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| Full name | NGNAOUSSI ELONGUE Cédric Christian |
| Summary | Edupreneur and researcher on serious game, mobile learning and African children literature |
| Type of researcher | |
| Introduce yourself, your experience and your credentials | My name is Ngnaoussi Elongué Cedric Christian, a curious, problem-solver, future-minded, fun and resilient Cameroonian with a strong research experience in academia (publishing industry, video game studies), knowledge management and management of cultural industries. In 2017, I produced the first scientific work with a holistic approach on the promotion and legitimization of children’s and youth literature in Cameroon. Prior to that, I worked and published articles on children literature with the National Library of France (BnF). He is currently exploring the publishing industry between Southern and Northern countries through his blog: “Muna Kalati”, the premier voice on African young adult literature. Muna Kalati was founded at a time when Cameroonian children’s books were poorly represented and promoted, and African authors and illustrators were virtually unknown. In 2018, he published the first edition of an eponym ezine which is becoming a reference platform for writers, publishers and illustrators of children’s and Young Adult books, as well as librarians, teachers, editors and parents. Book-addict since childhood, he is convinced of the critical importance of children’s books in the development of self-worth and confidence in African youth. As a colonized being who continues to unlearn colonization, he sees different levels of internalized racism that are allowed through literature. In 2018, I published a study on the use of mobile video game for training and education purpose in Ghana and I have produced over 30 articles advocating for the development of the video gaming industry in Africa and the use of video games in education. Addict-learner, I hold 3 master’s degree in three different disciplines: Master I in “African Studies” (University of Dschang, 2015, I was the Valedictorian); “Management of Cultural Industries (University Senghor, 2017, Valedictorian) and “Instructional Design & Elearning” (University of Lille, 2018). My last Master was exploring the effectiveness of using African educational video game for teaching and training.
I’m currently conducting research and consultancy work in two fields:
1. the African video game industry, its educational, economic and cultural potential; with the goal of establishing a research center on the video game industry in Africa and an edtech consultancy firm. 2. African children literature: I’m advocating for the production of more diverse book in the children publishing industry and contribute to the visibility of African illustrators and children book authors. |
| Describe your research | I am exploring the children and young adult book publishing industry between Southern and Northern countries through my organization: munakalati.org, the premier voice on African young adult literature. Muna Kalati was founded at a time when African children’s books were poorly represented and promoted, and African authors and illustrators were virtually unknown. In 2018, I published the first edition of an eponym magazine which is becoming a reference platform for writers, publishers and illustrators of children’s and Young Adult books, as well as librarians, teachers, editors and parents. In 2019, I published a reference book : Introduction to Children Literature in Cameroon which holistically explore the children book publishing from a historical and economical perspective. |
| Explain its significance | There is a popular stereotype that, if you want to hide something from an African, you should put it in a book. While much critical attention has been given to adult literature, African literature for children and young adults remains a neglected or marginalized sector. Children’s literature is not merely extension to some adult project and dedicated publishers of children’s books are emerging in various African countries. My organization (munakalati.org) explores the publishing industry, the representation and promotion of children’s books in Africa. We analyse the educational and infrastructural factors that influence the promotion of children’s books: multilingual population, funding constraints, low literacy rated etc. Through research, training and policy influencing, we advocate and support the creation of more diverse books that are culturally and educationally relevant to children from Africa or its diaspora. |