Most kids grow up on the same handful of hero stories, borrowed from the same handful of places. Grace Naa Djamafio Akrong wants African children to have their own, and she wants those stories to star women.

Her books, notably, the Female African Warriors duology, pulls the women of African history out of the footnotes and puts them where kids can actually find them.

They get to be on the page, in full color and star as the heroes of their own stories. Below, in her own words, she explains why that mattered enough to write a book about it.

Meet the Author

Grace introduces herself the way she’d want a young reader to understand her. An introduction rooted in storytelling, art, and culture, with a clear sense of who her work is for.

My name is Grace Naa Djamafio Akrong, and I am a Ghanaian author with a passion for storytelling, art, culture, and empowering young people. I have always believed that children should grow up knowing the incredible stories that come from Africa, especially the stories of strong and courageous African women.

Why She Wrote Female African Warriors

The idea for the book didn’t come from nowhere. It came from noticing a gap and then deciding to fill it.

I wrote Female African Warriors because I wanted young readers to learn about women who fought, led, protected their communities, and made a difference in African history. I feel that many of these stories are not told enough, and I wanted to create a book that would bring these women’s stories closer to children in a fun and meaningful way.

What She Hopes Readers Take Away

Ask Grace what she wants a child to feel by the last page and pride comes before anything else.

Through this book, I want young readers to feel proud of their African heritage, learn from these women, and be inspired by their courage and determination. I want them to understand that they can also be brave, confident, and capable of making a difference, no matter their age or gender.

But if the whole book had to land on one feeling, it’s this one.

“I can be a warrior too.”

Most importantly, I hope that when a young reader finishes Female African Warriors, they will look at themselves and think, “I can be a warrior too.”

Conclusion

It’s a short mission statement, but a clear one. Grace isn’t just telling children about the past. She’s handing them a mirror and asking them to notice who’s looking back.