The Big and Magical Basketball Games – A BAL x NABU Story
The Basketball Africa League (BAL) has partnered with NABU, a global publisher of multilingual children’s books, to launch a powerful storytelling initiative that celebrates empowerment, education, and inclusion. Together, we're bringing you “The Big and Magical Basketball Games”, a children’s book inspired by the spirit of African basketball, teamwork, and magical adventure.
This exciting release will be launched during BAL Season 5, with special in-arena activations, creative content, and community-driven campaigns.
Book Overview: The Big and Magical Basketball Games
Meet Mwangi, an 11-year-old dreamer known as "Magic", who’s determined to prove himself on and off the court. What starts as a normal day at the BAL training camp turns into a thrilling adventure across Africa with his teammates — Moktar from Morocco, Siratou from Senegal, Rukundo from Rwanda, and Anele from South Africa - as they team up with Leo the BAL Mascot to recover the magical BAL Cup.
From three-point duels with jinns in Morocco, to tricky matchups with Simb in Senegal, to a final showdown with the Abatangana Giants in Kigali, this story is a magical journey of courage, unity, and basketball dreams.
Languages Available:
🇫🇷 French, 🌍 Wolof, 🌍 Kinyarwanda, 🌍 IsiZulu, and 🇬🇧 English
***Instructions and tips for caregivers and teachers to support interactive read-alouds are included on @ReadWithNABU youtube channel.
Availability
“The Big and Magical Basketball Games”
Download the NABU App
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Pricing: Softcover and Digital Editions - $10 / Bulk discounts available for schools and programs
For African regional distribution
For global retail & library access
Why This Matters
This project is more than a book. It's a movement to foster literacy, imagination, and identity through culturally relevant stories. By combining the energy of basketball with the power of storytelling, the BAL x NABU partnership celebrates young readers across Africa and connects them to heroes who look like them and speak their language.
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