Rafiki’s Style

Summary

Rafiki's Style is a short children's story about a young boy who faces teasing from the Cool Cat Crew for his plain hair, bare skin, and crooked teeth. Stung by their words, Rafiki asks his family for zebra hair, fake tattoos, and bling — but his auntie, Sisi, and Mkhulu each gently push back with quiet wisdom. When the Cool Cat Crew changes their tune the following week, Rafiki's response reveals just how much he has grown in confidence.


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On Sunday, Jimmy Zogba scored the winning goal.

On Monday, the Cool Cat Crew strutted by.

“Hey, Rafiki, where’s your zebra hair? Your hair’s so plain, like you don’t care.”

“Hey, Rafiki, where’s your fake tattoo? Your skin’s so boring. You are too.”

“Hey, Rafiki, where’s your bling? Your teeth are wonky, that’s the thing.”

That day, Rafiki walked home slowly.

“Auntie, can I have zebra hair?”

“I can’t cut you zebra hair. Actually, I wouldn’t dare.”

“My skin’s so boring, Sisi. Can you make a fake tattoo?”

“You don’t need one to look like you.”

“Mkhulu, I wish I had some bling.”

“Bling, my child, don’t mean a thing.”

The next weekend, Santi Ramires scored the winning goal.

On Monday, the Cool Cat Crew strutted by.

“Hey, Rafiki! Looking fine!”

Rafiki shrugged. “I look like me; this style is mine.”


Credits

Originally published by Book Dash under a Creative Commons Licensed BY 4.0. This book can be read for free on https://bookdash.org/books/rafikis-style and was created by: Wesley Thompson (Designer), Louis Greenberg (Writer), Audrey Anderson (Illustrator)

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