As the eyes of the world are on South Africa’s soccer fields, the prestigious Audiobook of the Year award was presented to Nelson's Mandela Favorite African Folktales.

The audiobook features a diverse, international cast of stars reading the uniquely African fairytales for young children. Charlize Theron, Whoopi Goldberg, Helen Mirren, Don Cheadle and others can be heard narrating the book.

Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales took home the industry’s top honours from the Audio Publishers Association at a gala Audie Awards ceremony held in New York. Proceeds from the audiobook provide support for children in South Africa orphaned and impacted by HIV/AIDS.

Ellen Myrick, Chair of the Audie Award judging committee, stated, “Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales is a tremendously worthy recipient of an Audiobook of the Year award…. through the effort and generosity of the voice actors, the director, the publisher and others, it will make a lasting difference in the lives of countless children — both those who will be enriched by the listening experience and those who benefit from Nelson Mandela’s Children’s Fund and Artists for a New South Africa.”

Folktales beat finalists The Time of My Life by Patrick Swayze and The Word of Promise Audio Bible for Audiobook of the Year.

President of the Audio Publishers Association Janet Benson noted, “Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales illustrates what can be done with an amazing cast, stellar stories, and excellent marketing and PR. The stories offer something for all ages; it marks the first time my own 10-year-old took the CD from the car to the kitchen to keep listening while we made dinner… and when it was done, we started it all over again. Magic!”

The acclaimed cast includes: Gillian Anderson, Benjamin Bratt, LeVar Burton, Ricardo Chavira, Don Cheadle, Matt Damon, Whoopi Goldberg, Sean Hayes, Hugh Jackman, Samuel L. Jackson, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Debra Messing, Helen Mirren, Parminder Nagra, Sophie Okonedo, CCH Pounder, Alan Rickman, Jurnee Smollett, Charlize Theron, Blair Underwood, Forest Whitaker, and Alfre Woodard. 



Archbishop Desmond Tutu recorded a message to the world’s children, and African music legends Johnny Clegg and Vusi Mahlasela composed original music. In his foreword, Nelson Mandela wrote, “It is my wish that the voice of the storyteller may never die in Africa, that all the children of the world may experience the wonder of books.”

Artists for a New South Africa (ANSA) and Hachette Audio produced this audiobook edition for the audiobook. ANSA is a nonprofit organization working in South Africa and the U.S. to combat HIV/AIDS, assist children orphaned by the disease, educate and empower youth and advance human rights.

The funds generated by the sales of the audiobook are having life-changing results in South Africa. Through the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (NMCF) and ANSA’s It Takes a Village program, the funds provide comprehensive support and services to children severely impacted by HIV/AIDS and to their communities.
 
www.mandelasfavoritefolktales.com

Julie Cunningham