Keeping stories alive: a Mandela Month call to support township literacy
On Saturday 26 July, the streets of Khayelitsha will come alive with the sound of stories. Children will gather at the Thusong Centre with wide eyes, open ears and eager hearts.
The 3rd Annual Khayelitsha Children’s Book Fair, hosted by Uhlanga Books, is not just a celebration of storytelling. It is a bold and joyful response to one of South Africa’s most pressing challenges: the literacy gap in under-resourced communities.
Rooted in the theme “Kwathi ke kaloku Ngantsomi”, the fair honours Africa’s rich oral traditions. The phrase, in isiXhosa, is traditionally used to begin folktales and means “Once upon a time, in a story…”. It signals that what follows will be a journey into imagination, memory, wisdom, and wonder.
Children will take part in storytelling sessions in indigenous languages, critical-thinking games, and reading corners, and each child will leave with a book of their own to take home.
"The book fair is about more than reading; it’s about visibility, identity, and power,” says Zimkitha Zilo, founder of Uhlanga Books. “It’s about reminding our children that their stories matter, that imagination is a right, and that language is a bridge, not a barrier.”
This year’s fair takes place during Mandela Month, a time that calls us to reflect on the responsibilities we carry, not only to remember, but to act.
Madiba was a champion for that education and believed it could change the world. This was not just about formal education but knowledge that also comes from books and literacy. It is about lifelong learning, accessible knowledge, and building a world where every child has the tools to dream, think, and grow.
In this spirit, Uhlanga Books invites all of us to support this vital initiative.
Here's how you can help:
Donate new or gently used children’s books.
Provide stationery, reading kits, or educational tools.
Help cover venue logistics or transport for children.
Contribute to the dialogue around literacy and storytelling.
Every book placed in a child’s hands is an act of resistance against inequality. Every story shared is a seed of hope. And every bit of support helps keep these stories alive long after the fair has ended.
This Mandela Month, we are reminded it is in our hands to combat poverty and inequality. Let us pass that power into the hands of our children, one book and one story at a time.
For more information or to partner, please contact Zimkitha Zilo at uhlangabooks@gmail.com.
