
Hi, I am Ninoshka!
And this is my story!
My Story
In her ballet class, Ninoshka stands out. She looks different. She sounds different. Because of this, she is teased for being different. The other ballerinas make fun of her beautiful African Kinky Afro, often calling her hair messy, wild, and nappy. At home, her Bibi (Grandmother) makes it her mission to teach Ninoshka who she is, reminding her through an affirmation that being different is powerful.

Book by Sunita
Miya-Muganza
A simple conversation, on a Saturday morning, changes Ninoshka’s life forever.
The Journey
I started writing this book in 2016. I was inspired to write this book because of the growing natural hair movement. I cut my hair off and went natural. I decided to go on a journey of discovery and self-acceptance.
Growing up in an African household, I never saw women embrace their natural hair. All the women around me wore wigs or braids. As a little girl, I understood that my hair had to belong and straighten to be beautiful. This reality created a sense of sadness and low esteem because I wasn’t born with straight hair.
I wrote this book to change the conversation about what is deemed beautiful. As a storyteller, it is important to me to bring nuance and a new perspective to this topic. I know how I felt about my hair, and truth be told, I was uncomfortable with my hair and how it looked.
This book is a love letter to young girls struggling with self-acceptance. I want them to know that they are beautiful just as they are.
The Author
Sunita Miya-Muganza is a writer and filmmaker. She was born in Tanzania and raised in British Columbia. Passionate about diversity and representation in stories, her debut children’s book, Nappy Nicky, aims to reach a diverse audience of young readers with inclusivity and compelling storytelling.
Her love for storytelling began at a local church, where she worked as an Artistic Director for many years and directed all the stage performances, 15 plays in total by 2012. After graduating from university in 2014, she had two choices: pursue a law degree or her passion for storytelling. Much to her parent’s chagrin, she chose the latter.
In 2015, Sunita produced her first independent play, The Man with a Womb, which premiered at Bait Zatoun. Then, in 2016, she founded her production company, Grassroots International Productions, also known as Gripmedia Films, and went on to direct her first short documentary, Badassery, a film about unapologetically black female DJs pursuing their passions and crafting their careers in a male-dominated industry. Since then, Sunita has produced and directed several projects, including The Intersection, Love & Green Tea, and Connexion (Season 2:Play).
Sunita’s mission is to write character-driven stories that center around women and girls’ experiences that have forged their path outside societal norms. She now hopes that Nappy Nicky captures the wild imagination of children worldwide.
Q&A
With Sunita Miya-Muganza
Why did you decide to write this book?
I decided to write a children’s book because I wanted to tell a very personal story of self journey and acceptance through a little girl’s experience. I wanted to see myself, my culture, and my language depicted in a children’s book.
What is so important about Nappy Nicky?
Nappy Nicky is not a hair story. Nappy Nicky is a story about one’s journey to self-discovery and self-acceptance. We dive into the world of ballet, where so few African children participate or feel like they belong. Ninoshka is a vibrant and curious little girl thrown into a world where she stands out not only because of her brilliant commitment to her craft as a ballerina but also for how she looks. She stands out because of her beautiful afro and her brown skin. This is a lot for her to process and understand as a seven-year-old.
Nappy Nicky is an important story because we explore the idea of belonging and creating spaces of understanding, compassion, and love for everyone to feel safe. We all have struggled to find a sense of belonging at some point in our lives.
This book allows us to go on a journey with Ninoshka (Nicky) as she finds her place.
What is the future you would like to give to Nappy Nicky and why?
I plan to release the book in the fall of 2022 and have people connect with the story personally. My hope for the book is to have it translated into various languages across the globe. I have two dreams for Nappy Nicky. My first dream is to do a book tour, and my second dream is to be included in the TD Summer Reading Club.
Events
When
Where
Coming Soon…
