TribesAndHistory: Welcome, Palang! Let’s start with a quick introduction. What’s your name, and how would you like to be addressed?

Palang: My name is Palang, and I’d like to be addressed as Palang.

TribesAndHistory: Wonderful. And how can people connect with you online?

Palang: I’m active on LinkedIn under the name Palang Mallo. On Instagram, you can find me as Shelbe_Mallo, and I also have a large community on Facebook where I go by Palang Faith Mallo. It’s the same name across most platforms.

TribesAndHistory: Amazing. So, where are you originally from?

Palang: I’m from Nigeria—specifically, Plateau State.

TribesAndHistory: Really? I wouldn’t have guessed! That’s amazing. So what inspired you to pursue your career and the business you’re running now?

Palang: First of all, I’m a teacher. I’m also a creative and consider myself a global citizen. My inspiration comes from a deep desire to learn and to teach. I believe that if you know something, you have a responsibility to share it.

The journey into my current work, which is creating African-themed coloring books, started during COVID. That time forced a lot of us to pause, reflect, and reimagine. For me, it raised deep questions about identity. I asked myself, “Where am I from?” Beyond my name and knowing where I lived, I didn’t know much. That sparked a personal research journey.

I began writing and posting about different tribes in Plateau State on Facebook. It started as a small project that quickly resonated with many people who also felt disconnected from their roots. People started reaching out, asking me to research their tribes. I was doing phone interviews with elders just to gather accurate information.

Eventually, I compiled this into a book titled Exploring the Plateau: A Little-Known African Gem. Though it’s still unpublished, it was a turning point for me. It helped me realize that instead of waiting until adulthood to search for identity, we could start educating children early, through stories and books that are culturally rooted.

TribesAndHistory: That’s incredible. It’s amazing how something like COVID, though difficult, gave people time to rediscover purpose. What inspired you to take it further and build a coloring book business?

Palang: Honestly, I didn’t initially set out to build a business. I simply wanted to pass on knowledge to the younger generation, so they wouldn’t feel lost like I once did.

I had already started sharing African stories on TikTok under the name “Kaka African Stories,” and it was gaining traction. But I later realized that if I truly believed in limiting screen time for children, I couldn’t keep putting my content on TikTok. That’s when I thought—why not convert these stories into coloring books?

Children are naturally drawn to color, so I thought, why not combine fun with learning? Instead of coloring dinosaurs or monsters, they could color things they see in their daily lives—things tied to their culture and history.

My first trial was a book on Nelson Mandela. Then I created one on Queen Amina. Eventually, I developed a book titled Polo Adventures, which teaches children how to play polo through coloring! From there, the “Explore” series was born. It’s been a fulfilling journey that not only teaches others but also allows me to keep learning as well.

TribesAndHistory: That’s a brilliant concept—combining culture, education, and creativity. So, how has your African heritage shaped your business?

Palang: My African identity is the core of everything I do. If I weren’t African, I doubt I would’ve had the passion to create this. Being African comes with a strong desire to be heard and understood. We carry so many stories, but often lack the platforms to share them.

So for me, this work is more than business—it’s a way to lend my voice to a growing movement of Africans who want to reclaim, preserve, and share our history.

TribesAndHistory: I completely agree. Africans are incredibly innovative and passionate. We are storytellers by nature. So let me ask, what legacy do you hope to leave for the next generation?

Palang: The legacy of knowledge. I want to be remembered as someone who learned and who taught. That’s it. To learn and to teach, that’s the legacy I hope to leave behind.

TribesAndHistory: Beautifully said. And what about your heritage makes you proud?

Palang: It’s the journey. The road to where we are now. Africa might not be where it could be yet, but it has come a long way. And I often think—if half of what happened to Africa happened elsewhere, people might not be as joyful as we are.

But Africans are happy, resilient, and proud. We’ve walked a long road, and we know our worth. I read somewhere: “If you go to any town or city and you don’t see an African, run.” Because we are everywhere. We are unshakable.

TribesAndHistory: That’s so true. Resilience is the unspoken thread running through all our stories. And it’s something I’ve seen again and again with everyone we’ve interviewed.

Any final words of wisdom for our readers?

Palang: Just my favorite saying: “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well.” Whatever you’re building as a creative, especially as an African, give it your best. Do it excellently.

TribesAndHistory: That’s powerful. Thank you so much, Palang, for sharing your journey, your insights, and your passion with us. It’s been an honor.