Yeve C. Sibanda, a Zimbabwean native based in Maryland, has penned her first children’s book titled My First Shona & Ndebele Book, which helps readers learn the two primary languages of Zimbabwe and also advances diversity and inclusion in children’s literature. The book is a fun, engaging picture book that the entire family will enjoy.

Yeve is a wife, mom, attorney, public speaker, and author. Yeve and her husband, Arnold, call both Zimbabwe and the United States home. She is a native Shona speaker, and he speaks both Shona and Ndebele. Like many others, they must navigate the nuances of raising a first-generation, multi-lingual American child. Borne out of a commitment to teach her daughter her roots and frustration at not finding quality, modern Shona/Ndebele books, Yeve decided to write her own book.

Oliver Wendell Holmes once described language as “… the blood of the soul into which thoughts run and out of which they grow.” Unfortunately, studies show a steady decline in the use of indigenous African languages, especially among middle to upper-class African millennials and Generation Z. Sibanda founded Philisa Creatives, a media company, that celebrates and amplifies African heritage, in an effort to bridge this gap. Philisa, which means “to bring to life” in Ndebele, creates innovative products to enhance multicultural and multilingual learning.

My First Shona & Ndebele Book is an easy-to-read children’s book that follows the life of the lead character, Rufaro, on her daily adventures and offers a view into her world using Shona and Ndebele for beginners. The book introduces the reader to basic words in the two primary indigenous languages of Zimbabwe, Shona and Ndebele.

Sibanda’s objective is not to make children become language specialists, but to instill in them cultural pride and appreciation from a young age. In today’s global village, the author hopes My First Shona & Ndebele Book can also serve as a powerful tool to introduce African culture to children of other backgrounds, not just those of African parents. She proudly quotes Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of the West African nation of Ghana, who said: “I am not African because I was born in Africa but because Africa was born in me.” Sibanda calls for the need to celebrate, embrace and learn about other cultures, a necessary step toward building a truly global and diverse society. The abundantly-illustrated book can be enjoyed by children from 0 and up.

Sibanda says she is also motivated by the desire to positively represent Zimbabwe (and Africa more broadly) and celebrate and honor her family’s roots. She intentionally chose to portray in the book a comfortable family that lives in the city, to stay away from the pervasive stereotype of an impoverished Africa.

The book is accompanied by a customized My First Shona & Ndebele calendar that also promotes iconic Zimbabwean landmarks and popular destinations. The calendar teaches the days of the week and months in Shona and Ndebele. The book and calendar are available for sale at www.philisacreatives.com with shipping worldwide. The book is also currently available for pre-order on Amazon (US), with the release scheduled in May.

Sibanda is especially excited to create products that resonate with, and represent families of African descent, in hopes that people get interested in learning more about other cultures and languages.

To order, go to www.philisacrestives.com