How One Black Woman Started a Book Revolution in Benin

She stared down the obstacles to make reading material more accessible in West Africa

Ayaba Totin holds a typical delivery from Ayaba’s Box of Books. Photo: Joy Notoma

Ayaba Totin knew she had to leave France when her daughter, now seven, came home after her first day of kindergarten and told her that she didn’t want to be Black anymore. A classmate had said that her skin was ugly, called her…