Bookworms of the world unite!

A frightening statistic emerged from a 2007 study that only 14% of South Africans read books and over half of South African households (51%) do not have a single leisure reading book. As a result, the South African Book Development Council (SABDC) in partnership with the Department Of Arts and Culture initiated National Book Week in 2010, which is now in its fifth year.

National Book Week runs from 7 to 13 September.

This disturbing insight is a barrier to the country’s development efforts as reading and literacy are at the heart of personal growth, community development and a thriving nation. Having as few as 20 books in the home is proven to have a significant impact in propelling a child to higher levels of education. Furthermore, children who read are able to easily transcend hurdles often imposed by the low educational levels of their parents, their community’s economics or the political systems of their country.

Now in its sixth year, the country’s most successful annual national reading campaign has mobilised some of the best storytellers, musicians, and ambassadors such as Lupi Ngcayisa, Stoan Seate, Refiloe Mpakanyane, Jena Dover, Pearl Thusi and Aaron Moloisi to name a few to get Mzansi travelling again through books. Along with the mascot, Funda Bala, the ambassadors will bring the world to those who dare pick up a book.

South African Book Development Council CEO Elitha Van Der Sandt said, “We are very excited to have partnered with Exclusive Books and Bargain Books so that from 7 to 20 September, selected books will be sold for R20. Please buy a book, not for yourself but for someone who doesn’t own one.”

#BUYABOOK for R20
To unlock this power of reading, NBW 2015 has launched the #BUYABOOK Campaign, a call-to-action to individuals to help put books in the homes and hands of those who cannot afford them.
First in line to heed this call has been publishers Pan Macmillan SA, Penguin Random House SA, and NB Publishers who have offered a selection of discounted books that will be sold in Bargain Books and Exclusive Books stores nationwide. The public is encouraged to purchase the books for R20 and donate them into the NBW book bins in the stores. These books will then be donated to selected communities. Another option is for people to donate books to those they know don’t own one.

At the cutting of the ribbon as the NBW tour bus and mascot were unveiled, Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi said: “This ribbon symbolises the release of love and knowledge of books all over.” Accompanied by the NBW mascot, Funda Bala, they will visit venues in Gauteng, Limpopo, KZN and the Eastern Cape, trumpeting the magic and life-changing power of books. #GOING PLACES is the apt theme of the NBW bus tour, and speaks to both the movement of the National Book Week Tour Bus as it goes from town to town, and the ‘travelling’ to faraway places through the allure of books. The bus tour touches down in Ladysmith, KZN on Thursday, 10 September, at the indoor sports complex to amplify its message in imagining a better South Africa and building it through books.

What can YOU do during National Book Week?

• Participate in the programme in Ladysmith
• Visit your local Bargain Books or Exclusive Books stores and participate in the #BUYABOOK campaign.
• Donate books to organisations working with women, children, youth, and the disabled.
• Corporates are encouraged to #BUYABOOK or two.
• Create your own activities and let the NBW team know about it.
• Promote NBW on your social media platforms.
• Communities, churches, social groups, schools and libraries and anyone with an interest in promoting reading, are encouraged to participate in the campaign to bring awareness of the joy and value of reading books.
• Encourage literacy by starting a reading circle in your local library.