Building a Reading Culture

“If you want to hide something from a black person, all you need to do is put inside a book. He will never find it because he abhors reading”. A common saying that goes with some kind of prejudice but embodies a part of reality. Many blacks find this statement intolerable. Forget all your grudges about the phrase if you belong to that group; instead focus on its positive side. Personally, I consider the statement as a wake-up call for us (blacks) to read. I am very aware that the statement does not apply to all blacks, however, for matter of simplicity, the article is focused on Tanzanian context.

I believe most of us usually conduct evaluations at every end of the year to assess what happened over the past twelve months. As with other types of evaluations, the main purpose is to learn and be able to get grounds for future planning. Usually evaluations are followed by plans for the future which may include listing a number of resolutions. I wonder to know how often reading do appear in our lists. Of course, we have few people who would treat reading as part of those obvious things that come naturally. For example we don’t include eating in our lists but find ourselves in contact with kitchens, dining tables and the like all year long.

For those who are able to fit reading in their resolution lists, it will be interesting to know how many have succeeded to realize their reading plans. If you were to conduct a survey and ask Tanzanians how many books they have read after leaving school, I guess only few would declare to have finished a book or part of it. Many (with their shy faces) would try to give excuses for not being able to set eyes on a book page. These results wouldn’t amaze me but it is important to stress that the situation is undesirable and not helping us either.

Lack of reading culture is an old and historic daunting problem of our society. It’s pity that statistics show that reading culture was once high in early eighties but has been dwindling in the past two decades. Reading culture in Tanzania has dropped to 60% from 80% in the early eighties. It is also possible that the situation is more dreadful than what the statistics are telling us. Worst still the little literature that we access is just trivial stuff.

Looking at the number and type of people you meet in bookshops and libraries, at least gives you an idea of what part of our society do read books. Looking at the type of books in the shelves, gives you an idea of an important aspect, the type of materials we read. Most of the books are about curricular subjects and thus only suitable for students. For that reason, it is very easy to understand or predict the kind of knowledge we get out of such literature.

We all know the advantages of reading – the very basic being the search for knowledge. Reading also keep us updated and helps to better understand and predict the opportunities and challenges in the future. As Tanzanians, we need to make reading as part of our life in order to benefit its full potential. The only best way to make this happen is to instil reading culture from tender age.

Just to share my short dream!!!!

It was like a movie, I can see everything very clearly. I see a group of children in serious discussions – each trying to share last night’s story. Every child is eager to make use of any free time a child is able to squeeze. I also see a group of parents on one side and children on the other forming books reading clubs, in short BRC or BOREC if you like (funny names isn’t it?…. ). I see myself running for presidency of the club. Of course, I fulfil one requirement, just have your kid and you are in. Don’t get puzzled, you know for sure that a country presidency is a nightmare for some of us. Then, why not take the ones within our reach, after-all we share the same identity (Mr. President) whether you lead a nation or a children book reading club. Don’t worry about the state house; I have made sure one is constructed for me.

The impacts are overwhelming to include the motivation to attend school. Children are fascinated to attend school not only in order to hear what other children receive from their parents but also share stories from their own parents. I believe we all love to share a piece of word, no wonder gossips spread with a speed of light. Story telling also caters for preventing kids not discussing soap operas as we have ensured that books are not in the same tune to what we see on TV currently.

Someone wakes me up…. I wish the dream was endless same as my presidency.

As we are about to finish the year, let’s plan to begin the next year with the intent to develop reading culture. Let us identify few books and plan to read them in the coming year. For parents – plan to read books to your kids. For those who think that they don’t have time, it’s good to know that time doesn’t come if we don’t look for it. For example, as busy as he can be, President Obama sets time for bed stories to his daughters, Sasha and Malia. And these were Obama’s words to American parents (and this may apply to all parents).

“As parents, we have to find the time and the energy to step in and help our children love reading. We can read to them, talk to them about what you’re reading, and make time for this by turning off the television set ourselves.” Excerpts: the keynote speech to the American library association.

‘Walk the talk’ – that’s my advice to parents. If you want your child to read, be a reader. Children will love reading only if they see adults around them are doing the same. Opting for a book against a computer and TV is a challenging fact at our present times. As parents, we should take note of this and help our kids to overcome the challenge.

All the best

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