BOOKS

Where are the books available?

All books are available on www.amazon.com

Or will you visit Tanzania? Then buy the book at one of the local bookshops! Ask for Novel Idea Bookshops!

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The first publisher of Kilaka´s books - Baobab Children’s Book Fund (Switzerland)

Our work focuses on the book, which as an educational and cultural medium is particularly well-suited for conveying differences and nuances in social values.In its publications and projects, the Baobab Children's Book Fund seeks a multifaceted representation of cultural identity in literature for children and young adults, stories and images that encourage dialog and reflection about cultural concepts, prejudices and social marginalization.

We provide a range of activities in German-speaking areas and through international collaborations. Our publications and events are not only directed at young people but also to adults, teachers, librarians and other educators.
http://www.baobabbooks.ch/en (photo: Sonja Matheson - the director)

World in Books - Project in Tanzania by Baobab Children’s Book Fund

People in Europe generally have easy access to the world of books with a multitude of pub¬li¬ca¬tions – literature, fiction, text and reference books likewise. However, this is not so in most African countries: There are still only a few local publishers, and in par¬ticular books of native writers and artists are rarely pub¬lished and distributed. The picture books of the Tanzanian illustrator John Kilaka («True Friends», «Fresh Fish») for example have been published in German in Switzerland and in numerous other countries and languages, but there is no edition in Swahili; and to this day, the books have not been published in Tanzania.

Literature is one of the most important forms of expression of cultural identity reflecting and shaping the values and realities of a society. This is the reason why the lack of such has a negative impact on the development of young people. And because reading skills are ra¬ted as core competence for getting good opportunities in education and career the consequences here are equally severe.

read more about the project in Tanzania

Books

The Amazing Tree

When a terrible drought strikes the land, and the only remaining source of food cannot be dislodged from the tree on which it is growing, the animals are in despair. Then Rabbit suggests that a messenger be sent to wise Tortoise, asking for advise. The other animals agree to this course of action, but decide that Rabbit herself is too small for the job...

Behind the scenes of The Amazing Tree

Amazing tree is the story which I heard before I left the village in Western Tanzania. As I said the people don´t tell stories as much as before because they are working hard duing the day to get money! The day when I found the story tellr was amazing. He didn´t have time during the day, only during the night.

So I had to wait for him up to night to tell me a story of amazing tree. It was a rainy season; the period of heavy black clouds which made the nights even darker. Finally he came. After finishing telling me the tales he disappeared back in the darkness. It was at 10 PM, 2 July 2007 and it was very dark in the village.

I started to write the Amazing tree book when I was in Tanzania and completed it in Nairobi, Kenya. There I worked for Tiger Aspect, one of the biggest UK film production companies, doing illustrations for Tinga Tinga Tales.

When Tiger Aspect told me to move to Nairobi it was at the same time when I was working on Amazing Tree. I decided to take my art material to Nairobi so that I could finish the Amazing Tree. When I was in Nairobi I didn´t get a free time during the day so that i could finish my book on time as I thought. I worked for Tiger Aspect from 9.00am up to 6.00pm so I didn´t get time to write or to paint illustrations for the book. Therefore I spent weekends and nights to write and to do illustrations.

The original story of Amazing Tree was about animals and a wise man who gave them advice. Later Baobab Publisher asked me to change the man to an animal so the tale would be only about animals. I changed the wise man to tortoise.
The reason for changing the wise man to tortoise was to make illustrations more funny and interesting and to keep them consistent with my style of children books showing animals as humans.

Tinga Tinga Tales

Some of the characters were illustrated by John Kilaka. Why do Monkeys swing in the trees and Flamingos stand on one leg? Why do Elephants trumpet and Cocks crow? Why do Zebra have stripes and Leopard spots, Rhinos horns and Camels humps? (www.tigeraspect.co.uk)

How I Illustrated Tinga Tinga Tales

I was one of five Tinga Tinga artists from Tanzania who were working for Tiger Aspect, one of the biggest film production companies in UK. Tiger Aspect was commissioned by BBC and Walt Disney to illustrate animation series called after our master painter Edward Saidi Tingatinga – Tinga Tinga Tales. The studio was set up in Kenya, the neighbouring country to Tanzania. My illustrations are used not only in the films but also used in books by Penguin Publisher, on packages for toys made by Bandai, on the Classic Media´s website called www.tingatingatales.com etc. We had a good art studio with space which made us to paint good. We were staying in a nearby flat. When we were returning home from the Homeboyz Studio we were talking funny stories; it was just twenty minutes of walking. Sometimes we were using the public transport called Matatu.

The working hours started at 9.00AM up to 6.00PM. Since we had to pay the flat, electricity, water and equip the flat with furniture, there was not much money over. I was cooking my food to spare money which I sent to my parents who cared for my family in Tanzania.

The place where we were staying was safe. We were living on top floor. We had three rooms flat and I chose the smallest room because I could see the railway and people from its window. As writer I thought that it was good room for getting stories from people who were passing every day. Every morning I was watching people who were travelling by hanging on side of the train! Going to the city every day for work.... After I took the photo of train (see left) I rushed back to my working place to continue painting the illustrations for BBC and Walt Disney.

True Friends

“Only Rat knows how to make fire, and he generously provides it to all the other animals. When his best friend, Elephant, suggests that Rat store his food in Elephant’s solid house, Rat agrees. But when the drought comes, Elephant refuses to share the stored food. “You are tiny, and you dont need much, he says. So go away. When the other animals return to fetch their fire, Rat is gone and Elephant is worried. What will his betrayed friend do?”

See the Kilaka illustrations from True Friends

Fresh Fish

Sokwe the Chimp has been fishing since early morning and comes home with a load of fish to sell at the market the next day. As he pulls up to the riverbank, he sees that his friends are having a party and he joins in the fun. But as he carries the fish up to stow them away, Dog catches sight of the mouth-watering catch. The next day Sokwe and his friends pile into his truck to take their goods to market. Dog tags along with them, with a devious plan to steal Sokwe's fish. Will he succeed? This colorful cast of animals provides children with a rich and fascinating portrait of traditional African village life.