Mombasa-based youth author and climate advocate Shanariha Evans will feature as a panelist at the 3rd Annual Children's Black Book Fair UK, joining young Black authors for "We Belong in Every Story."
A young voice from the Coast is set to shine on the international stage. Shanariha Evans, the Mombasa-based youth author, musician and climate advocate, will feature as an international young speaker at the 3rd Annual Children's Black Book Fair UK (CBBF UK), her team has announced.
Shanariha will join a panel of extraordinary young Black authors for "We Belong in Every Story," the fair's first-ever panel discussion dedicated entirely to Black representation in children's literature.
Now in its third year, the Children's Black Book Fair UK has grown into the country's largest annual celebration of Black children's books, young authors and family reading. This year's edition takes place on Saturday, August 22, at Dalston CLR James Library in Hackney, London, and is expected to draw more than 1,500 families, educators and community figures. The event will be officially opened by celebrated poet and cultural icon Linton Kwesi Johnson.
Shanariha Evans is no stranger to recognition. The 14-year-old is the author of "The Ocean Warrior," a champion of UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 on Life Below Water, and a JMI Greenote Award winner. Beyond her advocacy work, she has also built a name for herself in music, releasing collaborations with artists including Masauti and Echo254, and drawing early recognition from reggae great Gramps Morgan of the Morgan Heritage family.
Her selection for the "We Belong in Every Story" panel adds an international dimension to a body of work already rooted in youth leadership, environmental advocacy and storytelling — and puts Mombasa, and the wider Coast region, on a global stage dedicated to celebrating young Black voices in literature.