Embracing values such as integrity, truth, courage, compassion patience, respect and resilience is at the centre of Professor Thuli Madonsela’s first children’s book, Melo’s Kingdom, which was unveiled during an official launch on Thursday, 22 October 2020, in Johannesburg. Madonsela, who is well-known for her courage, integrity and continuous fight against injustice and corruption during her tenure as South Africa’s Public Protector from 2009 to 2016, describes the book as a dream come true.
‘For many years I wanted to extend to today’s little ones the joy of the African fables and proverbs that were part of our staple diet when we were growing up. It was only much later, as a grown-up, that I realized that storytelling was how ancient societies passed down wisdom, knowledge and values. Fables and proverbs played an important part in shaping our worldview and characters. It is through the fables and proverbs we grew up hearing that we learned and internalized important values,’ she says.
Madonsela, who is also one of the drafters of South Africa’s Constitution and co-architect of several laws that sought to anchor South Africa’s democracy, says she wrote the book with her first grandchild, Melo, in mind. The idea of ‘Melo’s Kingdom’ came to her while watching the movie, Christopher Robin, on a return flight from London.
‘Our little princess, Melokuhle or “Melo”, had just arrived with much fanfare. My first gift to her was a giant elephant that my daughter, Wenzile, promptly named Nzinga. Incidentally, Nzinga is also the main character in another children’s book about an Angolan princess who led the fight against the Portuguese, when her weak brother couldn’t,’ she explains.
Madonsela says she imagined Nzinga as Melo’s guests whose mission it was to remind her or her royal heritage and the importance of her stepping up and claiming her place in the world.
‘The royal heritage I had in mind was celestial royalty that every child has a claim to. But some children are not aware that they are divine princesses and princes hence they settle for a diminished significance in life that others assign them. The big idea was for Nzinga to guide Princess Melo to discover who she is and rise to the occasion having acquired wisdom, the right values and knowledge, through fables and proverbs.’
Melo’s Kingdom takes children on a wonderful adventure to the African bush with Melo and her special animal friends. Each of the charming stories explores an African proverb and incorporates biblical principles to inspire and educate children in an engaging way.
‘Like the fables and proverbs we grew up with, the stories in Melo’s Kingdom are character-building. Buried in these stories are pearls of wisdom, principles for living a life well-lived and images that transport the reader or listener to enchanting worlds far away. It is my hope that the stories will bring back story time where families read and tell stories while sitting together.’
Madonsela says instilling a love of reading at an early age gives a child an edge on a number of levels. Not only does it help to build self-confidence and social-emotional skills, it also expands their vocabulary, stimulates their imagination and helps them to develop language and listening skills – a much needed skill in our world today.
‘More importantly, we need to instil a moral compass in our children and Melo’s Kingdom aims to help establish this in a delightful way. As a team, it is our sincere hope and prayer that the stories will cultivate God-centred lives. We hope readers and listeners will grow in values such as love, kindness, respect, integrity, self-belief and courage. Above all, we hope Melo’s Kingdom helps cultivate the audacity to live and lead with authenticity and grace.’
Melo’s Kingdom is published and distributed by Christian Art Publishers and are now available in bookstores round the country.
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