Sankofa: A Culinary Story of Resilience and Belonging
By (Author) Eric Adjepong
Illustrated by Lala Watkins
Penguin Putnam Inc
Penguin Workshop
31st October 2023
United States
Children
Fiction
Childrens / Teenage general interest: Cooking and food
Childrens / Teenage general interest: Places and peoples
Childrens / Teenage personal and social topics: Racism and anti-racism
Hardback
48
Width 240mm, Height 286mm, Spine 9mm
454g
Inspired by acclaimed chef Eric Adjepong's own childhood, Sankofa is the powerful story of a young boy's culinary journey 400 years into the past to reconnect with his African roots and find his own place in America. What if home was a place you've never been For Kofi, a first-generation Ghanaian American boy, home is a country called Ghana. But it's a place he's never been. When tasked to bring a dish that best represents his family's culture to school for a potluck lunch, Kofi is torn. With the help of his Nanabarima (grandfather), Kofi learns the hardship and resilience his family has endured-and how food has always been an integral part their story and culture. Sankofa is a reminder that food can transport you to a place called home-even if you've never been.
Eric Adjepong (he/him) is the host of a series of live, virtual cooking classes that explore West African cuisine and food of the African diaspora. Adjepong rose to prominence as a finalist on season 16 of Bravo's Top Chef and as a contestant on season 17 of Top Chef All-Stars. As a first-generation Ghanaian American born and raised in New York City, Adjepong sources the flavors and influences in his cooking from many of the West African dishes he grew up eating.
Lala Watkins (she/her) is an illustrator, author, and self-proclaimed good vibes connoisseur. A graduate of the Ringling College of Art & Design, Watkins has worked on numerous childrens books and comics.