SA Book Fair shows that the nation is gradually starting to read
JOBURG - It has been a weekend of activities at this year’s book fair held at Constitution Hill from Friday 6 September until Sunday 8 September.
The book fair started with a curated programme for children on Friday with more than 300 children from different schools attending.
Saturday and Sunday provided a much broader insight into South African literature. Different sessions on various topics were held. Authors discussed their books and topics surrounding various genres in literature.
The twins have a warm personality and a unique passion for food. Raised by a mother and a grandmother, most of their cooking lessons were learnt at home. #WeRead #ReadBecause #CaxtonCares @AlexNewsZA @NE_Tribune @SABookFair pic.twitter.com/WrBsErQfcp
— Phathu Luvhengo (@LuvhengoPhathu) September 8, 2019
Talking to the North Eastern Tribune on Sunday afternoon (8 September), South Africa’s Book Fair programme manager Lorraine Sithole said the culture of reading in South Africa was growing.
She said it was evident from the number of publishers and authors that were entering the industry. She said although books are expensive, they have learned from this year’s fair that people are buying the books. “We have a growing movement of young black people who are reading and they are demanding stories which are about them, written for them,” she said.
#WeRead #ReadBecause #CaxtonCares The twins Tebo and Lebo tell us about their vibrant and lovely exprience when they where in the United States @SABookFair #WithLoveFromTheTwins
— Phathu Luvhengo (@LuvhengoPhathu) September 8, 2019
She indicated that the SA book fair is one of many projects under the South African book development council (SABDC). “Although the book fair is a one-weekend event, the SABDC works tirelessly throughout the year,” she said.
Sithole said getting the nation to read is important, but before it is done, there is a need for material which speaks to the nation.
“So more than the book fair, the SABDC also does advocacy work, they run workshops for upcoming publishers and authors to upskill our authors to write, bigger and better stories in order for the nation to start reading them,” she said.
#WeRead #ReadBecause #CaxtonCares The twins prepare their first meal, a samp @AlexNewsZA @NE_Tribune @SABookFair pic.twitter.com/j5nu6o2nPr
— Phathu Luvhengo (@LuvhengoPhathu) September 8, 2019
#WeRead #ReadBecause #CaxtonCares
Audiences are testing the meals prepared by chefs Lebo and Tebo @AlexNewsZA @NE_Tribune @SABookFair pic.twitter.com/Dwt1mdLyA6— Phathu Luvhengo (@LuvhengoPhathu) September 8, 2019
Related article:
https://northeasterntribune.co.za/241472/tweets-switching-fiction-nonfiction-sabf2019/