The Story of Katope

A children’s picture book retold by Walter Bgoya, founder of Mkuki na Nyota Publishers. Katope is a boy created from dark brown earth, born in the dreams of an old couple who do not have children. Katope cannot be caught in the rain. The book is the story of how he runs from the rain and plays the games of the boys of the plain. But in the end, he fails to heed his mother’s warnings and escape from it. A retelling of a classic Swahili folktale about a child made of clay and the peril of disobedience. The story draws on East African oral tradition to teach young readers about the importance of listening to parents, the consequences of carelessness, and the wisdom passed down through generations. Colour-illustrated picture book for early primary readers and family reading. Internationally distributed by African Books Collective.