💡 Writer ✏️ Producer 👾 Kid at Heart ✨
Hi! I’m Nisha, a Thai-American writer, creator, educator, and social entrepreneur based in Uganda. I write and co-write books, TV and radio programs for children in English, Kiswahili and Thai. I especially love collaborating and supporting people who have great stories to bring fun, inspirational books and learning to kids around the world.
I co-founded Ubongo, a Pan-African social enterprise that creates edutainment programs like AKILI AND ME, UBONGO KIDS and NUZO AND NAMIA, which have helped over 42 million kids learn and love learning. I now support Ubongo as a board member and advisor, while focusing on writing full time.
Poke around here to check out my past and upcoming work!
For publishing, I’m represented by Kaitlyn Sanchez of Bradford Literary Agency
Books
Words: Kanya Sesser & Nisha Lamsam Ligon
Pictures: Lenny Wen
COMING NOV. 2026 from Little Bee Books
No Legs, No Limits
I co-authored What Do You Like to Do / Unapenda Kufanya Nini? and other English/ Kiswahili bilingual books available from Mkuki na Nyota Publishers in Tanzania, Queenex Publishers in Kenya, and digitally on Kindle and the Ubongo Playroom App.
Ubongo Bilingual Books
Kiswahili leveled readers and decodable books shared on Pratham Storyweaver and African Storybook Project. Coming soon to print!
Vitabu vya Kiswahili
TV & Film
I co-created the preschool educational TV series Akili and Me with my amazing colleagues at Ubongo, and executive produced and co-wrote the show’s first three seasons.
I’m also the voice of Bush Baby!
Akili and Me
I co-created the kids’ STEM TV series UBONGO KIDS with Rajab Semtawa, Cleng’a Ng’atigwa, and Tom Ng’atigwa in Tanzania in 2012, and grew the show across the continent. I executive produced and co-wrote seasons 1-5 of the show (now on season 7)!
And I’m the voice of Mama Ndege in English.
Ubongo Kids
Twiga Stars: Tanzania’s Soccer Sisters
I directed and produced the award winning documentary TWIGA STARS: TANZANIA’S SOCCER SISTERS (2010). It follows a year in the life of the Twiga Stars, the Tanzanian women's national football team, as they prepare for their biggest competition, and fight to prove that "wanawake wanaweza," meaning women are capable.
Featured at the Africa International Film Festival, Vail Film Festival, Thin Line Festival, and many more. Winner of the audience choice award at the Africa World Documentary Festival.