Media release
Zeitz MOCAA Centre for Art Education launches its first children’s book series, The Stories that Ran Away
The four stories in the series are: The Tale of Mouse and the Stories that Ran Away, First Light, Nya Nya Bulembu, and Khvum and the Crocodile Woman
The launch marks the beginning of an exciting Winter Storytelling Programme in August for children and families
(Cape Town, 10 July 2024): Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) Centre for Art Education launches its first children’s book series, The Stories that Ran Away, on Saturday, 20 July, 3 pm – 5 pm in the Scheryn Arena on Level 0 at Zeitz MOCAA. This series of four wonderfully written and beautifully illustrated children’s books marks another first for the Zeitz MOCAA Centre for Art Education and affirms its mission to create a museum that is also a place for children. The four stories in the series – The Tale of Mouse and the Stories that Ran Away, First Light, Nya Nya Bulembu, and Khvum and the Crocodile Woman – are written by Meridian Berndt and illustrated by artists, Jax Lamb, Meridian Berndt, Jill Joubert, and designer Mandy Wamono.
Multi-award-winning performer, director and writer Carlo Daniels and fellow performers will bring The Tale of Mouse and The Stories that Ran Away to life for children, families and special guests. The writer and illustrators will sign your books that will be on sale in the Zeitz MOCAA Shop for the special launch price of R150 per book. The full set will also be available in a beautiful slipcover for R600.
Liesl Hartman, Head of Zeitz MOCAA Centre for Art Education shares, “The Tale of Mouse and the Stories that Ran Away, First Light, Nya Nya Bulembu and Khvum and the Crocodile Woman are reimaginings of four stories from different parts of Africa that tell of beginnings, creation and transformation, with each book celebrating a love and respect for the natural world. The journey of these books began with the museum’s first exhibition for children that opened in September 2019, And So the Stories Ran Away (ASSRA).”
This interactive, child-centred exhibition of seventeen artworks and installations was exhibited in the tunnels on Level -1 of the museum. “The broad theme of ‘stories from Africa’ informed the content of the ASSRA exhibition and artists could choose myths, legends, historical events, contemporary or personal stories to inspire their artworks. ‘How Stories Came Among Men’ is a Nigerian folktale that became the ‘framing’ story for the ASSRA exhibition and in addition to three origin stories from Central Africa, South Africa, and Swaziland were chosen as the first stories for the children’s book series that the museum has published and will now launch,” adds Hartman.
The book launch marks the beginning of an exciting education campaign inspired by the books. Children and families are invited to attend our Winter Storytelling Programme to experience the stories with performers, puppeteers, and artists. Children aged 5 to 12 are invited to join in their gowns and slippers or something comfy for storytime with hot chocolate and marshmallows, at Zeitz MOCAA. The four stories will be read and performed on four Saturdays in August at 4 pm – 6 pm with each Saturday focusing on a different story: 3 August, First Light; 10 August, The Tale of Mouse and the Stories that Ran Away; 17 August, Nya Nya Bulembu; 24 August, Khvum and the Crocodile Woman. The books will be available for purchase in the museum shop before the start of the session.
Additional programming events will stretch across the remaining months of the year punctuated with teacher and learner workshops, culminating in the Children’s Summer Holiday Programme in December. The variety of programmes will make space for children to learn through reading, making and performance, and affords teachers the opportunity to develop creative tools to use in their classrooms. It is our hope that these books, that have brought stories from Africa to life, will also provide more places for the imaginations of children to thrive.
The events are free, but booking is essential. Book your ticket for the Book Launch here and for the Winter Storytelling Programme here.
Zeitz MOCAA Centre for Art Education would like to thank Afreximbank and Zeitz MOCAA Patrons & Friends, including the Global Council, for their generous support of the launch of the children’s book series, The Stories that Ran Away.
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Please find the media toolkit with media release, biographies and portraits of the Head of the Centre for Art Education (CFAE), Writer, and Illustrators, as well as additional information and digital assets here. For media enquiries, contact Evaan Jason Ferreira at evaanjason.ferreira@zeitzmocaa.museum
About Zeitz MOCAA
Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) is a public not-for-profit institution that collects, preserves, researches and exhibits contemporary art from Africa and its Diaspora; conceives and hosts international exhibitions; develops supporting educational, discursive and enrichment programmes; encourages intercultural understanding; and strives towards access for all. The museum’s galleries feature rotating temporary exhibitions with dedicated spaces for the permanent collection. The institution also includes the BMW Centre for Art Education and The Atelier, a museum residency programme for artists living and working in Cape Town.
Zeitz MOCAA is situated at the Silo District, South Arm Road, V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa, and is open Monday through Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm (last entry at 5.30 pm). www.zeitzmocaa.museum