Hearing the Unheard: New Visions of Ability in African Books for Children

Abstract

Disability as a trope in African literature has often reflected societal biases, relegating disabled characters to roles of pity, charity, or problematic “supercrip” motifs while effectively sidelining their authentic experiences. However, traditional African cultural contexts, such as Yoruba cosmology and Shona society in Zimbabwe, demonstrate a contrasting historical valuation of individuals with disabilities, recognising their unique virtues and ingenuity. Drawing on this rich cultural counterpoint and the literary disability theory, the paper advocates for “new visions of ability” in contemporary African children’s books. This essay critically examines the evolving portrayal of disability in African children’s literature, arguing for a transformative shift towards more nuanced and inclusive representations. It highlights a burgeoning trend exemplified by works like Meshack Asare’s Sosu’s Call (1997), Laurie Ann Thompson’s Emmanuel’s Dream (2015), Sandra Bauer’s No Longer Left Behind (2022) and Tonye Faloughi-Ekezie’s Ugo and Sim Sim: Learn About Down Syndrome (2024). These texts portray multidimensionally disabled characters who exhibit agency, challenge ableist assumptions, and are integrated as valued members of their communities. Fostering such inclusive literary representations is crucial for shaping children’s real-world interactions, promoting empathy, challenging biases, and building a truly equitable and diverse society.