Oral shelves

Moonlight tales and the arts of the mouth.

Yoruba Igbo Hausa Ogu (Egun) Swahili

People of the night

Zangbeto

Night watch

Zangbeto are the night-people who walk the town after dark to keep it safe. They wear a tall raffia house. We learn the name and the respect — we do not play priest.

The tall drum

Satọ

The Gbagli drum

Satọ is a very tall drum in Badagry. Two drums, like twins. People dance around them. We learn the name and that it is royal — not a classroom drum to bang.

Literacy shelf

Wemá

The written page

Gungbe has its own Wikipedia. That means children can read their language on a page — not only hear it. We learn a few lines.

The water road

Tɔ̀

Lagoon work

Badagry is on the lagoon. People fish. They make salt. They take boats to Porto-Novo. We learn the water words.