Lila and the Mermaids Fight Rising Seas
A curious girl sails to an underwater kingdom to help the mermaids calm the rising sea.
From “Rising Sea Levels Across Africa” · ages 6–10
Amani and Nia Defend Africa's Shores
A brother and sister bring their whole village together to hold back the sea.
Read the story
Somewhere on the shores of Africa, in a village by the sea called Kwetu, there lived a brother and sister named Amani and Nia. They were always curious and ready to explore. Amani was a clever boy with a big smile, and he loved making inventions. Nia, his little sister, had twinkling eyes. She loved listening to stories about their ancestors.
One warm evening, as the sun went down, the villagers noticed something strange. Every day, the tide came in a little higher, creeping closer and closer to their homes. Everyone in Kwetu began to worry. The sea was slowly taking over their village.
Mama Jumai was a wise and kind woman. She looked after the old customs of the tribe. She told Amani and Nia about the problem. Her voice was gentle, but full of wisdom. "My children," she said, "our village has a big problem. The rising sea is a danger to our homes, our customs and our way of life. We must work together, as our people always have, to beat it!"
The village elders were worried about the rising sea, too. They met under the big baobab tree. Amani and Nia knew they had to help their village. Mama Jumai's stories about working together and never giving up gave them courage. They decided to act.
Amani was good at inventing things, and Nia was good at telling stories. Together, they brought all the children of Kwetu together. The children talked about how much they loved their land, and how much they wanted to protect it.
The women of the village met with Mama Jumai. They shared old stories about how strong people are when they work together and keep their traditions. They talked about the dangers of the rising sea, and what they could do about it.
The villagers felt hopeful again, and closer than ever. They worked together to protect their coast. They planted mangrove trees, which are strong enough to survive wild weather.
To keep their village safe, they worked together to build strong walls that could stand up to the big waves.
And so, under the watchful baobab trees, the village of Kwetu kept on growing and doing well. The people still enjoyed their special traditions. They looked forward to the future, because they knew that a strong community can beat any problem that comes its way. The end!
Words to learn
- Ancestors
- Family members who lived long, long ago, like your great-great-grandparents.
- Baobab
- A giant African tree with a very thick trunk. Villages often meet in its shade.
- Coast
- The land right next to the sea.
- Community
- All the people who live in a place and look after each other.
- Elders
- Older, wise people who are respected in the village.
- Inventions
- New things that nobody has made before.
- Mangroves
- Trees that grow in salty water along the coast. Their tangled roots hold the sand and slow down big waves.
- Tide
- The sea coming in and going out again, twice every day.
- Traditions
- Ways of doing things that families pass on from grandparents to grandchildren.
What would you do?
Kwetu was saved because everyone worked together: children, women, elders and inventors! If the sea was creeping towards your village, what would you do?
- Tell the elders and the whole village Just like Amani and Nia! When everybody knows about a problem, everybody can help.
- Plant mangroves to protect the coast Brilliant! Mangroves are strong enough to survive wild weather and they slow down the waves.
- Help build a strong wall against big waves Like the villagers of Kwetu! Sea walls help keep homes safe from high seas.
- Listen to old stories and share good ideas Very wise! Stories from the past can teach us how to work together today.
More stories from this book
Ayana and the Rescue of Seashell Bay
Ayana and Granny Zuri use dunes, fences and seagrass to keep the cheeky sea away.