On June 27, 2025, the Isooko Community Center in Rwanda’s Rulindo District came alive with laughter, imagination, and the joy of reading. Over 150 children gathered to take part in a special read-aloud session hosted by NABU in partnership with the Basketball Africa League (BAL). The occasion marked another exciting stop in the cross-continental rollout of The Big and Magical Basketball Games - a vibrant children’s book co-created by NABU and BAL to celebrate African pride, youth empowerment, and the boundless magic of storytelling.
A Shared Mission of Literacy and Inclusion
This partnership between NABU and BAL was born from a shared belief: that every child deserves access to books that reflect who they are and who they can become. Together, we developed The Big and Magical Basketball Games - a story that fuses fantasy and sport, teamwork and courage, with characters that young African readers can see themselves in.
The journey began in Senegal with a launch at Dakar Arena and the Empire des Enfants orphanage, where children were introduced to the story in French and Wolof. From there, the campaign moved to Kigali for a special multilingual read-aloud on Africa Day, and then to Johannesburg, South Africa, where local champions brought the story to life. And now, in Rwanda, the magic continues.
📍 Read about the kickoff in Dakar and the Final wrap-up at Johannesburg, South Africa.
What Makes The Big and Magical Basketball Games So Special?
This Pan-African fantasy adventure follows Mwangi - a young star known as "Magic" — and his all-star teammates from Morocco, Senegal, Rwanda, and South Africa. Together, they set off on a mission to recover the stolen BAL Cup. Guided by Leo, BAL’s lovable lion mascot, the team journeys through enchanted landscapes, overcoming mythical obstacles through teamwork, courage, and heart.
The story was written to be inclusive, joyful, and immersive — with editions in English, French, Wolof, Kinyarwanda, and isiZulu. It’s more than a book; it’s a cultural celebration and a tool for building literacy in the languages children speak at home.
Book Donation at Isooko Community Center
At the Rulindo event, the story was brought to life by NABU local facilitators, who led an engaging read-aloud and facilitated interactive discussions. Children shared their thoughts, imagined new storylines, and connected the characters' journeys to their own dreams.
Caregivers and community leaders were moved by the children’s enthusiasm, noting how the story sparked curiosity and pride. At the end of the session, dozens of copies of The Big and Magical Basketball Games were donated to the Isooko Community Library — ensuring children could revisit the story long after the event ended.
Why This Collaboration Matters
The NABU x BAL partnership is a powerful example of how creative collaboration can unlock new possibilities for learning. By tapping into the excitement of basketball — a sport beloved across Africa — the story inspires children to read, imagine, and explore. And by delivering the book in local languages, NABU ensures no child is left behind.
As NABU Rwanda Country Manager Philippe Nkwakuzi shared, “Sports can be a powerful gateway to literacy. When children connect emotionally with a story, learning becomes joyful.”
Expanding the Magic Across Rwanda
This activation in Rulindo is part of a national campaign. More events are planned across Rwanda, where NABU and its partners will host community storytimes, distribute books, and train local reading ambassadors. Each activity supports our mission to make reading accessible, engaging, and empowering.
NABU was also recently featured on Rwanda Television’s RBA Iwacu, sharing practical tips for parents and caregivers to keep kids reading over the school break. The episode highlighted how families can access NABU’s free mobile app and Web Reader — home to hundreds of culturally relevant books in local languages.
▶️ Watch the rebroadcast on Rwanda TV’s YouTube channel (coming soon)
Start Your Reading Journey
Ready to dive into the story? Here's how you can access The Big and Magical Basketball Games and other NABU books:
Download the NABU App on the App Store or Google Play
Read free stories in over 40 languages at read.nabu.org
Watch our read-alouds on YouTube: Read With NABU
Donate
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THE IMPACT OF YOUR GIFT
NABU is free for children, families, and teachers, thanks to our generous donors. Your donation can make a big difference:
- $25 monthly subscription for one child: Provide access to the NABU app and hundreds of bilingual books for a child and their family
- $45 monthly subscription for one classroom: Gift NABU to a teacher for use in their classrooms to support student learning
- $1,500 to publish a children's book: Support our professional development initiatives, training local artists to create culturally relevant stories for children in their communities, with translations into 25 languages
- $5,000 to sponsor a country-wide children's radio program:Expand our impact through storytelling radio programs across an entire country