I am Nefertiti

Named by her grandmother, for the Egyptian queen, Nefertiti has played the drums since she was very small. Setting off to her first rehearsal with a band, she is reminded by her Dad that she is, indeed, Nefertiti. That’s what her Dad always reminds her, when she is nervous, and it makes her feel ten feet tall. She is introduced to the band players, and the teacher decides her name Nefertiti is too tricky to say, so she tells her she will call her NEF. The band begins to play, the recorder squeaks, the kalimba clangs, the piano plonks, the marimba plinks, the violin screeches and the ukulele twangs! Frustrated, Miss Potts the teacher decides they need a drum beat to pull them all together and she shouts, “Nef, give us a beat!” Nefertiti feels her skin tighten and her body shrink, but she does give a beat, “cu cu cha cha, cuc cuc cha.” This time the instruments soar, rock, glide and groove. However, Nefertiti has had her confidence smashed, and it takes a while for the teacher and her band to realise her upset, and to recognise the importance of honouring Nefertiti’s full name. The band of eclectic instruments resumes its rehearsal with a steady drum beat, “and the music sounds so sweet.” A book to treasure, for children to understand the importance of embracing their name and identity, whilst plainly seeing illustrated the joy of playing musical instruments together.