2019 Annual Lecture: The Power of Literature to Change Minds with Deborah Akhenkorah
Ghanaian social entrepreneur and activist Deborah Akhenkorah has won praise and awards worldwide for her trailblazing work infusing African stories into children’s literature. The CEO and co-founder of the publishing nonprofit Golden Baobab, she has made it her mission to bolster the representation of African people and experiences in children’s books and to elevate the careers of African authors writing for young audiences
As the Museum’s 2019 Annual Lecturer, Akhenkorah addressed why it’s crucially important that readers — African and non-African alike — see stories from her home continent represented in children’s literature. And through the lens of her work, she extols the power of books to change minds and connect cultures in an era of rapid global change.