ABOUT US
Ibadan
Book Club is an initiative of Society of Young Nigerian Writers. It was
established by the Society in order to contribute its own quota towards
the growth and development of Reading Culture in Nigeria. Ibadan Book
Club consists of group of people who get together, periodically
meet to discuss the book they have red, and to exchange such books. The
members of the club encourage each other, and learn to read with a
critical awareness, articulating their opinions on a particular
book with the others. Certain types of books not available or read
receive attention through the book club.
The television and radio could be used to propagate good literature and encourage reading. A television book club (like the Ophrah
Winfrey Talk Show) discussing books would give the Viewer an idea as to
how these book clubs are constituted, besides introducing them to the
books being discussed on each programme.
Discussion could focus on genres of literature (the classic, best sellers, travel writing, science fiction, women’s writing etc. or themes (good, evil, ambition,
oppression etc), or authors (Chukwuemeka Ike, Chinua Achebe, Flora
Nwapa, Buchi Emecheta etc.) Just as it is desirable for primary school
children to be read to, to arouse their interest in books, the
strategy could be used effectively with adults through radio program. A
program similar to “Good Books” on the BBC World Service would get the
appetites pf potential readers. A fifteen minute reading from the works of a Nigeria
novelist or poet would serve the purpose of making people aware of the
gifted writers in our midst besides promoting the writers themselves.
The programme could include information on the publisher, date of
publication and where one is likely to find books.
Ibadan
Book Club always hold book fairs (inviting publishers to display their
titles at reduced prices), and once a year, as a special attraction. A
live author could be invited to read from his or her works.
The reading promotion campaign could undertake a Book
Drive (rather than a book launch which is so common in our midst and
which is aimed at procuring money rather than encouraging people to read
the book in question). Children could be prompted to bring the book
they have read and exchange them for books they have not read.
In
order to wear people away from the cheap newspaper or sensational
gossip-magazine (which have a limited use) books have to be available at
affordable prices. With the resources available in the city,
children could be exposed to certain broad categories of fiction,
science fiction and so forth. This will enable children and young
readers to see the qualitative differences in literature written for
them to identify setting, character, theme, author’s point of view, action and message.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF IBADAN BOOK CLUB
- To promote reading culture in Ibadan as a city and Nigeria as a country.
- To promote writers and their creative writings/literary arts
- To enable children and young readers see the qualitative differences in literature written for the, to identify setting, character, theme, author’s point of view, action and message
- To educate, entertain and inform readers irrespective of age, color, tribe, religion and sex.
- To hold book fairs (inviting publishers to display their titles at reduced prices), and once a year, as a special attraction.
3 POINTS AGENDA
1. Ibadan Book Fair
2. Ibadan Book Club(s) (Established in different Primary and secondary schools in Oyo
State).
3. Free Reading Correspondence Course by e-mail.
