Telling African Stories: A Family Event with Morenike Oyenusi

Bring your children (ages 6-12) and the whole family to an engaging workshop with local author Morenike Euba Oyenusi as she shares her journey of writing and publishing Chasing Butterflies in the Sunlight. Hear a story from the book, be inspired to find your voices and tell your stories and participate in fun hands-on activities that will spark your creativity! Plus, the first 24 families will receive a free copy of the book and an activity workbook.
Chasing Butterflies in the Sunlight is an illustrated chapter book of stories for children aged five to twelve. It was a finalist in the 2021 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the largest international awards program for indie authors and publishers. The book narrates the joys and innocence of childhood as experienced by Ronke, a young girl growing up on a culturally and racially diverse university campus in Nigeria. Through Ronke's adventures, the book beautifully showcases Nigeria's and West Africa’s rich history, geography, culture, and culinary delights.

Morenike Euba Oyenusi is a Nigerian American author, publisher, and lawyer with degrees from the University of London and Jesus College, Cambridge. Passionate about children's fiction, poetry, and being an inspiration to others, in 2020, Ms. Oyenusi founded Paradise Restored Publishing which has published her three award-winning books: Chasing Butterflies in the Sunlight, Isaiah and the Orchestra of Sounds, and The Shepherd’s Care. The imprint has also published Dr. Patricia Aladekoba’s Solace: Empowering Pastor’s Wives to Prevent and Overcome Burnout.

When Ms. Oyenusi isn’t juggling fictional or legal writing, you will probably find her immersed in a good piece of literary fiction, at the theater, watching a movie, jet-setting to new places, hanging out with her children and friends, or discovering new ways to tweak recipes —usually after very long walks that fuel creativity. Her next book, The Primary Colors, will be published in 2025.

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