In an effort to reawaken the reading culture in Nigeria, a lot of institutions and individuals have elected to organise book readings by authors at different venues and locations. Edozie Udeze in an interaction with some stakeholders in the sector seeks to see how this has impacted on the society and the authors and the books in question and more.
It is trending now. And the groove is also catching on. Most people have equally begun to show interest in the development. It therefore seems to be a positive development geared towards helping the literary firmament in Nigeria to grow and spread. A lot of authors in recent times have been made to read their works to the public. This is an idea that is not just a model but equally germane to reinforce the habit of being in love with literature once more. The reading culture has to come back.
In the past years, there had been fears that most Nigerians, particularly the youths had lost interest in reading. But the likes of the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA); the Department of English, the University of Lagos (Unilag); The Quintessence, Ikoyi, Lagos; Jazzhole, Falomo, Lagos and such other concerned groups and individuals have taken it upon themselves to organise the public readings of some topical books by the authors. Interestingly, these readings have seen the presence of both the old and the young in the society. People have been responding both in terms of the questions they ask and the purchasing of the books themselves. What does this show or portend for literature in Nigeria? Is there any hope that this trend will help to encourage the public to redirect their attention to reading and sorts?
For C. don Adinuba, a journalist and former literary critic, “oh, literature is not what I can leave. It is not possible. However, what is happening is a very good development. Authors come here, read their works, sensitise the people; it helps to publicise these works. It also enables us to get clearer classifications of the authors, in terms of doubts and controversies about their works and all sorts. It also points to their lifestyle and ideologies. So when they come in, you see them, you feel them, you touch them, you feel them flesh and blood. Nothing will take the place of one-on-one encounter with an author especially the big ones known all over the universe. It is a sort of conversation with the author. So for me it is a very healthy development. I therefore strongly suspect that there’s a growing interest in literature at the moment. After the Chinua Achebe generation, the interest in literature began to decline. But I think it is returning gradually. Almost every weekend, you get to hear about one reading or the other. And Nigerians, both home and abroad are writing too. For example you can see the works of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, among others. And so you can see the revamping of interest in Literature. It is a good thing. The impact is that it has actually expanded the scope of interest in literature. And there are newer works of people even in their teens. Young people who are eager to write, to show their skills. This, I consider wonderful. I just met a young girl here who is just 14, yet she wants to study literature. The father is an engineer yet he did not discourage her. This is the sort of thing we’re talking about. She is having her way. Literature ideal endures. Considering the economic hardship we are passing through, it is really good to see literature develop and prosper” he presented.
For Jahman Anikulapo, also a journalist, culture activist and promoter, and chairman of CORA, “In the first place, I think there is no way we would have escaped these readings, as part of our literature. You know there’s been this debate that if you want to hide something from an African man, put it inside a book. But since we’ve not been totally condemned, at least some people read motivational books, we now rely on writings too to tell our own stories. So why don’t we go in that direction? If you have been following this development, you’d have noticed the number of books sold. Take for instance this Okey Ndibe outing, today alone over 40 books have been sold. His works, I mean. Even if they don’t read the books, it is on record that they’ve been bought. Just imagine that there’s no reading session like this, what would have happened? The books would just be sitting at the bookshops or in the libraries.”
Anikulapo known for his deep love for the promotion of literature and literary values went on further: “So reading is good. This is what CORA also does a lot. We call it book trek. It helps to deepen our literacy. I always say it is not about literature alone. It is about the fact that people are showing interest at all in literary affairs. It helps to open up people’s mental being so that they can assimilate the ideas of literacy, in their private lives and so on. We’ve always said that the only way you can grow the human capital is to expose them to literacy. It is not just literature, it is about literacy. That is why I don’t mind that people are reading just motivational books. Just let people be empowered, capacitated. That is the first step we’ve to take. So, reading, public reading of books by authors also helps. If I have my way there’ll be reading every day – different literary books, I mean.”
He still strongly believes that, “this will make both the books and the authors available to the people. That’s why we launched the book trek. At the Lagos book and art festival, you see how we celebrate books. We insist it is better for authors to come to read their works. For me this is more important to us – let the people also encounter the book. That’s why we also do book party after NLNG has announced the longlist of eleven out of hundreds that submitted their works. Because when you see these eleven that came out of the whole lot, it means any of them can win the prize. That is why we call them the laureates. They are already winners. Out of two hundred, you can choose any of them as the winner. This is also why we bring them together. Let them read their books; let them talk about their works and let people see and hear their voices. People have to share these stories; see what they’ve written and what impact they make in the society.
“People say most people do not buy the books, but when they meet with the author, they are inspired to do so. So, encountering the book, encountering the author, that gives impetus to the literacy and helps to build new set of readers. It is not just for the sake of the art. A lot of people came here today not just because they love Okey or they want to see or feel him, but because they want to relax, listen to the stories told by an author and so on.
“It is even children who should be exposed more to this trend. As parents we no longer have the time to tell them stories. But if they come here, we develop them on time. If they sit down with the author and share with him it is part of mentoring. We all gained from it, from one sort of mentoring or the other. We were mentored not necessarily by our parents, but by people we looked up to as our models. This is what you have mostly in developed societies, but we have to have such here in Nigeria. In Europe and elsewhere, people read their works at book festivals. But we have to follow what happens in Britain; put people with their books on the road. Let him meet the people. In this tour Ndibe has done now, I am sure he has sold over one thousand books and met more people than he’d expected. A lot of people are aware of his works. It is catching on and it is good for the society”
Alhaji Abdulazeez Udeh is a publisher, businessman and author, who is also a keen observer of developments in the literary sector. He said: “Yes, the authors are making Nigerians, those who tend to encounter their books, conscious. And they begin to want to read the books. This is impressive indeed. When you encounter the author, the feel is better, it is more realistic and infectious. It also adds value to the book. People are meant to know that whatever ideas or ideals you have can be put into book form. You can entomb those stories into a book form for people to read to know and realise who you are and where you are coming from. And this lasts forever. And you can’t tell who is going to get hold of the book and read it. So, the impact goes beyond anything you can imagine. You never know; it can run on and on and on. It is a wonderful thing that they come to read to us in different locations and venues. Like Ndibe said; you read the book, you feel the book and see what it tells you’.
“This is not about people writing a book, print a few, then launch it and then thereafter people forget about it. No this one is different. People gather, listen to and encounter the author, buy his books and read them. And I hope schools will adopt some of these books to help our children to learn. That will also give tremendous boost to the sales of these books. Yes, the stories do not have to be relevant for the moment. What matters is that people have ideas and they are putting them down for others to read and learn from. It does not have to be popular. What matters most is that this story is out there; go buy it and read. Publishers are already investing in publishing these books. They have done their bit; let the people, the reading public, do the rest.
Koko Kalango of the Rainbow Book Club, in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, is a committed book lover who was in-charge of the Port Harcourt Book Festival for over eight years. In her view, book reading, “is for the writer to meet the people and read the book. For me, this is interesting, quite interesting because it helps people to see the author and identify him with the ideas he has projected. It also encourages more people to look for the book and buy it. It is not that you go and research on the author alone. You’re seeing him flesh and blood and it helps to situate him and his work.
“To me, it helps also to spread the joy of reading. I can speak about the Rainbow Book Club in Port Harcourt where I operate. Book reading, from my own experience has helped to make more people fall in love with literature, literary materials and books generally. It is better when you invite younger children to be part of it. It helps them to meet the author, listen to him, ask questions and get to know more about writing. A lot of talents, like Odia Ofeimun said, have not been discovered. But they can be discovered through this kind of forum. But above all, it helps them to develop their minds, gather ideas and materials around issues that are interesting to them”.
Kalango who also organises book readings in Port Harcourt, continued, “It provides a kind of entertainment outlet for the younger ones in particular, because they can be quite restless. When they are not engaged, they start getting into vices. So this sort of outing is good to keep them busy. Reading engages your mind, keeps it alert and occupied. When writers are made to interact with children which is what I do most in the Rainbow Book Club, the idea is to allow the children to be involved in this interaction and enjoy it. This was why we have brought the likes of Wole Soyinka and Ngugi Wa Thiong’o to Port Harcourt. The first time Soyinka was made to do so, he confessed it was a new idea to him. But he eventually interacted with the children and it was good. We also have been able to establish more book clubs, organised writings and so on. This has helped literacy to boom and thrive in Rivers State,” she stated with a twinge of pride, as broad smiles cascaded her face.
But in all this, what sorts of stories are these authors penning down? Of all these, which stories intrigue the public most? Some of the stakeholders differed on this. However, it is apparent that memoirs, crimes, adventures, romance and popular stories told to capture the essence of the people curry more attention. “Oh, yes”, Anikulapo said, “Memoirs capture the most attention. It might interest you to know that people want to know what has happened to an author. They want to identify with his life experiences, what he has seen or encountered while he moves on in life. This is the case in Ndibe’s readings. Those issues you think do not matter, people are thrilled to hear about them”.
As for Adinuba, it is more of romance, crimes and adventures. “Are you surprised that more people want to identify with crimes; to know what happens in different parts of the world? But my fear is that in an attempt to write more on crimes, we are losing sight of the cure essence of literature itself”, Adinuba averred, musing endlessly.
In all, what matters in these circumstances, is that literature is thriving. People get together to listen, react and buy books. This way, the literary scene is agog, it is exciting and it is rewarding.