An Immersive African Storytelling Experience for the Whole School. Perfect to celebrate Diversity Week, Black History Month, Multicultural and enrichment days and Book Week/World Book Day celebrations.
Stories have always been at the heart of African culture. They carry history, wisdom and identity across generations, and they belong to all of us. Africa Reborn is Bigfoot’s African storytelling workshop for the whole school, taking pupils from EYFS through to KS2 on a joyful, immersive journey through traditional tales, rhythm and the rich heritage of African and Caribbean communities. Ideal for Black History Month and whole school enrichment days.
A Bigfoot storyteller arrives bearing a talking drum and a mission: to share three remarkable stories and to make the whole school part of telling them. The session opens with greetings in four African languages, a call and response song and a journey through the extraordinary breadth of the African continent. Then the stories begin. Tafari and the Talking Drum takes pupils to a village silenced by a curse, where only a boy and his drum can bring the sound back. Queen Yaa and the War of the Golden Stool tells the true story of a warrior queen from Ghana who stood up against those who came to steal her people’s most sacred treasure.
The third story, Taiwo and Kehinde: The Kola Nut Twins, follows twin siblings separated by the transatlantic slave trade and the unbreakable bond that crosses oceans to bring them home. Throughout all three stories pupils are active participants, creating soundscapes, tableaux and a living kola nut tree with their own bodies. The session is age-differentiated across EYFS, KS1 and KS2, and closes with a celebration dance that sends every pupil away with a genuine connection to stories they may never have encountered before.
“Our students were captivated by the stories and the different sensory elements. This took their Black History Month enjoyment to the next level and was a perfect end to our celebrations.” — Chelsea Day-Bourne, Samuel Rhodes School
LEARNING OUTCOMES
- Discover traditional stories from Ghana and Nigeria and understand their cultural significance
- Learn about the African continent, its languages, diversity and global heritage
- Explore the history of the transatlantic slave trade and its legacy in African and Caribbean communities
- Develop storytelling, rhythm and drama skills through call and response, soundscape, tableaux and movement
- Build empathy, cultural curiosity and a sense of shared human heritage through story
NATIONAL CURRICULUM LINKS
- History (KS1/KS2): African and Caribbean history; the transatlantic slave trade; significant individuals including Yaa Asantewaa; Black British history and heritage
- English (Speaking and Listening): Oral storytelling; developing vocabulary; participating in call and response, soundscape and group performance
- Geography: The African continent; human and physical geography of West Africa; cultural diversity across countries and communities
- Drama: Tableaux, soundscape, movement and physical storytelling; responding to live performance; ensemble creativity
- Personal Development: Cultural awareness and empathy; celebrating diversity and shared heritage; building a sense of belonging and global identity
FORMAT
Target Audience: EYFS, KS1 and KS2 (Reception to Year 6)
Session Time: 30 minutes (EYFS), 45 minutes (KS1), 60 minutes (KS2)
Capacity: One class per session (up to 35 pupils) or whole key stage group
Ideal For: Black History Month, Africa Week, whole school enrichment days, cultural celebrations
Resource Pack: A comprehensive teacher resource pack is included with every booking, packed with pre and post activities that extend the learning and bring Africa Reborn into the classroom.
HOW TO BOOK & ENQUIRE
For us to quote your school and offer availability, please fill out the form below and tell us the year groups and how many classes you would like us to work with, along with any specific dates. We promise to respond to you within 24 hours. Important: if you haven’t heard from us, you may need to check your folder of doom (spam folder) where our emails may occasionally end up!
