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Ghanaian food storyteller and cultural advocate Bibiana Gyasi, popularly known as Cheflifestyle, has launched her debut children’s book, “The Night The Kitchen Came Alive”, aimed at promoting cultural literacy among young readers.
Speaking at the launch, Gyasi explained the motivation behind the project, highlighting what she described as a significant gap in locally relevant content for children in Ghana.
“There’s a huge gap in local content for children in Ghana- books, gadgets, games, apps and tools. So much of what children consume today is foreign; stories, food, heroes, values etc and this needs to change.
"How can we teach children about our food, culture and heritage if we do not have the resources and tools? How do we preserve our culture if we do not document them for future generations? A lot of children grow up with little or no knowledge of their cultural identity. We need to shape how children see themselves and their place in the world by telling our own stories. “The Night The Kitchen Came Alive” highlights Ghana’s food culture through learning that is both culturally relevant and engaging.”
The book tells the story of a young Ghanaian boy whose grandmother’s kitchen transforms into a vibrant world of traditional cooking tools and local dishes, blending imagination with cultural education.
It serves as a celebration of Ghanaian cuisine while encouraging children to appreciate indigenous knowledge and view the kitchen as a space for learning, creativity and cultural exchange.
Beyond cultural storytelling, the book also addresses gender stereotypes associated with cooking, promoting inclusivity and reinforcing the idea that cooking is an essential life skill for all children.
The publication marks a new phase in Gyasi’s career as a storyteller. Widely recognised for promoting Ghanaian cuisine through digital platforms, she is now extending that narrative into children’s literature.
She described the book as a contribution towards Sustainable Development Goal 4, noting its relevance to discussions on identity, education and youth development.
As part of post-launch activities, Gyasi has outlined plans for school tours, community reading sessions and cultural engagement events nationwide, with the aim of placing books directly into the hands of children.
Central to this effort is the “Gift A Story” initiative, which allows individuals and organisations to purchase copies for donation to underserved schools and vulnerable communities.
The initiative is intended to improve access to culturally relevant literature and ensure affordability does not limit readership.
In the long term, Gyasi is seeking collaboration with the Ghana Education Service to explore curriculum integration, while also planning to translate the book into multiple Ghanaian languages to widen its reach.
She has set a target of distributing 1,000 copies within 90 days.
The book is now officially available for purchase via email: Cheflifestylegh@gmail.com and on socials @cheflifestyle
