Reading Africa: Presentation at the Scolma Annual Conference 7TH June 2006

Abstract

1. Introduction Reading Africa began as a project support the publicising of the list of Africa's 100 Best Books with an event held at the British Council on the 30th January 2003, generally regarded as having been very successful, which had the main aim of contributing to raising awareness of, and interest in, African writing and publishing and encourage reading of African books in the and which was supported by four specific objectives: 1. To publicise the list of Africa's 100 Best Books of the 20th Century 2. To raise awareness of the potential of the list for reading promotion, learning about Africa and African writing and publishing, and encouraging the wider dissemination of African-authored books 3. To bring together key players in achieving the dissemination and promotion of African-authored books, including publishers, writers, booksellers and distributors, librarians, book and reading promotion organisations, educators and African-interest groups 4. To facilitate and encourage networking and the emergence of practical marketing, promotional and educational initiatives The Reading Africa programme was developed by SABDET. Working with the British Council and in consultation with Book Aid International (BAI) a number of project areas were defined. 2. Reading Africa project areas The main project areas developed were as follows: 1. Reading Promotion - selecting titles and targeting their take up by readers in the context of encouraging engagement with the process as a whole 2. Linking UK and Africa - developing activities which can be implemented in parallel in both the UK and Africa 3. Literary Festivals and Book Fairs - encouraging commitment including African writers and African-authored books in their programmes 4. Seminars and Conferences - developing professional awareness of Reading Africa and consideration of specific elements The Reading Promotion was intended have the most significant and widest impact, but the integration of all the elements into a concentrated strategy of profile raising and audience development was important. Achieving synergy and multiplying effects throughout the programme was a key aim. 3. Reading Africa A very effective Reading Africa promotion package was produced. 30 titles of adult literary fiction by African writers were selected and presented in a handy 32 page booklet together with banners, A3 and A4 display headers and showcards and postcards. The design and quality of production were positively received wherever they were shown. Good design, high quality production and efficient distribution were originally thought be critical and the results fully justified this. Take up by the public library sector in the UK fell short of the original aim of 50% of the 208 Public Library Authorities in the UK (149 authorities in England, 22 in Wales, 32 in Scotland and 5 Boards in Northern Ireland). 47 libraries ordered a total of 60 sets. Only 2 libraries in Scotland and 1 library in Wales placed orders and there were no orders from Northern Ireland. Orders in England tended come from libraries in the major urban areas. Rather than run the promotion as a specific event libraries tended integrate it with Black History Month events and it was viewed as very effective and useful in this regard. Working with the material was reported be of great benefit by the librarians. Promotion take up in Africa through the British Council exceeded original projections. The British Council actually purchased 40 sets of the promotion against the 20 originally envisaged. All British Council libraries in Africa received the promotion although the number of partner public libraries in Africa was reduced six. The British Council reported a very positive response the promotion from all libraries. 4. Linking UK and Africa An important element in Reading Africa was the linking of activities in the UK with Africa and the linking of readers and libraries in the UK and in Africa. …