Celebrate the launch of Sunny Side Songs: Back to The Garden, the first in a series of children’s books written by Ngonda Badila and illustrated by her twin sister, Ntangou Badila. This vibrant celebration will include a musical performance and storytime, music activities for children, book sales, signing, and refreshments! Children ages 4 and older are invited to arrive early for a banjo-playing workshop led by special guest, Zack Munsell of Friendly Banjos.
Featuring rewritten nursery rhymes that promote nutritional, spiritual, and mental wellness, these books share positive messages through story and music. This first installment includes an audiobook soundtrack by Ngonda Badila (aka Lady Moon), accompanied by guitarist Farhad Farahmand. Join us in celebrating this joyful book with an event filled with music, inspiration, laughter, and community!
Date/Time: Tuesday, July 14, 4 – 6pm (Banjo Workshop: 4 – 4:20pm)
Location: Hudson Area Library Community Room
Registration:
Banjo workshop: Space is limited and registration is required. Please email programs@hudsonarealibrary.org or call 518-828-1792.
Book launch and performance: No registration required. All are welcome!
Ngonda Badila, known artistically as Lady Moon, is a passionate community activist and creative force based in New York’s Hudson Valley. Currently a music teacher at Catskill Montessori School and an assistant guide, nurturing young voices and imaginations weekly. She is also the founder, lead singer, songwriter, and creative director of the live music ensemble Lady Moon & The Eclipse, blending soaring vocals with Neo Soul and Afrobeat influences to create conscious, uplifting music. Deeply rooted in holistic wellness and community, she is also a certified yoga instructor and experienced birth worker, weaving mindfulness and empowerment into all she does. Through her Sunny Side Sing book series, Ngonda reimagines familiar songs with fresh sounds and messages designed to spark new consciousness, joy, and awareness in children—nurturing the next generation of thoughtful, connected individuals within our families and communities.
Ntangou Badila is a Congolese-American visual artist based in Hudson, New York. Her dynamic paintings explore movement, color, and inner ecosystems, drawing from indigenous wisdom, spirituality, and the natural world. Influenced by the legacy of her father, renowned Congolese multidisciplinary artist Andre Elombe Badila, she transitioned from a successful career as an Executive Pastry Chef to pursue painting full-time. Her work has been featured on platforms such as AfroPunk, OkayAfrica, Demur Mag, and Snax Magazine, where she was a cover artist. Badila has exhibited widely, including solo shows Queendwombmen, Gemini Moon, and her 2024 exhibition at Hudson Hall, reflecting her unwavering dedication to the pursuit of creative excellence and spiritual exploration.