A Counter Reading of Globalised Children’s Literature in Mollel’s Books

Abstract

This article analyses the perceptions of an African audience of books written on Africa published but mostly sold in the West, based on the assumption that these books primarily target a Western audience. Drawing insights from postcolonial and children’s literature scholars, the study sought to bring into the conversation the voice of the otherwise marginalised population—African (Tanzanian) audience—who are represented in these texts. Based on ethnographic studies conducted in Dar es Salaam amongst primary school students, students and staff from the University of Dar es Salaam, and some staff from the Children’s Books Project (CBP) of Tanzania, the study focused on Mollel Tolowa’s seven books with to gather perceptions of a Tanzanian audience. Even though both young and older readers alike highly spoke of the books’ quality and for having a relatively fair representation of Tanzania, these participants observed incidents of the books either pandering to stereotypes and/or offering inaccurate information.