Story telling has always been with us, ever since the days when grandmothers captivated their young grandchildren with traditional stories around the kitchen fire. An art form that has been passed down through generations, storytelling communicates rich cultural heritage and wisdom in an easy fun way. Even in its simplest form, it allows listeners to visualize, build comprehension and connect with the narrative in their minds. Apart from educating and entertaining, it also preserves our history, cultural values, and folklore. This is why it is particularly important as part of children’s growth.
As times change and the world evolves, so is story telling. In today’s fast paced world, it is understandable that the art of traditional story telling is waning as parents struggle with juggling family with demanding jobs and businesses. According to a recent survey 2/3 Kenyan parents feel that they need to spend more quality time with their kids, but the demanding pace of life reduces the opportunities to do that.
Not to say that all is lost though. The emergence of new platforms for immersive and interactive experiences has opened a world of possibilities for modern parents who have less time and circumstances for doing things traditionally. This means that they continue to bond with their families, and children don’t lose out on the richness of our stories.
One of these new platforms is audio which has been with us for quite some time now, and this is where Cadbury’s initiative to reshape the way narratives are created and consumed comes in. Cadbury has launched the Give A Generous Voice Story Time Initiative, unveiling a locally curated audio library and urging the public to contribute by recording e-books, thereby lending their voices to story time. These African inspired audio books are accessible through the Cadbury Africa e-library, enabling families to indulge in fulfilling story time together.
Cadbury’s products, especially chocolate, have always been a symbol of kindness and generosity. The Give A Generous Voice Story Time Initiative is therefore perfectly in tandem with bringing families together for bonding and fun times through stories. Cadbury has been on a three-year journey with the nation of storytellers to curate a digital library of 150 relatable children’s stories. The next stage of this journey is to bring these stories to life by adding African voices to the digital library and ensure that children throughout the continent continue to enjoy story time.
I’m excited to follow this journey and will be sharing more of it here in the next few months. Meantime, head over to Cadbury’s audio book site, listen and share, and even record some books.
