• News
  • Business
  • Donate
  • Features
    • Opinions
    • Arts & Style
    • Video
    • Photos
    • Interviews
    • Audio
  • About Us
  • New Americans Business Magazine
  • Contact
  • News
  • Business
  • Donate
  • Features
    • Opinions
    • Arts & Style
    • Video
    • Photos
    • Interviews
    • Audio
  • About Us
  • New Americans Business Magazine
  • Contact
Popular
Recent
Comments
Tags
  • U. S. 2020 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program opens Wednesday, Oct, 3

    October 1, 2018

    Feyi Tolani: An Advocate-In-Nursing

    November 1, 2018

    America’s Immigration Debate: The “Danger of Telling a Single Story.”

    February 13, 2017
  • Pakistan Children’s Heart Foundation North America ...

    March 22, 2023

    Columbus Mayor Ginther highlights safety in State ...

    March 21, 2023

    Ohio State Women reach for NCAA Basketball last ei ...

    March 21, 2023
  • Good job, sir!

    January 12, 2021

    I'm call Haji I live the dadaab comp I am a refuge ...

    October 12, 2020

    Narayan vai, you spoke the truth about the importa ...

    September 6, 2020
  • Zimbabwe Youths Youth Foundation Younger Ohioans Yoga International Day Yoga Day X Gender Passport Worthington Christian School World Food Day World Cup 2022 World Cup Workplace Women's Commission Women's Big 10 Women Basketball Women and Families Wisconsin Badgers Who wins Ohio 2018 elections? When DACA Calls Westerville schools Wellness Walk Weekend Weddings/Funerals Wedding banquet Wear Masks
  • Pakistan Children’s Heart Foundation North America ...

  • Columbus Mayor Ginther highlights safety in State ...

  • Ohio State Women reach for NCAA Basketball last ei ...

  • Rep. Dontavius Jarrells returns to alma mater to g ...

  • Ohio Governor DeWine Approves $575,000 for Teen Dr ...

  • Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine and Moms2B work to red ...

  • Amy Harcar focuses lens on White Hall City Council ...

  •  CRIS, Columbus Division of Police build Community ...

  • Norfolk Southern CEO appears before Congress

  • Arab American Bar Association of Ohio gives schola ...

  • Norfolk Southern CEO appears before Congress

  •  CRIS, Columbus Division of Police build Community ...

  • Amy Harcar focuses lens on White Hall City Council ...

  • Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine and Moms2B work to red ...

  • Ohio Governor DeWine Approves $575,000 for Teen Dr ...

  • Rep. Dontavius Jarrells returns to alma mater to g ...

  • Ohio State Women reach for NCAA Basketball last ei ...

  • Columbus Mayor Ginther highlights safety in State ...

  • Pakistan Children’s Heart Foundation North America ...

  • Arab American Bar Association of Ohio gives schola ...

Previous Next

The Obayuwana Sisters Hope to Educate Through Zakira Story Books 

Posted by: New Americans Magazine , July 26, 2022

(From Columbus City Schools News)
When the Obayuwana sisters realized kids around them were not learning about the holidays they celebrated, they sought to change that through storytelling. 

Zahara is a rising fourth grader at Ecole Kenwood French Immersion; Zakiya, a rising sixth grader at World Language Middle School; and Zalika, a rising eighth grader at World Language Middle School. 

The three sisters got together to create interactive books with social-emotional learning, reflective questions, fun activities, recipes, and more. They hoped not only to educate but to inspire. Their storybook series titled Zakira Presents! follows the main character, Zakira, as she goes on adventures and talks about different cultures and holidays. 

“This all started because in our school, we weren’t really learning about some of the things that we celebrate and that we value,” Zalika said. “So we wanted to teach communities about the things that a lot of people didn’t know about.” 

This led the sisters to publish their first book back in December 2021, Zakira Presents Kwanzaa! Since then, the Obayuwana sisters have published four more books, which are available here, about Black history, Ramadan, Juneteenth, and Columbus Humane. 

Zalika, Zahara, and Zakiya love it when other students connect with their books or see themselves in the stories. Zalika remembered a particularly memorable moment when she spoke to students at Eakin Elementary. 

“Kids got books donated to them and there was one girl who was wearing a hijab and said, ‘Oh, that looks like me!’ A boy also realized he shared a name with a character and said, ‘That’s my name too!’ It’s nice to see how people react when they see themselves in the books and how they react when they see that kids wrote them,” Zalika said. 

Zakiya agreed, saying she feels empowered when other kids relate to the stories. 

“I think it’s really empowering when people couldn’t see themselves in people they see on TV before and then, they see someone who looks like them in stories and they connect and feel confident in themselves,” Zakiya said. 

Zahara hopes these books can inspire other kids to tell their stories as well. 

“When they see what younger kids or kids their age can do, maybe they will say, ‘Well, I’m that age so maybe I can do that too!’ I want them to know that they can do whatever they put their minds to,” Zahara said. 

Obayuwana sisters

This summer, the girls have been on a book tour, most recently getting back from Washington D.C. to present at Sankofa Videos, Books, and Cafe, where they met and were given words of encouragement by one of the founders and internationally acclaimed filmmaker Haile Gerima. Zakira Presents! books are now sold at Sankofa Videos, Books, and Cafe, a milestone they are proud of accomplishing. 

In addition to presentations they have done around Columbus and elsewhere, the three sisters have also had their share of recognition. Recently, Zalika, Zahara, and Zakiya received certificates from Building Responsibility Equality and Dignity (BREAD), honoring them as Junior Justice Seekers for 2022. 

“That was their very first award so it was very special to be recognized by an organization where faiths of all backgrounds come together and are members to fight for equality, justice, and dignity,” said their mother, Bertha. 

“It was magical and nice that we could go to the Capitol and talk about our books,” Zalika said. “I was kind of nervous at first but afterward, they were very nice and once you get into it, it’s easier to connect with people and talk about what you do.” 

At Sankofa, the girls introduced the Zakira Sunbeam pledge. 

“I’m a sunbeam because I’m beautifully lit by the sun and just like the sun, I promise to shine my light brightly on all things I try, put 100% into everything I do, and be kind to you and I,” Zalika read. 

In addition to the pledge, Zakira’s motto is “The more we understand each other, the better friends we can be to one another.” Bertha said she hopes the storybooks can encourage empathy, understanding, and compassion toward one another. 

Book examples

“At Sankofa, there was a time when Zahara handed out copies of the pledge to the crowd and there were children and adults alike reciting it at the same time,” Bertha recalled. “The energy was just electric. I felt so good about what the future holds for the world.” 

In the future, Zahara wants to be a scientist or a vet, Zakiya a vet or a lawyer, and Zalika hopes to become chief justice of the United States Supreme Court. For now, they still have a few more books they want to write, on topics such as Diwali, Great Grandmother Turns 100, and Hanukkah. They eventually hope to get their books in schools and youth programs across Ohio. 

“It’s very empowering for all three of us,” Zalika said. “To know that we are helping communities and being role models to other kids shows that you can help people learn about things that are important to you. We also want to help educate people that they can play a big role in changing the world. We want to be role models for kids, not only in our schools but everywhere.” 

Support the New Americans magazine to continue to serve our community with precise news that affect the new American, immigrant and refugee community. https://paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=8LHFS78NRNJJY&source=url

Post Views: 469

Tags: Obayuwana sisters

Share!
Tweet

New Americans Magazine

About the author

Deba Uwadiae is an international journalist, author, global analyst, consultant, publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the New Americans Magazine Group, Columbus, Ohio. He is a member of the Ohio Legislative Correspondents Association, OCLA.

Related Posts

Pakistan Children’s Heart Foundation North America hosts Legendary Cricketer Misbah Ul Haq March 26

In continuation of sensitization towards the Pakistan’s First Dedicated Children Heart Ho ...

Columbus Mayor Ginther highlights safety in State of the City Address

Dear Neighbors, Earlier today, I had the great privilege of sharing my annual State of the City ...

Ohio Governor DeWine Approves $575,000 for Teen Driver Safety Scholarship Awards

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has announced more than half a million dollars, $575,000 in grants th ...

Sophia Fifner becomes CEO of Columbus Metropolitan Club

By Okon Ekpenyong I shared a table with Jane Scott, the current CEO of the Columbus Metropolita ...

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Advertisement

0
Popular
Recent
Comments
  • U. S. 2020 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program opens Wednesday, Oct, 3

    October 1, 2018

    Feyi Tolani: An Advocate-In-Nursing

    November 1, 2018

    America’s Immigration Debate: The “Danger of Telling a Single Story.”

    February 13, 2017
  • Pakistan Children’s Heart Foundation North America ...

    March 22, 2023

    Columbus Mayor Ginther highlights safety in State ...

    March 21, 2023

    Ohio State Women reach for NCAA Basketball last ei ...

    March 21, 2023
  • Good job, sir!

    January 12, 2021

    I'm call Haji I live the dadaab comp I am a refuge ...

    October 12, 2020

    Narayan vai, you spoke the truth about the importa ...

    September 6, 2020

Archives

  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016

Contact Form


1+1=


American international journalist and author of "The Immigrant on Columbus Way: A True Life Guide To Settling Down As A New Immigrant To America "

Current/Past Issues

  • DailyNews
  • Hotels
  • Hotwire
  • Merchantic
  • Reference
  • Thesaurus
  • Urbanspoon

All used images are licensed by The New Americans Magazine.

Copyright © 2018 The New Americans Magazine | Layout and design by LiQiD inc