The National Book Week, launched at the Babs Madlakane Hall in Kwanobuhle this week, highlights the importance of reading especially amongst the youth.
Referring to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s newly launched online books that are available to the public on www.nelsonmandelabay.gov.za, Executive Mayor Zanoxolo Wayile said that this initiative encourages reading, especially amongst the younger generation.
“We call on the people of the city to popularise this new development so that more people can benefit,” said Mayor Wayile.
Minister of Arts and Culture Paul Mashatile said at the event, that was also attended by the Eastern Cape MEC for Sports, Recreation, Arts & Culture, Xoliswa Tom, SABC regional head Zola Yeye and national celebrities and ambassadors for National Book Week, that this national initiative needs to be supported by all sectors of society.
“We need to encourage our community to develop a culture of reading as this is the easiest tool that will empower our people with knowledge.”
Minister Mashatile went further to say that hosting the National Book Week launch in Nelson Mandela Bay was no coincidence, because some of the best writers the country has produced hail from the Eastern Cape.
An interesting fact that Minister Mashatile shared with the audience was the Eastern Cape publishing house, Lovedale Press, was the first publishing house in the country to translate the Bible into an African language.
This esteemed national leader also recalled that newspapers such as the Imvo Zabantsundu published by John Tengo Jabavu gave a platform to many black writers in the country.
Minister Mashatile also donated books to various libraries in the city, in support of the municipality’s book donation drive, and said that National Book Week has grown to be a premier platform to promote a culture of reading and writing.
“It is significant because a widespread culture of reading and writing will assist us as the national government to meet the demands of a knowledge based society,” said Minister Mashatile.
A challenge was extended by the Minister to new writers to use their skills to tell South African stories that will inspire activism toward the empowerment of communities.
Jazz Musician Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse, who recently at the age of 61 went back to school to get his Matric Certificate and an ambassador for annual National Book Week, gave an inspirational message to the hundreds of school children attending the event to empower their minds through reading.
The National Book Week activities will be held at the Red Location Museum in New Brighton from Thursday until Saturday.
Residents are called upon to donate a new book for distribution to Nelson Mandela Bay Municipal libraries and schools to celebrate National Book Week 2012 (3 – 8 September) which was launched in KwaNobuhle this year.
Donation collection boxes are placed in all municipal libraries, the Economic Development and Recreational Services’ St. George’s Park offices and on the Seventh Floor, Lillian Diedericks Building Govan Mbeki Avenue.
NMB Communications
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