Award-winning edutainment platform, Kunda Kids, is spreading the importance of representation to children worldwide. Louisa Kiwana Olafuyi, co-Founder and COO, tells us how she has created a shared learning experience that’s fun, inclusive, and culturally relevant.
AUTHENTIC AFRICAN STORYTELLING
The global educational landscape has significantly developed in recent decades.
Becoming more than just learning simple skill sets, teaching has evolved into cultivating a greater understanding of the world around us.
One way in which this can be instilled in younger generations worldwide is through edutainment, a relatively new concept that combines traditional teaching methods with purpose-built media, creating a more holistic and engaging experience for learners.
Kunda Kids, an African-owned, award-winning children’s media and publishing company, has a deep understanding of the value edutainment can have for early learners and the power it holds in promoting cultural awareness.
Founded in 2020, Kunda Kids was launched at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, however Louisa Kiwana Olafuyi, co-Founder and COO, did not let this deter her passion for making a profound impact and spreading the importance of representation.
“Our mission from day one has been to inspire a new generation of global citizens through African storytelling,” she opens.
With humble origins, the company was established by Olafuyi and her husband at their kitchen table, both fuelled by a deep desire to fill a gap in the children’s media landscape.
“We wore all the hats – writing, designing, marketing, fulfilling orders, and doing whatever it took.”
Evidently, their hard work paid off, as Kunda Kids’ first batch of 10,000 books sold in a matter of months.
Since then, the brand has significantly expanded its offerings, including physical books, digital tools, music, preschool animations, workshops, and its much-loved YouTube series, Kunda & Friends.
“Each product is designed to spark curiosity, confidence, and cultural pride in young learners,” Olafuyi impassions.
The company has earned a significant geographical presence, now reaching children in over 170 countries across 400+ schools.
TEACHING CORE LIFE VALUES
Having a solid international footprint is a quintessential part of Kunda Kids’ founding mission, as it aims to spread the importance of representation across the world.
“Building a pan-African brand meant staying true to our roots whilst also thinking globally. We’ve since expanded to have a presence in London (UK), Lagos (Nigeria), and Kampala (Uganda), and our content is created with African talent creatives at the core.
“It hasn’t always been easy, but our community has been incredibly supportive. It’s been a beautiful journey of resilience, creativity, and purpose,” Olafuyi shares.
In light of this, representation stands at the heart of everything Kunda Kids does, using African history, languages, and traditions as a gateway to teach core life values such as teamwork, emotional intelligence, and empathy, whilst also making learning fun and engaging.
“We believe that when children see themselves reflected in the stories they read and the characters they love, it builds their confidence and sense of belonging,” she affirms.
In addition, the company has collaborated with leading educators and child psychologists to ensure its content is not only culturally rich but aligns with the goals of young children.
“For us, it’s about creating a global impact by starting with authentic local stories,” she states.
In highlighting the cultural impact that education can have, Kunda Kids demonstrates how learning does not have to be monotonous or look the same for everybody.
For instance, all the company’s characters come from different cultures, speak different languages, and represent the beautiful diversity of the world.
Therefore, Kunda Kids purposefully blends the continent’s storytelling, music, and visuals to teach everything from phonics to mindfulness in a way that’s both entertaining and educational for a global audience.
“By celebrating African culture within a universally engaging format, we’re redefining what early learning content can look like – diverse, joyful, and deeply meaningful,” Olafuyi reflects.
THE POWER OF DIGITAL LEARNING
To help spread the cultural impact of African storytelling worldwide, Kunda Kids leverages the latest innovations in digital education as the company believes it is a powerful enabler of access to quality learning.
As a result, Kunda Kids has invested in educational apps and animated content to ensure its stories reach families wherever they are in the world.
Owning its IP address also means the company can maintain the authenticity of its storytelling whilst expanding into other areas such as licensing, music, and games.
“By building a strong digital ecosystem, we can bring African stories to life across multiple touchpoints, from the classroom to the living room, and meet children on the platforms they love most,” Olafuyi sets out.
Kunda Kids is also able to scale its social impact by engaging in forward-thinking partnerships with multinational organisations.
In fact, business relationships have become a key part of the company’s journey’s as it has worked with international organisations such as PwC, the Wildlife Conservation Society, and several local authorities across the UK.
Whether through sponsorships, curriculum-based content, or events, these partnerships help Kunda Kids ensure more children get access to inclusive, culturally enriching learning experiences, creating educational resources that align with its mission.
In a huge milestone for the company, it has recently raised just under £1 million, facilitating its continued trajectory in digital innovation.
“This funding is helping us scale the production of our digital learning tools, grow our team, and invest more in animation, music, and multilingual content.
“Our goal is to make African storytelling accessible to every child, no matter where they are based. This funding allows us to dream bigger, build smarter, and reach wider.”
EMBARKING ON A NEW ERA
The company’s hit YouTube series, Kunda & Friends, marks a new era for Kunda Kids and has been a game-changer in spreading African storytelling.
The platform has allowed the company to enter homes across the globe and create a shared learning experience that’s fun, inclusive, and culturally relevant. It has also opened up new opportunities for licensing, partnerships, and international expansion.
“It’s incredible to see how quickly it has grown and how many families around the world are engaging with the channel. The response from parents and kids alike has been overwhelmingly positive, and it’s only the beginning.”
Going forwards, Kunda Kids has some exciting plans in the pipeline, from new animated episodes and original music to expanded language versions of its content.
The company is also exploring interactive experiences, as well as toys, that will bring children even closer to the stories and characters they love.
This coincides with a notable shift in the African edutainment sector, which is being consumed and celebrated globally.
“With better access to digital platforms and a growing appetite for diverse stories, the world is ready for what Africa has to offer,” Olafuyi highlights.
Indeed, the industry is seeing more African creators owning their narratives, more platforms supporting homegrown content, and more collaboration across borders.
“The next five years are going to be powerful for this space, and we’re excited to be part of that evolution,” she concludes.
Meanwhile, Kunda Kids’ focus remains on staying true to its storytelling roots whilst continuing to innovate and explore fresh, engaging formats.
