Puku Children's Literature Foundation

Puku Children's Literature Foundation

Puku is a reading promotion and book curation organisation that aims to ensure that all children have access to quality, culturally relevant literature in all South African languages. Puku is doing this by creating and maintaining a digital encyclopedia that houses and reviews children's literature on its website. This in turn promotes the buying and reading of books that affirm the African child.

The idea of Puku was born in 2007 and the Puku website went live in October 2009. The Puku Foundation was officially registered as a Non-profit company in 27 October 2010. Some of the instrumental parties that played a role in the formation of Puku include the Book Development Foundation, Ben Williams, founder and manager of Book SA website and children's literature expert Noni Masholugu. Other key players in Puku's initiation include Richard Rosenthal, Fazila Montsi and Nonzamo Rankin Ntuli. The Puku and Pukupedia trademarks were registered in January 2011.

Fazila Montsi, Nomzamo Rankin Ntuli and Elinor Sisulu became members of the first Puku Board. Other members of the Board were Vanitha Armugam, Lesibana Rafapa and Victor Dlamini. Bontle Senne first worked with Puku as a blogger and reviewer for the Puku website. Bontle went on to become Puku's full time Director in May 2012 until August 2013.

Elinor Sisulu is currently the Executive Director for Puku. Elinor is an award winning writer and human rights activist with extensive experience in literature and reading promotion activities. Her experience in organisations and institutions at community, government and international level in several countries, has given her insights into ways to overcome limits and constraints of current practices in order to achieve social change and innovation.

Puku Story Book Festival

In 2013 Puku initiated the annual Puku Story Book Festival in order to showcase and celebrate the work of storytellers, writers and artists so that children, parents, teachers and caregivers will know what is available to read in the various South African languages.

The Festival aims to provide a joyous and memorable event that will spark children's interest in storytelling and reading in South African languages particularly isiXhosa. Since its inception, the Festival has been staged in the Eastern Cape Province in partnership with National Arts Festival, Rhodes University and the Makana Municipality.

A highlight of the Festival is the Exhibition that runs daily, alongside book launches, readings, open mic sessions and conversations. The Exhibition is curated by the National Literacy Museum of South Africa with displays of isiXhosa children's books and digital content.

The Festival has also provided a platform for collaboration and communication between readers, writers and publishers of isiXhosa children's literature. It empowers teachers and librarians with access to resources while writers are able to generate public awareness around their work. Some of the renowned storytellers that have participated in the Festival since its inception include John Kani, Dr Sindiwe Magona, Gcina Mhlophe, Zakes Mda, Cebo Selombela, Bonisile Nqweniso Mhlobho Jadezweni, Siphiwo Mahala, Nonpucuko Zakaza.

Other organisations that have partnered with Puku on the Festival over the years include Redisa, Biblionef, Nal' ibali, Nelson Mandela Institute, Grahamstown Foundation, New Africa Books, Wordworks, Phaphamani Children's Foundation and the Department of Arts and Culture.

References

Puku Children's Literature Foundation - https://www.puku.co.za/en/community-engagement/puku-story-festival/the-main-objectives-of-the-festival-are-to/
IndieGogo - https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/puku-co-za-and-language-books-for-children#/ by Marla Sink Druzgal
SA Booksellers - https://www.sabooksellers.com/puku-childrens-literature-foundation/ by Jessica Faircliff
Mail and Guardian - https://mg.co.za/article/2016-07-06-00-home-words-books-free-kids by Kwanele Sosibo
Creatix, Musical Storytelling - http://www.creatrix.co.za/kids/musicstory/

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