Ekiuwa Aire was born and raised in Benin City, Edo, Nigeria. Ekiuwa’s passion for African history emerged when she left Nigeria for Canada in 2007. When she became a mother, Ekiuwa realized that there were not a lot of resources to introduce African history to her young children. She wanted her kids (and other kids) to develop an appreciation for African history and to value the wisdom and pride that will come from this knowledge. This desire spurred her to write her first picture book about Queen Idia, Idia of the Benin Kingdom.
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Idia of the Benin Kingdom: Coloring and Activity Book (Our Ancestories)
Age Range: 2 – 12 years
Idia of the Benin Kingdom Diverse Coloring Activity Book For Kids
Accompanying coloring and activity book to the Idia of the Benin Kingdom picture book.
Idia of the Benin Kingdom introduces young readers to the story of Queen Idia of the ancient Kingdom of Benin, who helped her son Esigie rule between 1504-1550. This story tells of a young Idia who pursued her dreams, believed in herself, and became the first Queen Mother of Benin.
The coloring and activity book for kids covers ancient African history by introducing children to uniquely creative worksheets.
- Inspire Imagination by bringing Queen Idia’s story to life like never before as kids picture what her life may have been like.
- Get Truly Creative by exploring shape, color and developing the fine motor skills that are important to help allow children to express themselves in a way that stimulates their imagination and creativity.
- Explore an ancient city with a rich history and culture.
- Embrace History in a truly creative way by making it fun.
₵32.00 -
Njinga of Ndongo and Matamba: Coloring and Activity Book (Our Ancestories)
Age Range: 4 – 12 years
Njinga of Ndongo and Matamba Diverse Coloring Activity Book For Kids
Accompanying coloring and activity book to the Njinga of Ndongo and Matamba picture book. Njinga of Ndongo and Matamba follows the story of a renowned African legend named Queen Njinga and serves to teach the historical truth behind her inspirational story in a way that is relatable to today’s kids.
Created with input from educators and subject matter experts, this unique coloring book is the perfect way to introduce children ages 4 to 13 to the incredible culture of Africa. Filled with over 100 pages of educational content covering ancient African history, young readers are encouraged to learn more about African rulers, art, and facts.
On every page, you’ll find new exercises, challenges, and creative tasks that will spark imaginations while providing a way to learn about Africa’s rich history and culture.
This workbook is perfect for teachers and parents who want to provide Afro-centric educational and engaging activities to kids.
₵32.00 -
Idia of the Benin Kingdom (Our Ancestories)
Age Range: 4 – 12 years
- Children’s Africana Book Awards (CABA) – 2021 Winner – Best Books for Young Children
- Wishing Shelf Book Award – 2020 Finalist
- Kidsshelf Book Cover Award -2020 Winner
- Eric Hoffer Award – Honourable Mention (Children’s Category) First Horizon Finalist Grand Prize Short List
“She became a queen, a warrior, the first woman to fight for the kingdom, and the first Iyoba (Queen Mother) of Benin.”
What do you know about African History?
African history spans thousands of years, has been moulded by many intelligent artists, scientists, and thinkers, and is bound to fascinate you.
Explore the history of Africa in a way that will be more memorable and enjoyable than what you get from traditional textbooks.
Idia of the Benin Kingdomis an empowering children’s picture book (loved by kids ages 4-12) that takes readers on a beautifully illustrated journey to the 1500s in ancient Africa. Readers are captivated as they watch Idia transform herself from the young and curious daughter of a village warrior to becoming the Queen of the Kingdom of Benin.
Idia was an actual queen who helped rule the ancient kingdom of Benin with her wisdom, charisma, and prowess. Much has been written about her bravery, and artefacts in her image are treasured in museums all over the world.
This book imagines what her childhood may have been like, and shares the story of this well-loved and successful African queen in a way that is relatable to young readers.
₵45.00 -
Njinga of Ndongo and Matamba (Our Ancestories)
Age Range: 4 – 12 years
Njinga of Ndongo and Matamba is the true story of a girl who had a difficult birth but went on to become the Queen of two ancient African kingdoms.
Revered for her wisdom, courage, and strength, Njinga became a dominant political figure in Angola in the 1600s. This richly illustrated children’s book tells her story and the challenges she faced from the day she was born. Njinga must overcome the jealousy of her brother, the loss of her father, and the encroachment of the Portuguese at the dawn of a time of great trial for the African continent.
This is the story of hope and courage that shows every young girl is capable of greatness..
★ The Story of an Actual Legendary Queen
Queen Njinga is remembered for defying the odds and standing up for herself and her people.
★ A Narrative That Empowers and Motivates
Njinga’s story is inspiring because she is an outstanding example of female governance in the history of Africa.
★ An Author with Passion for African History
Born and raised in Nigeria, Ekiuwa Aire hopes that her books on African history will instill pride and acceptance in young minds about diverse cultures.
★ Beautiful, Vibrant Illustrations
Natalia Popova studied at Moscow State University where her interest in visual arts and illustration was born.
★ Exciting Historical Facts
Based on true events in Angola in the 1600s, the story of Queen Njinga is beautifully illustrated and presented in a way every child will enjoy and learn from. The book also includes a brief history of the Kingdoms of Ndongo and Matamba, where they were located on a map, as well as information on Queen Njinga’s legacy.
₵45.00 -
Our Ancestories Bookset: Idia of the Benin Kingdom, Njinga of Ndongo and Matamba Plus Coloring & Activity Books (4 books)
Age Range: 4 – 12 years
- Children’s Africana Book Awards (CABA) – 2021 Winner – Best Books for Young Children
- Wishing Shelf Book Award – 2020 Finalist
- Kidsshelf Book Cover Award -2020 Winner
- Eric Hoffer Award – Honourable Mention (Children’s Category) First Horizon Finalist Grand Prize Short List
The complete set of the Our Ancestories books. Our picture books as well as accompanying workbooks on Queen Idia and Njinga. These are stories of hope and courage that show every young girl is capable of greatness.
There is a deep divide between the truth of African history and the common understanding of it. Our Ancestories Bookset helps to bridge this gap through various means including stories about two African female leaders and accompanying activity and colouring books.
This set includes:
Idia of the Benin Kingdom (Our Ancestories)
Njinga of Ndongo and Matamba (Our Ancestories)
Idia of the Benin Kingdom: Coloring and Activity Book (Our Ancestories)
Njinga of Ndongo and Matamba: Coloring and Activity Book (Our Ancestories)
Our Ancestories’ vision is to nudge the world towards a point where:
- There is an avid learning culture for African history.
- People of African descent are at least as exposed to African history as we are to Western history.
- Africans look more to our history as we pave a way for the future.
- Legends that make up African history are mainstream and are introduced to children across the globe.
₵155.00