Sweet stories of childhood often evoke lasting memories. New author Angela Ackah-McIntyre hoped this would be the case for her two adult daughters about the tales inspired by her West African heritage that she told them when they were young.

“When my eldest daughter was very little, I started telling her stories which I made up about this little girl who had her mother’s favorite stew and having eaten it would go off and have adventures elsewhere. She was very fond of them and remembers them still,” explained Ackah-McIntyre, whose parents were from Ghana.

Fast forward 20 or so years and when her youngest daughter suggested that the family favorite be shared as a podcast, Ackah-McIntyre quickly agreed. The idea soon morphed into a book, Efua’s Magic Stew.

“She said it would be really nice if we had a project that we could work on together, and it would be a really good way of inviting other children to enjoy that kind of diverse story, but also a really interesting way of passing down the oral storytelling tradition which it comes from. My father used to tell me Anansi stories, I used to tell them Efua’s Magic Stew stories and now this seems a really good way to share them with the world,” she said.

Twins, honoured in many West African cultures, are central to the story. “My mother was a twin (although sadly her twin brother died at birth), and I suppose I’ve always been interested in that subject. Twins are considered to be a double gift, and some traditional beliefs even consider them to be sacred,” Ackah-McIntyre explained. With this in mind, she used the twin Boti Falls in eastern Ghana as a setting for one of Efua’s adventures.

Meanwhile, Ghana’s iconic, centuries-old Adinkra symbols provide vital clues for Efua and her friend Addae, who use them to help solve a mystery. Anansi, the fabled Ghanaian trickster spider that Ackah-McIntyre was introduced to as a child, makes an appearance, too.

“He is a symbol of resilience and ingenuity often used to teach valuable lessons about life; and in particular about consequences and the importance of wisdom over strength.” The young adventurer needs them as she faces challenges that test her to the core, discovering the power of friendship, as well as compassion along the way.

“At its heart, this is a tale of bravery, friendship, compassion, and loyalty. It also teaches valuable lessons about courage, resilience, empathy, and teamwork, showing that friends are there not only for the fun times but also to help each other through life’s obstacles,” Ackah-McIntyre said.

The book works for a variety of age ranges, from children under five as an audiobook or one that can be read to them, to older, independent readers.

Ackah-McIntyre wants to reach a diverse audience of people who are interested in stories from other regions, including those who know more about different cultures. To facilitate the learning process, the book provides a brief glossary showing how to pronounce the Ghanaian names featured in the text and an introduction to Adinkra symbols,

“Already, quite a few people from a range of backgrounds and cultures have remarked to me that they didn’t know anything about these before and that both they and their children have found them really interesting. I’m always delighted to hear that,” Ackah-McIntyre said.

Understanding the importance of inclusive books for children, Ackah-McIntyre hopes that hers will inspire children to embrace their unique journeys. “I hope the book will encourage young readers to accept other people’s differences and by the same token, to be proud of their own individuality. I also hope that, like the best fairy tales, it inspires them to dream, explore, and believe in the magic of life.”

Now that the project is finished, Ackah-McIntyre, a communications specialist, is reflecting on how much she enjoyed working with her daughter who she said shares the “same temperament,” as well as on the process in general.

“This has been my first experience of this sort of project and I found it really enjoyable and I would definitely like to do some more. I see more Efua stories, different adventures, and different countries. I’ve had so much fun writing it and recording the audiobook version, – including putting on different voices, and doing a bit of acting – so I’d certainly like to expand both those sides of it.”

Book details:

Efua’s Magic Stew by Angela Ackah-McIntyre, Scholastic Publishers

Age range: 6-11

Available on Amazon.com  in paperback, hardcover and as an Audiobook.