Kamishibai literally means « paper-play » in Japanese 紙芝居. It is a storytelling technique that comes from Japan. Street storytellers would perform in front of children with the support of illustrations displayed through a wooden frame (butai). Each image reproduces an episode of the story while the corresponding text can be read at the back of the board. Each multilingual kamishibai showcases a great variety of languages (at least four) that all contribute to the story. Playing in turn the authors, the storytellers and the audience, children are both witnesses and actors of multilingual practices.
This website presents Kamilala, a network of actors throughout the world who promote multilingualism and support teachers keen to set up projects open to the languages of the class.
With the support of:
