Ndoto Kids, with support from the Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust under the CreativeACTIONs 2 programme funded by the European Union Delegation to Zimbabwe, has announced the rollout of Nyaya dze Vana (“Children’s Heritage”) which is a colourful children’s book series in chiShona and isiNdebele.
Targeting children aged 0–7, the series is designed to reflect Zimbabwean families, traditions, and values through locally inspired storytelling. The initiative builds upon Ndoto Kids’ earlier multimedia work, which produced animated video versions of the stories under the Zimbabwe German Society’s Daz Kollectiv programme. These animations are already available on YouTube and have now been adapted into beautifully illustrated print editions thanks to Culture Fund support.
“Stories are how we remember who we are,” said Batsirai Freddy, Founder and Creative Director of Ndoto Kids. “Through Nyaya dze Vana, we are giving African children not only books to read, but mirrors to see their culture, their language, and their place in the world.”
The distribution phase has already begun in Harare and Bulawayo, ensuring the books are accessible in community spaces. Partner institutions include Harare City Library, Mt Pleasant Library, the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, Harare Book Club, Mpopoma Library, Nkulumane Library, Njube Library, Mzilikazi Memorial Library, Alliance Française, and Sunshine Nursery School. In addition to library placements, Ndoto Kids will run book giveaways on its social media platforms, encouraging families to connect via @NdotoKids on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
“With Nyaya dze Vana, we are creating more than books, we are building a movement to keep our languages alive for future generations,” Freddy added.
The project aims to promote indigenous African languages and cultural heritage, encourage early childhood literacy and a love for reading and provide educators, parents, and institutions with culturally resonant learning tools.
Ndoto Kids has already developed four books in partnership with Ngoma Yorira, complementing a vibrant library of animated videos and nursery rhymes online. Together, these resources form a multimedia ecosystem that supports early childhood development while celebrating African languages.
Founded in Zimbabwe, Ndoto Kids is a pan-African edtech brand producing animated content, original nursery songs, and storybooks in Shona, Ndebele, and Swahili. With its playful, child-centred approach, the organization is committed to preserving African languages through joyful, high-quality educational entertainment.