National Book Week (NBW) is an annual reading campaign initiated by South African Book Development Council (SABDC) in partnership with the Department of Arts and Culture. TV personalities Pearl Thusi, Aaron Moloisi and Stoan Seete were named NBW ambassadors.
National Book Week coincides with the International Literacy Day on September 8. It saw the light of day after SABDC conducted a study that revealed astonishing statics that “only 14% are active book readers and over half the country doesn’t own a single leisure book in their home”.
In the olden days, people used to gather around fire and read stories to each other. Grandparents used to make it their duty to recite bed-time-stories, but not anymore. The stats reveal that a mere 5% of parents read to their children.
“We are very excited about this one. We have partnered with Exclusive Books and Bargain Books so that from 7th-20th September, selected books will be sold for R20. Please buy a book, not for yourself but for someone who doesn’t own one.” said SABDC CEO Elitha Van Der Sandt.
The NBW shares the same sentiments of FunDza and encourages people to read for pleasure and incorporate reading into their daily lifestyles. The reading campaign was accompanied by the #goingPlaces bus that circulated around South Africa, making stops for events in four provinces. Not only did the bus transport books but it also delivered the joy that reading brings.
Participants came from different literacy organisations and FunDza feature writer, Ndibulele Sotondoshe, was in the bus too, ensuring that South Africans make reading a preferred lifestyle choice.
Rapping along the prominent and celebrated Nancy G, rapper Hitman CEO had a clear message stringed together with rhyming words.
“A reading nation is a powerful foundation. The more you plant is the more you grow; the more you read is the more you know. Drugs will make you a fool but reading makes you cool.” they sang.
“We had a chance to watch inmates compete in a reading competition and you can tell by the way they read that it’s not a once off thing. They live by books and their reading skills were good,” says Hitman.
The bus made its last stop and closed the chapter in style at the Steve Biko Centre in Ginsberg, Eastern Cape.
– by Ndibulele Sotondoshe