Tanzania’s Education Minister, Adolf Mkenda, has banned the popular children’s book series, “The Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” from schools in the East African country. The government claims the books violate local cultural norms and has urged parents to ensure their children do not have copies.
Other banned books include “Sex Education: A Guide to Life,” and two books that appeared to be pages from “An ABC of Equality,” which included terms such as transgender and LGBTQIA.
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Mkenda stated that the books are “unacceptable” and that the government is monitoring libraries in public and private schools to ensure compliance with the ban.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan has also recently called for Tanzanians to live in accordance with local cultures and traditions, following comments by a senior member of the ruling CCM party who claimed that same-sex activity is rampant in universities and is prohibited by religious books.
The first book in the “Wimpy Kid” series was published in 2007, and since then, it has sold over 275 million copies worldwide in 69 languages, with several film adaptations.
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