This report evaluates the National Book Week (NBW) that is a joint initiative between the South African Book Development Council (SABDC) and the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC).
Literacy and reading is the lifeblood of any modern society. South Africa’s reading skills could be improved substantially. Books followed by electronic media are the most common channel that are used in society to read today. Reading will not only approve literacy but will also contribute to personal development, socioeconomic development, nation building and even social cohesion.
It is therefore critical that South Africa must increase its literacy and levels of reading if the country is to achieve the vision set out in the National Development Plan. During his State of the Nation Address on 20 June 2019 president Ramaphosa included: “Our schools will have better educational outcomes and every 10 year old will be able to read for meaning” as one of government’s five fundamental goals.
Although the reading value chain is quite complex, it can be broken down into four main components. The reading value chain starts with the writer. In South Africa, there are not enough South African stories told in South African languages. Secondly, after the manuscript has been written, complex publishing process results in a book that can be distributed. Thirdly, the book must be made accessible across South Africa to all communities in all areas. The distribution channels include, but not limited to, book retailers, online sales, book clubs, and importantly libraries. The fourth part of the value chain is to create a reading culture in the nation across the entire South African society.
South Africa has a sophisticated book publishing sector, the largest on the African continent. However, the sector is not fully representative of the diversity of the country. Since the inception of the new democratic state, there have been a number of initiatives aimed at changing this situation, but more substantive and focussed intervention is required to address the inequalities that persist. Considerable concentration of ownership and control is still evident in the sector.
There are several literacy and reading initiatives that take place in South Africa. Many of them are organised by Non-Government Organisations often with the support of government. The National Book Week (NBW) was launched in 2010 and is probably the longest-running book promotion event in South Africa. The initiative was started after a study by the South African Book Development Council in 2007 that investigated the reading habits of South Africans. The study found that South Africa did not have a reading culture. The NBW was set up as a joint venture by the Department of arts and culture and the SABDC to celebrate the book and promote a love for reading.
The event is held in the 1st week of September which coincides with the beginning of Heritage month in South Africa. It must however be noted that 23 April has been designated by UNESCO as World Book Day.
The objectives that were identified by the SABDC for the NBW are very ambitious. Given these ambitious targets, the imperative to have the NBW celebrated in all 9 provinces, and limited resources have made it difficult to achieve all the targets that were set.
The information that was made available to the research team by the SABDC on the outputs of the 2018 NBW were rather dismal. Although there were events in all 9 provinces, the number of attendees was very low. Also given the fact that the NBW has now been going for almost a decade, very few changes have been identified in the behaviour of the majority of South Africans regarding reading. Therefore, on the face of it the impact of the NBW has been low. Some of the reasons for this are administrative (such as the late payments to the SABDC) while others are more practical.
It is critical that the NBW continue but that it be restructured such a way that it can achieve a bigger impact. Departments other than DAC must be involved in the formulation of the objectives of the SABDC. DAC must be involved in the development of more writers telling South African stories in South African languages. The Department of Science and Technology and the Department for Higher Education and Training must also be involved in encouraging writers of non-fiction books. Ensuring that most South African books are published and printed in South Africa is a function for the Department of Trade and Industry as well as the Department for Small Business Development. Making sure that all South Africans have access to books is a function of the libraries (DAC, provinces, and municipalities) as well as booksellers. Ensuring that prisoners have access to books is a function of the Department of Correctional Services. Developing a reading culture is a crosscutting issue but is mainly the responsibility of The Department of Basic Education (for learners), The Department of High Education and Training (for students at tertiary educational institutions) and DAC.
There are strong industry bodies are involved with these functions and each should play a greater role in assisting government promote not only the industries, but also to develop a reading culture that will serve to grow their respective industries and sectors.
