The literary world is in awe of Hephzibah Akinwale, a 10-year-old Black girl from the United Kingdom, who has made history by breaking the world record for the longest fictional book written by a child with a whopping 58,000 words. Her debut novel, Chronicles of The Time Keepers: Whisked Away, follows her adventurous tale of diving into mysterious dreams that feel as real as her everyday life.
Beating the previous record-holder, 11-year-old Manikya Sanghi, who wrote the award-winning Wizard of Sansanadia with 44,000 words, Hephzibah isn’t just out to break records. Her mother, Chika, hopes her daughter’s success will ignite a creative fire in other children around the world, stating to Shine My Crown, “I believe Hephzibah’s story offers a unique and timely narrative.”
Notably, Hephzibah’s talents have also earned her recognition among the top 20 young people selected to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III by the East Cambridgeshire District Council, further cementing her impact within her local community.
As the Akinwale family continues to celebrate Hephzibah’s achievement, they offer a poignant reminder of the African saying “The young bird does not crow until it hears the old ones” Acknowledging the tremendous support the family has received from their local community, Chika states, “Hephzibah’s story is an inspiration to families worldwide.”
Africa Giant celebrates African achievers by coining the term “African Giant” as recognition and celebration of Africa’s finest. Hephzibah Akinwale has undoubtedly earned a place among the African Giants, and her success represents yet another milestone in Africa’s rich cultural heritage.
