National Book Week celebrates a decade of promoting a reading culture

National Book Week (NBW), SA’s reading awareness week dedicated to encouraging reading and promoting books, marks a decade of influence on the country’s reading culture and the publishing industry.

Celebrated during the first week in September annually, the festival is driven by the department of Arts and Culture and the South African Book Development Council (SABDC).

This year, the celebration also coincides with the International Literacy Day on September 8.

NBW was launched in 2010 in response to a study commissioned by the SABDC into the book reading habits of adult South Africans. The statistics shined a light on SA’s poor reading culture, revealing that just 14% of South Africans actively read, while an alarming 58% of households did not have a single leisure book at home.

While the quality of life can be said to have generally improved over the last decade, Statistics SA’s recent general household survey reveals a pattern: some parents seldom, while most parents never, spend quality time stimulating and nurturing early childhood development.

The survey further revealed that a third of parents have never told stories, while almost 50% have never read a book with their children.

“The lack of reading interest in our country needs our collective awakening, ” says Elitha van der Sandt, CEO of SABDC.

“Each one of us must take responsibility to encourage people to read. National Book Week provides that platform: a week-long celebration where all South Africans can play their part to promote reading and making books available to those around them.

“We encourage all corporates, leaders across political lines, parents, teachers, community members, brothers and sisters to celebrate stories, reading and books. It is a human right and an inexpensive way to transform the country,” says Van der Sandt.

The celebration this year includes ten indigenous language reading festivals in far and remote communities to mark Unesco’s International Year of Indigenous Languages.

NBW includes an awareness campaign and a programme to be implemented on the ground. Events promote a key message to encourage reading as a fun activity, with each province tailoring the programme to meet local demands.

It will have a strong focus on promoting indigenous languages, local authors, as well as library awareness and access. Events include reading-related activities such as exhibitions, reading books and storytelling sessions, word-building games, poetry, as well as play areas for kids.

The official mascot Funda Bala, which means read’ in Nguni and Sotho, will also make an appearance.

Several celebrities have been strong advocates of the cause over the years and have supported it with their presence.

Creating the groundswell needs a more concerted effort from all corners of society and there is an undeniable truth in the declaration, that it takes a village. NBW’s resilience, a decade long effort, comes from the provincial leadership in the Library Services and a coalition of partners who have been on a mission to tackle the national reading crisis.

“The next decade is a game-changing moment for us, as President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call to mobilise the entire nation behind a massive reading campaign is timely and takes reading up the priority totem pole where it belongs,” says Van der Sandt.

“The SABDC and our partners have consistently been working on making reading a priority and the president’s support should fast track the work we have been doing.

“The success of NBW is in large, part attributable to the strong collaborative efforts of our various partners and stakeholders in finding new and innovative ways to promote reading to current and new generations.”

One of the centrepieces of the NBW is the #buyabook campaign, which the SABDC runs with Exclusive Books and Bargain Books. The public is encouraged to #buyabook from the select list of titles, which also includes books in indigenous languages.

Participating retailers and partners will make it available for R20. The books can be donated at the tills and a team ensures they are given to children across all provinces.

“We want all South Africans to play their part to energise this campaign and more so, our media influencers in society and social media who can mobilise our children, youth and adults to find pleasure from the pages of a book,” says Van der Sandt.

“By supporting #buyabook, you are helping us find the books that children will enjoy, giving them access to those books, and letting them read for pleasure. It is the simplest way to make sure that we are raising future-fit children.”

Another shocking statistic: eight in 10 Grade 4s cannot read for meaning in South Africa. Reading aloud is one of the main approaches to motivate children to read. School leavers with limited basic skills not only risk being excluded from further education, but also from the labour market.

“The recent tsunami of national media attention on the crisis is a clarion call for all of us to Thuma Mina,” says Van der Sandt.

“Reading books for leisure is essential as it informs critical thinking. It is also the foundation for being an involved citizen.”

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