Akinyemi, Atinuke

Atinuke is a Nigerian-born storyteller. Scolded by her mother for exaggerating stories all her life Atinuke began telling stories professionally nearly 20 years ago. She is well known and loved for her charismatic style of telling traditional tales from both the African continent and the Africa diaspora. In the last 10 years Atinuke has also writing children’s books set in Africa. Her first book “Anna Hibiscus” is a Boston Globe Honour book and one of New York Time Out’s 50 Best Children’s Book Ever. The other 8 books in the Anna Hibiscus series have been shortlisted and won numerous awards including the Cyblils Award. Her book “The No.1 Car Spotter” was listed by the US School Library Journal as one of 100 Magnificent Children’s books that every library should buy. The other 6 books in the No.1 Car Spotter series have also won numerous awards including Notable Books for a Global Society and Gryphon honour Book Award. Atinuke will be reading from her books and performing traditional tales at the festival. 

The No.1 Car Spotter and the Car Thieves

Atinuke’s event will be a mixture of readings from her award winning books for children and the telling of hilarious traditional tales from the African continent. How does a monkey triumph over a shark? Or an illiterate village boy triumph over a gang of international car thieves? And how exactly is one supposed to juggle traditional African grandparents with coca-cola and computer games? Come prepared to laugh!