STAFF WRITER
Harare-Ndoto Kids, supported by Culture Fund under the CreativeACTIONs 2 program funded by the European Union (EU) Delegation to Zimbabwe, is proud to announce the distribution of Nyaya dze Vana (“Children’s Heritage”) – a vibrant children’s book series in chiShona and isiNdebele.
Designed for children aged 0–7, the books are colourful, culturally rich, and rooted in local contexts – helping young readers see themselves, their families, and their traditions reflected in the stories they read. The series builds on Ndoto Kids’ earlier multimedia work, which included animated video versions of these stories, initially supported by the Zimbabwe German Society under the Daz Kollectiv program. These animations are available on YouTube and have now been transformed into beautifully illustrated print editions through Culture Fund support.
“Stories are how we remember who we are,” says Batsirai Freddy, Founder and Creative Director of Ndoto Kids. “Through Nyaya dze Vana, we are giving African children not only books to read, but mirrors to see their culture, their language, and their place in the world.”
Distribution Highlights
The distribution of Nyaya dze Vana has already begun, with key institutions in Harare and Bulawayo receiving copies to make them accessible to children and communities:
- Harare: Harare City Library, Mt Pleasant Library, National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, Harare Book Club.
- Bulawayo: Mpopoma Library, Nkulumane Library, Njube Library, Mzilikazi Memorial Library, Alliance Française, Sunshine Nursery School.
Through these partnerships, the books will reach children in community libraries and cultural centres, strengthening access to literature in indigenous languages.
For the broader public, Ndoto Kids will be hosting book giveaways via its social media platforms. Families are encouraged to follow @NdotoKids on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube to stay updated.
“With Nyaya dze Vana, we are creating more than books – we are building a movement to keep our languages alive for future generations,” says Freddy.
Key Objectives of Nyaya dze Vana:
- Promote indigenous African languages and cultural heritage.
- Encourage and stimulate early childhood literacy and a love for reading.
- Engage educators, parents, and institutions in using culturally resonant educational tools.
Batsirai Freddy, Founder and Creative Director of Ndoto Kids
“We believe that every African child deserves to see themselves, their language, and their culture reflected in the stories they read. Nyaya dze Vana is our love letter to future generations, and a way to pass down our collective memory through play and imagination,” says Batsirai Freddy, Founder and Creative Director of Ndoto Kids.
With four books already developed in partnership with Ngoma Yorira, and a vibrant library of animated videos and nursery rhymes online, Ndoto Kids continues to build a rich multimedia ecosystem for early childhood development in African languages. This project further cements their position as trailblazers in culturally grounded edutainment. The broader goal is to raise awareness about children’s literature written in African languages.
ABOUT NDOTO KIDS
Founded in Zimbabwe, Ndoto Kids is a pan-African edtech brand offering animated content, original nursery songs, and storybooks in Shona, Ndebele, and Swahili. With a quirky and playful tone, the brand’s mission is to preserve African languages through joyful, high-quality children’s content.
For more information visit www.ndotokids.com or follow @NdotoKids on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
