African Language Readers and Storybooks
High-quality African language Graded Readers and Storybooks, Anthologies, Classroom Libraries, Big Books and Worksheets for Foundation Phase learners.
Purpose of the programme
The Zenex Foundation's African Languages Literacy Project, known as Ulwazi Lwethu, brings together four expert organisations in the children’s literacy space and draws on their expertise to produce high-quality African language leisure and graded readers for the Foundation Phase.
Our Vision
Research into literacy development in Africa and specifically southern Africa provides evidence that Open Educational Resources (OER) can produce readers in quantities and languages needed to support early literacy and foster an enjoyment of reading in young learners.
Ulwazi Lwethu will stimulate public, private, corporate and community agency and use of African language literacy materials and contribute to indigenous language knowledge systems and the preservation of indigenous knowledge and culture.
Project Partners
Ulwazi Lwethu African language readers and storybooks were collaboratively developed by four expert literacy organisations in partnership with the Zenex Foundation, to support the DBE’s efforts to encourage a thriving reading culture in all the languages of South Africa.
Meet our Project Partners
Funder
The Zenex Foundation initiated and funded the Ulwazi Lwethu African Language Reading Materials Project with the intention of developing African language reading books and teacher reading support resources targeted at teaching learners in the Foundation Phase to read in their home language.
Meet the Zenex Foundation
Testimonials
"The Ulwazi Lwethu readers give more children access to books in their hands. They tell relevant stories and have beautiful illustrations that reflect the realities of black South African children.”
Dr. Xolisa Guzula, University of Cape Town
“Our research found that each African language requires its own individual readability measures due to the significant differences and complexities in the structure of each language, making the use of home languages valuable in helping learners read for meaning.”
Dr. Joyce West, University of Pretoria
"The magic of language is that it offers 26 letters for us to map out and decode meaning. We trust that the parents, teachers, and learners will indulge and immerse themselves in the Ulwazi Lwethu material and the magic they offer.”
Prof. Lionel Posthumus, University of Johannesburg
Frequently Asked Questions
Research into literacy development in Africa and specifically southern Africa provides evidence that Open Educational Resources (OER) can produce readers in quantities and languages needed to support early literacy and foster an enjoyment of reading in young learners. All resources available on this portal are OER.
All Ulwazi Lwethu materials cannot be used for commercial or for-profit purposes.
Find out more about LicensingThe Ulwazi Lwethu readers are CAPS-aligned, decodable, phonically-regular, and sequenced. They are accompanied by high quality worksheets and other evidence-based and pedagogically-sound teaching support materials to support classroom activities. The Ulwazi Lwethu Readers are an excellent way to introduce young learners to reading in their mother tongue.
Know more about Reading ResourcesAll the resources are free to view online, download and print. Go to the Search bar at the top to start searching or browse through the Reading Resources you are interested in, simply add to your Book Trolley, sign in using your email address and choose your preferred option.
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