Africa Reborn: A Journey Through Story, Rhythm and Heritage for the Whole School
Africa Reborn is an immersive storytelling experience that brings the richness, resilience and rhythm of African and Caribbean heritage to life for children from Early Years through to Year 6. Perfect for multicultural celebrations such as Black History Month & Diversity Week or to celebrate cultural heritage and theatre for Enrichment Days or Book Weeks, this interactive workshop places pupils at the heart of the story and transforms them into confident storytellers.
From the moment your pupils enter the space, they are welcomed with music, rhythm and greetings in African languages. They discover that Africa is a vast and vibrant continent made up of fifty four countries and over two thousand languages. They learn words of welcome in Twi, Swahili, Yoruba and Zulu, joining in with joyful call and response songs that instantly build unity and excitement. The workshop begins not as a performance to watch, but as a shared adventure to experience together.
Africa Reborn is carefully structured to suit every age group. Early Years children enjoy a focused thirty minute session featuring the introduction, one interactive story and a celebratory plenary. Key Stage One pupils experience a forty five minute journey with two stories and deeper participation. Key Stage Two classes are immersed in the full sixty minute experience, exploring three powerful tales and engaging in thoughtful reflection. Across all phases the content is adapted to be age appropriate, accessible and inspiring.
At its heart, Africa Reborn celebrates the ancient art of storytelling. Pupils explore what it means to be a storyteller and why stories matter. They discover how pace, rhythm, voice and movement can transform words into living pictures. Through drama techniques such as still images, group rhythm work and expressive movement, children learn how to use their bodies and voices with confidence and creativity.
The first tale, Tafari and the Talking Drum, invites pupils into a vibrant village where sound and joy are suddenly stolen away. As Tafari journeys to restore the voices of his people, the children become a living sound machine, creating rhythms with their hands, feet and voices. Together they break the silence and bring the village back to life. This story highlights the power of listening, the importance of community and the magic that happens when every voice is heard.
For Key Stage One and Two, the adventure continues with the story of Queen Yaa and the Golden Stool, inspired by the true story of Yaa Asantewaa of Ghana. Through dramatic freeze frames and expressive tableaux, pupils step into history and explore courage, leadership and standing strong in the face of injustice. They learn about the Ashanti Kingdom and the significance of the Golden Stool, discovering how stories help us remember the bravery of those who came before us while inspiring us to shape the future.
Key Stage Two pupils then travel to Nigeria and across the Atlantic in the moving story of Taiwo and Kehinde, the Kola Nut Twins. Through paired movement, soundscapes and collective heartbeat rhythms, children explore themes of separation, resilience, hope and unity during the trans Atlantic slave trade. Sensitive and age appropriate, this story emphasises family, resistance and the enduring power of hope. It offers a meaningful way to approach challenging history while empowering pupils with a message of strength and connection.
Throughout the workshop, children are not passive listeners. They create rhythms, build dramatic images, mirror one another’s movements, generate storm soundscapes and even grow into a living Kola tree. By the end of the session, pupils can recall key story elements, create simple rhythms and demonstrate how voice and physicality can bring storytelling to life. Most importantly, they experience the joy of collective creativity.
Africa Reborn aligns beautifully with literacy, drama and oracy development. It supports cultural understanding, promotes empathy and encourages children to see themselves as part of one global family. It is equally powerful as a one off enrichment experience or as part of a wider focus on storytelling, diversity and world cultures.
The session closes with celebration. Music fills the room once more and pupils are invited to move, dance and rejoice together, leaving energised, inspired and proud of the stories they have helped to tell.
If you are looking for an engaging, meaningful and unforgettable workshop that celebrates heritage, empowers young voices and brings books and stories vividly to life, Africa Reborn is ready to begin its adventure in your school.
For further information on this programme, including costings, please fill out the form below.
