber, go-getter and dreamer, and how stories - both in her local library and in the culture all around her - shaped her imagination and sparked her creativity. Come with us as we learn about how her first published story was shaped, and by whom; listen in as she shares her dreams for the future of children's literature in Nigeria and in Africa, and stay with us till the end for some tantalising hints about what's next from this incredible author! Are you ready? Then, let's get Storyshaped.
Books mentioned in this week's episode include Efua's own:
Children of the Quicksands
The House of Shells
The stories which shaped Efua include:
Tales by Moonlight - a TV show from Efua's childhood in Nigeria which retold stories from folklore
Enid Blyton, The Famous Five
Alf Proysen, Mrs Pepperpot
C.S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia
Astrid Lindgren, The Six Bullerby Children
Otfried Preussler, The Little Water-Sprite
Tales From... (A collection of folktales and legends from all around the world)
Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
Arthur Conan Doyle, The Speckled Band (Sherlock Holmes)
Arthur Conan Doyle, The Hound of the Baskervilles (Sherlock Holmes)
Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Purple Hibiscus
Sabine Adeyinka, Jummy at the River School
Tolá Okogwu, Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun
Tomi Adeyemi, Children of Blood and Bone
Nnedi Okorafor, Akata Witch
Natasha Bowen, Skin of the Sea
Namina Forna, The Gilded Ones
Jordan Ifueko, Raybearer
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