Instagram story viewer> @onyinye_iwu> Posts

Onyinye Iwu

@onyinye_iwu

3.4K

followers

1096

following

O-nin-yay E-woo • Author • Illustrator • Artist • Teacher
🍚The Best Jollof Rice Ever!
👸🏾African Queens
Rep @rcwliteraryagency
🇮🇹🇳🇬🇬🇧

POSTS STORIES REELS

Its Black History Month in the USA and whilst my book won’t be out for a few more months i thought i’d share my thoughts on this time and one of the reasons why this book was born.

African Queens will be released in the UK in August and the US in December of this year — just before Black History Month in both countries.

That timing matters. African history, and especially African women’s history, deserves to be centred, taught, and celebrated beyond a single month. This book is part of that work.

🌍👸🏾Pre-order a copy of African Queens now! 👸🏾🌍

Links in my bio🙌🏾

#blackhistorymonth #blackhistory #africa #childrensbook #kidlit by @onyinye_iwu

African Queens is a non-fiction children’s picture book that tells the story of twelve incredible African female leaders. From Kush to Dahomey this book tells the true achievements that shaped Kingdoms and Empires all over the continent.

The book i needed as a little African girl growing up in northern Italy.

Oh and the best part … it was written and illustrated by me!

Published by @walkerbooksuk

Thank you @atinuke.author for your quote, you were so instrumental in this idea becoming a reality.

So nice i had to share it twice!

SWIPE ➡️➡️➡️ for the back cover!

Out on the 13th of August 2026 in the UK

And sometime in October 2026 in the USA

Pre-order a copy now! Link in bio. by @onyinye_iwu

Reflecting on my work in children’s book illustration so far.

Apart from one book cover in 2016 all of these books have been completed since 2019, whilst having 2 babies and holding down full time teaching.

I still have so much more to do, so many words and drawings to share, but i am proud of the books that i have had the pleasure of working on so far. From picture books, to chapter books, to anthologies, with traditionally published and self published projects, its been an amazing journey so far!

Excited for what’s to come next!

Shoutout to all the publishers, editors, designers and authors i have met along this journey!

@dapsdraws @laurahallain @laurahallain @officialbenjaminzephaniah @claire_linney @atinuke.author @nnediokorafor @lawrencepatrice Wakanji Hoffman and Holly Greenland

@puffinbooksuk @scholastic_uk @otterbarrybooks @walkerbooksuk @ladybirdbooks @_knightsof @rebelgirls

Thanks to Caroline and Millie for being the best ever! @carolinesheldonliteraryagency @rcwillustrated

As always, Love and Light ❤️✨

#illustration #illustrator #kidlit #kidlitart #author #childrensbook #childrensbookillustration #blackillustration #blackauthor #blackillustrators by @onyinye_iwu

What an amazing morning with author & illustrator @onyinye_iwu at @qcpslondon ☀️ KS2 students learned about Africa’s inspiring women leaders through the incredible stories in Onyinye’s new book, #AfricanQueens, while KS1 and Reception enjoyed a special reading of Onyinye’s picture book, #thebestjollofriceever 📚
With games, drawing exercises, and quizzes, it was a lovely morning of creativity, fun, and new insights into history. Thanks to Onyinye and everyone at QCPS. #childrensbooks #blackhistorymonth #schoolevents by @onyinye_iwu

🎂Happy 2nd birthday to my 2nd born!🎂

Baby K has been immersed in my books from day 1. A couple of weeks after his birth i was already on my laptop making final touches to both The Best Jollof Rice ever! and African Queens which i finished at the end of 2024.

Baby K reviewed the proofs, was with me at the book launch, signing books, he helped write and read my speech, guided me through the draw-along and even breastfed a little bit whilst the event was in full swing!

So proud to be a mum to such a lovely curious and happy boy, i am also so happy that i could bring him along with me to events and share my love for books and stories from such an early age.

What a blessing to be a mum to both Big boy K and Toddler K.

All power to mums. Especially the working mums, the ones whose work starts starts again when everyone is sleeps, the ones who have no time off in the holidays, the ones who are doing it on their own. I see you. I stand with you. We can do this! ✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾

#Happybirthday #workingmum #momlife #boymum #mum by @onyinye_iwu

We are in the top 10! I love that the book is spreading its wings!

But its depressing that 9 out of 10 of the top 10 books about African history only feature Ancient Egypt! Africa has 54 countries, 1000s of different languages, communities and traditions and they all mostly invisible in children’s literature!

Well i’m glad to be an agent of change!

Thank you to my USA family for championing my book and spreading the word! Please do not stop!

@candlewickpress @rcwillustrated

#africanqueens #usa #blackauthor #blackillustration #blackartist by @onyinye_iwu

Happy Pub Day to African Queens: Twelve Incredible Stories of Africa’s Legendary Women Leaders by Onyinye Iwu!

This children’s book has the most beautiful illustrations and so much detail in the pictures that I was absolutely captivated.

Blurb:

Twelve powerful African women from throughout history come to life through engaging true stories and bold illustrations.

All over Africa, women have shaped and ruled glorious civilizations—from Queen Hatshepsut of ancient Egypt, who built great temples and chose trade over war, to Mmanthatisi, the Wild Cat queen of the Basia people, who was small in stature but a clever army commander. Legendary Queen Arawelo of Somalia did everything in her power to make sure that men and women were treated equally in her kingdom, while Sayyida al-Hurra, the wealthy pirate queen, enriched her beloved city of Tétouan in Morocco. Potent leaders, thinkers, warriors, and protectors—each woman left her mark on history, and each empowering story comes alive in this lively and absorbing book, packed with facts and bright illustrations.
.
.
Thank you @candlewickpress for the #gifted copy!
.
.
.
.
@onyinye_iwu #childrensbooks #strongblackwomen #queen by @onyinye_iwu

Happy Publication to the US edition of African Queens!

Look at that lovely cover 👀😍🫶🏾

I hope this book can bring joy, knowledge, confidence and empowerment across the pond!

Thank you @candlewickpress @rcwillustrated

#kidlit #usa #blackauthor #africanqueens #blackillustrator by @onyinye_iwu

SOLD OUT! My Half term event at Orpington Library is sold out! Excited to bring some African History to @bromleylibraries

#africanqueens #halfterm #bhm #freeevent #soldout by @onyinye_iwu

Free Event! Hope to see you at @wandsworth_libraries on Tuesday for a half term African Queens workshop!

#africanqueens #london #bhm #book #free by @onyinye_iwu

Guess, who is five years old on Wednesday?

My Skin, Your Skin!

This image came up on my memories, when the book was included on Amazon books for BHM, on a billboard in Leicester Square. I know!

Written by moi and illustrated by the super talented @onyinye_iwu , go check out her other books, especially the newly published, African Queens.

I can’t thank @theblacknurserymanager and @eunice_lumsden for their professional support and guidance during the editing phase and beyond.

Editorial support over the years, the two Lous @louiestowell @louisegrosart , Shannon, @libby_walden @janehriordan @beckybrowneditor and @franceselks , @twentygoingontwelve , Francesca and @ladybirdbooks crew I see you!

Design @babslward and @jamesstevensdesign

Big up my agent, @jodieho31 Molly and Amber @unitedagentsbooks

I am still in awe, that the book is still a best seller and, on my travels, hearing from parents, educators and teachers, how the book has supported their own learning and their children.

I have discussed this book on live TV, radio, panels, keynotes, across the UK and globally, etc.

My Skin, Your Skin, has been translated into several languages.

Here is to the next five years of My Skin, Your Skin.

P:S: Can you see little me at the bottom of the photo.

#Kidlit #Author by @onyinye_iwu

Quizzes, draw-alongs and inspired year 3 and 4 Queens and Kings @highgate_school this morning. Thank you Author & Illustrator @onyinye_iwu for sharing your fabulous book African Queens: Incredible Stories of Africa's Legendary Women Leaders. @walkerbooksuk by @onyinye_iwu