In this special feature story, Dr. Olayinka Olagbegi-Adegbite talks about her celebrated project—the Children’s African Story Hour
Tell us about when and why you started the Children’s African Story Hour.
I created the Children’s African Story Hour in April 2023, shortly after I began my role as the Assistant Director of the African Studies Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Click here for my bio). My motivation stemmed from frequently witnessing a lack of understanding about Africa among students at various educational levels in Madison. Comments such as “I went to Africa” or “I am traveling to Africa next month” revealed how limited the general awareness about the continent truly is. It became clear that there was a significant gap in knowledge that needed to be addressed.
The Children’s African Story Hour is a unique initiative that introduces a scholarly approach to bridging this gap. As part of the African Studies Program’s outreach activities, I designed the program to captivate young children in grades K-5 and their caregivers. The program does this using award-winning books about Africa, carefully planned hands-on arts and crafts activities, and opportunities to experience cuisines from a variety of African countries. I am committed to ensuring that children from grades K-5 across Wisconsin understands that Africa is not a single country, but a diverse and vibrant continent. This program will contribute to others in ensuring that our children grow up to become adults who have deep understanding of the world around them.
What differentiates this event from other story time programs?
The Children’s African Story Hour stands apart from any traditional story time or storytelling program through its thoughtful integration of cultural immersion. Readers with rich cultural background and expertise are purposefully selected and trained to facilitate meaningful reflections and interactions while reading to support our audience in attaining deeper understanding of story contents and contexts.
Going beyond the pages of books and performative reading, participants are encouraged to engage with the stories through linguistic, sonic, kinesthetic, and cognitive activities that highlight the rich traditions of Africa in a relatable way to a global audience. We also bring the pages of the books to life by providing cuisine from the designated countries enriching the story time experience for both the kids and their caregivers. This holistic approach not only broadens knowledge but also cultivates empathy and appreciation for other cultures among participants.
Since its inception in April 2023, we have hosted multiple sessions across Madison public libraries, schools in the Madison Metropolitan School District, non-profits, and federal programs. These extensive work would not have been possible without librarians such as Tracy Moore, Minda Maurer, Rachel Lavender, and Savannah Carr in Pinney Library, Goodman South Library, and Fitchburg Library, respectively. Similarly, Esther Ama S. Ptak’s leadership at the African Center for Community Development has been key in actualizing the program’s goals in almost every session we have had. I am also grateful to leaders in other organizations such as Jack and Jill of America Inc. and Reach Dane Head Start who gave us the opportunity to reach larger audience.
How has the Children’s African Story Hour evolved since its inception in April 2023?
The influence of the Children’s African Story Hour has continued to expand since its inception, impacting a growing number of children, caregivers, and community organizations throughout Wisconsin. By November 2023, the Office of the Chancellor extended an invitation to the African Studies Program to present the Children’s African Story Hour as part of the 175th anniversary celebrations of UW-Madison. In April, my team and I successfully hosted the program on campus, attracting hundreds of attendees, especially those who had not had the opportunity to experience the programming, to room 206 in Ingraham Hall. Participants engaged in hands-on activities and sampled a variety of delicious cuisines from different African countries, offering an interactive and immersive introduction to Africa’s cultures.
As part of our efforts at the African Studies Program to expand the program’s reach across different communities in the city, our student staff, Tolulope Adelabu, was inspired to initiate the extension of the Children’s African Story Hour to her residence at Eagle Heights. She recognized that the significant international community at this University Apartments area was not adequately represented in the existing public library and school sessions. In response, she mobilized support from fellow students and community members to launch the program at Eagle Heights from March 2025 through the summer.
Later this year, however, the program was in a precarious position which threatened its continued operation. Its funding from the US Department of Education National Resource Center was discontinued. Fortunately, the University’s International Division recognized the Children’s African Story Hour as a successful programming model. Stepping in at a crucial moment, they not only provided necessary support to sustain the program, but also adopted the model to launch the Children’s International Story Hour and I was appointed to lead its development and implementation. The new initiative is dedicated to highlighting and celebrating world regions beyond Africa, broadening the educational scope for young learners across our communities.
I collaborate closely with my colleagues at the Wisconsin International Resource Consortium to facilitate the delivery of the Children’s International Story Hour at the Pinney Library. This partnership ensures that the program benefits from a diverse range of expertise and perspectives, enhancing the quality and reach of each session. By working together, the team is able to effectively coordinate schedules, select engaging materials that reflect various world regions, and create an inclusive environment for all participants. Our joint efforts have contributed to a significant success of the Children’s International Story Hour in a short time, allowing it to serve as a dynamic platform for cultural education and global awareness among the library’s young visitors and their caregivers.
We would not have come this far without the unwavering support of our Associate Director at the African Studies Program, Dr. Aleia McCord. She has seen the project through its humble beginnings, great triumphs, and challenges while remaining committed to championing the initiative and nurturing its growth.
What does the future hold for the Children’s African Story Hour?
If we get the funding required, we hope to take these story hour sessions across Wisconsin through an expanded initiative—Africa Across Wisconsin. This idea that was born out of my experience working from 2008-2010 with the African Storytelling on Wheels team, led by Moji Olaniyan, the former Assistant Dean and Director of Academic Enhancement at UW-Madison Law School. The African Storytelling on Wheels project focused on sharing African folktales in schools throughout Wisconsin. Building on that foundation, my proposed Africa Across Wisconsin will bring the story hour program to public libraries and community centers across the state, to further expand its reach and impact.
Currently, I lead both the Children’s African Story Hour and the Children’s International Story Hour at the Pinney Library. The scheduling of these programs is thoughtfully structured: the Children’s African Story Hour sessions are held on second Mondays of each month while the Children’s International Story Hour takes place all other Mondays. This weekly programming implementation has further increased attendance substantially. In spring 2026, we will continue to host these sessions at Pinney Library and increase the Children’s African Story Hour sessions at University Apartments to weekly events highlighting a different region of Africa.
Families with children in grades K-5 are encouraged to attend these engaging sessions.
Click the buttons below to explore the spring 2026 schedule for these programs:
The Children’s African Story Hour Webpage
The Children’s International Story Hour Webpage