On the death or life of reading culture.

Hi everyone, for this particular topic, I’d like to take a slightly personal approach to an introduction, as I can only speak for the child I was and the children around me. I remember open days in my school and the book fairs that awaited me if I did well. Reading came naturally to me. Storybooks aside, I tore through my older sister’s school books, from Agbo Areo’s Mother’s Choice to The Virtuous Woman by Zaynab Alkali (a wonderful novel if I’m to trust my memory), and then there were Silhouette and Harlequin books (a book is a book abeg). Even then, the things we’d always hear then are no different from today; Nigeria’s reading culture is dying, abi dead. 

So we’ll get into it. Is the reading culture in Nigeria dead? 

First of all, there is not enough of a system in place that encourages young Nigerians to read beyond whatever reading is considered necessary to pass exams. This is an unfortunate consequence of the neglect of our public education system is fewer people reading. It is a sad, arguably sinister thing; our leaders know that a generation that learns is a generation that thrives, so they choose to cripple them in a bid to hold on to power. Public libraries, which were once a resource that made it so everyone could access a base level of knowledge, are left to fall into awful states, with the staff not considered or incentivised properly. The education system is where many people find leisure reading- reading can be fun, and in school, it may not be taught, but it is usually found. Ask those who went to boarding school about the booklines and how everyone knew who had the novel and who was next; children would tear through books as fast as they could and seek out the next book. If what little fire young readers have is not nurtured, it dies out. 

Now for a frustrating yet simple fact; books are, unfortunately, more expensive. I’m thankful for the availability of many titles, and “second hand” books, but still, books costttttt. Interestingly, I think its always been the case, and it made it so only those who can afford to read could, but refer to my earlier point on access to books limiting thos who could not afford to read from reading. Where do peoeple who’s parents need to keep them fed with what they have get books? (I’m looking at you Federal Republic of Nigeria. Do better.)

Another important factor in this discussion is perception. There have always been generational disconnects about everything. Our parents see the music they listen to as superior to the “stuff” that is coming out today, and in choosing not to understand, they sometimes look down on the work put out today. Books and reading are no different; the work that Nigeria put forward in what many consider to be its “golden age” has people disillusioned with reading what is out today. There is so much brilliant work being put out, but there are those who choose not to seek out the substance they praise their generation for. With varying realities, the concepts explored by writers change- the things that were important to you may not hold as much sway on those after you. The way you read is not the way the generation after you will read. There are so many new variants of reading that are often looked down on. Nigerian publishing housing doing amazing work that goes a long way towards the revival of reading in the country. Online libraries and directories for books, early platforms like Wattpad and the online blogs that removed the blocks to putting work out birthed an entire generation of readers and writers - do not ignore them. 

Technological advancement is often called the death of concentration and focus. Many people would rather watch sped-up videos on TikTok than watch what was once considered short videos on YouTube. The internet has increased the need to get to your audience as quickly as possible. The internet has also revolutionised the written word in many ways; Twitter was originally popularised as a microblogging site “What’re you thinking? Say it in less than 240 characters. Many base their argument on how much reading has changed. Their arguments are not invalid, but things are not one-dimensional. 

For those born at the precipice of the internet, technology is why we’re able to read. We’re a small sample size and not representative of the entire population, but books that no one bothered to create access to for us found their way to us after on Obasanjo’s internet. Our reality is also reflective of a societal problem: if it is hard for a child with access to the internet to read, how much harder is it for one without?

Re: Technology. Times are changing with newer technologies, but reading still has a lot of relevance as there's so much wrapped in the words of the writer. With the coming age, there's hope for a variety of mediums and platforms that will lead to a reading renaissance for reading - eBooks, audiobooks, and Iko Africa (tactics, again). 

What do you think? Is the reading culture in the +234 dead? Join the conversation. 

Albert Nkereuwem. Editorial @ Iko Africa.