Welcome to the inspiration behind the book series Neo & Nubia. I am Chinwe Onyeagoro, and with my brother Oby, we are the creators, and I am delighted you are here with us.

Neo and Nubia is a book that has lived in our minds for years and takes young readers on a thrilling journey filled with adventure, discovery, and the power of imagination. This remarkable series showcases diverse characters, celebrates the beauty of African culture, and instills important values of resilience, friendship, and the pursuit of knowledge. Thank you for joining me as I discuss the inspiration behind Neo and Nubia and the driving force that brought this extraordinary literary universe to life.

The inspiration behind creating Neo & Nubia.

My brother, Oby, worriedly calls me one evening after having yet another “princess” moment with his 4-year-old daughter, Zoe Mai. In playing a flash card game, it was clear that she knew chapter and verse about what it meant to be a princess but had no clue that the first kings, queens, princes, and princesses in the world all came from Africa and looked just like her and our family.

Oby was concerned and didn’t know how to share that truth with her. So he called me, hoping that I had answers. Unfortunately, with my own five-year-old daughter, all I had was a shared feeling of frustration and more questions. As much as we all enjoy fairytales, we, knew it was time for more.

And so we began at the beginning, in Africa, with the goal of sharing the first true princess story of Mitochondrial Eve that opened the door to all the rest with our six kids.

The audience we had in mind when writing Neo & Nubia

We’re most excited about reaching early readers and their parents. Neo & Nubia is not just for storytime. It’s for all time. When they are through, don’t be surprised if your kids let their teachers and classmates in on a few secrets that close gaps in their school syllabus.

This book is for all people from all cultures and backgrounds. We believe it will have a unifying effect to know that we all have a common ancestor. We hope it will make readers feel a deeper connection to and pride in our shared African heritage and story.

The thing that makes Neo & Nubia a must-have

Neo & Nubia is designed to be your child’s first world history-focused book and their latest STEM read.

They will learn about the first humans – where we came from and how we lived. They will be dazzled by the majestic illustrations of beautiful people and places that Neo & Nubia meet along the way.

And on their journey, they will witness scientific discoveries just as our early ancestors did, from the chemistry of fire to the countless ways we use it to illuminate, warm, cook, communicate, and protect.

Every image in this book will fill them with unspeakable pride in our culture, and each verse will forever expand their knowledge of our contributions to the world.

The reason we choose to self-publish?

Originally, Oby and I were really excited to complete this book for our own kids who are all under the age of 10. But anytime we shared what we were up to with friends, teachers, colleagues, and even perfect strangers, they all wanted copies of the book for their own kids, nieces, students, and neighbors.

Many shared that they regretted never gaining exposure to this story growing up. So we decided to self-publish Neo & Nubia, to make it available to a wider community of parents, educators, and friends.

Why did we feel there is a need for this story now?

It is generally accepted that learning a new language and studying music as a child expands one’s perspective.

We believe that experiencing some of the greatest STEM moments in human history and those who made them possible throughout the African Diaspora will be inspirational and foundational for kids.

It is a loving gift to the next generation when they are beginning to explore the concepts of self and identity.

They will learn about their great ancestors’ legacy and realize their limitless potential.

What this book means to us.

This book is a heartfelt thank you to our Nigerian immigrant parents and the “village” for teaching us about our heritage and history.

No longer will we jump from the study of chimpanzees to the history of Western civilization. Over 200 thousand years of human evolution and innovation in Africa gave birth to all people and knowledge.

Neo & Nubia are the new guides who will teach our kids these important lessons. And our kids will retell these stories and ensure that the world honors and preserves them for generations.