The People Remember

A Kwanzaa Holiday Book for Kids

By: Ibi Zoboi

Narrated by: Ibi Zoboi, Robin Miles

From award-winning, New York Times bestselling author Ibi Zoboi comes her debut book—a tour de force that uses the principles of Kwanzaa to talk about the history of African Americans.

The People Remember tells the journey of African descendants in America by connecting their history to the seven principles of Kwanzaa. It begins in Africa, where people were taken from their homes and families. They spoke different languages and had different customs.

Yet they were bound and chained together and forced onto ships sailing into an unknown future. Ultimately, all these people had to learn one common language and create a culture that combined their memories of home with new traditions that enabled them to thrive in this new land.

This is an important book to read as a family—a story young readers can visit over and over again to deepen their understanding of African American history in relation to their own lives and current social justice movements. By turns powerful and revealing, this is a lyrical narrative that tells the story of survival, as well as the many moments of joy, celebration, and innovation of Black people in America.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

This book is moving, beautiful and vitally important! Thank you Ibi!

I noticed that some Kiswahili words were mispronounced when the narrator spoke of Kwanzaa. But her expression overall was really good.

Ibi’s author’s note was wonderful!