A Gift from Childhood: Memories of an African Boyhood

Under the blazing Sahel sun in Kassar, Mali, four-year-old Baba Wagué arrives at Grandma Sabou’s courtyard like a tender shoot in desert clay, where her patient stories weave ancestral wisdom—catching slippery catfish with bare hands, fleeing buzzing armies of bees, misidentifying an albino cobra as a candy-striped inner tube—and where he faces the rite of circumcision that unites every elder and child in a communal vow. As he dispels initial fears, Baba flourishes into the village’s budding storyteller and artist, embodying both Cultural Understanding and Indigenous Rights as he honors his grandfather’s lineage and West African traditions. When Grandma Sabou deems him ready for school, he returns to the city to discover that learning demands more than will; his family scrapes together coins, illuminating the urgent need for Education Equity so every child can access classrooms and dreams alike. By carrying his village tales across oceans, Baba transforms crowded American neighborhoods into vibrant galleries, championing Immigrant Rights and showing that memory can seed community resilience anywhere. Diakité’s bright, bold illustrations and engaging narrative make A Gift from Childhood a beautiful tribute to heritage and hope. Tap the external link button below to explore purchase and rental options.