The reading culture is one of the growing if not mushrooming cultures in the Kenyan space. This ranges from reading of articles, newspapers and novels and short stories. The reading culture is so loud and difficult to miss, here are some of the factors that have highly contributed to this culture and the evidence that this culture is back.
Top on the list is the book clubs that have not only been coming up but are also followed up by the uncompromising rules governing the membership. Every wake comes with a new book club, it almost feels illegal to miss out on membership. The members not only meet for the book discussion but have turned it to be colourful meetings, in aesthetically pleasing cafes some even out of town. Some of these clubs celebrate the members birthdays. The discussions have morphed into spaces for people finding their tribe and others mates. If you are not a member, the wave of FOMO that hits you each month will slowly drive you into joining one, this will compel you to read a book or two each month. I saw another club hosting a renowned Kenyan author, how cool is that. These book clubs have birthed spaces for people to discuss the books and caused the growth of the reading culture.
Away from the book clubs, the reading in public places such as public transport, hotels and gardens is back in style. I am largely informed that this was the Boomer generation fashion before the millenials discovered Facebook and killed this wonderful culture. I have recently spotted beautiful ladies engrossed in their books ranging from ‘ It Ends with us,’ by Colleen Hoover to ‘ Outliers ,’ by Malcom Gladwell. You walk into Artcaffe , you won’t miss a babe with her book. I am told, that we members of the reading club have turned ourselves into introverts during the family functions . Our younger cousins are frowning at our inability to pull out our phones, instead we are pulling out our kindles. This is a beautiful culture to bring back if I say so myself. I even see people purchasing newspapers, do you recall when you heavily relied on the newspapers not just for news but also music lyrics prior to music match then spotify , well you don’t need the newspaper for that , perhaps for Sudoku now.
I am equally certain that the rate at which bookstores are coming up, is akin to that of beauty parlors in the recent past. The members of the reading community will soon be spoilt for choice. These bookstores have new ways of luring the clients, ranging from websites that enable them to shop from their beds to offers to the beautiful and well-crafted bookmarks they add to your orders. I’m sure, as you pass through town you have met those who have moved to the streets, selling books having compelling titles, talk of , ‘ The Sex lives of African women, ‘ by Nana Darkoa. A title that turns into a quick purchase and before you know it the seller talks you into giving , ‘ Nearly all men in Lagos are mad ‘ by Damilare Kuku Before you know it, you keep going back until you can’t stop. I love that even the array of gifts to choose from has increased as some of these bookstores have that provision, if you are feeling romantic, you can request for flowers too. The bookstores are competitively coming up thanks to the sprouting reading culture.
Third on these list, is the brilliant work from our Kenyan authors and African writers at large. Gone are the days when we had to wait for elite and engrossing work from the west. One Joan Thatiah took the internet by storm through her confessions series. In these short stories about Kenyan men and women left each reader’s muscle of empathy worn out yet reminding our hearts that you could be walking next to a man who is raising children he is sure are not his. Others include, Deborah Asuko , who wrote a brilliant ode to her father, titled, ‘ Rough Silk. ‘ Let me add the one Empress Ciku who has authored ‘NaiRobbery Cocktail . ‘ It is a good time to read the budding authors and to go back to the renowned OGs such Ngugi wa Thiong’o , , Binyavanga Wainaina, Meja Mwangi and Yvonne Adhiambo.
The other cause are the well curated bibliophile owned pages on social media platforms. In the era where most of us check our social media pages before we can confirm whether we can walk, we have all encountered an intensely attractive account on books. The manner in which those photos have been taken, catches your eye, the publisher goes ahead to give a gripping review that does the convincing, you go ahead and willingly oblige. You slowly rely on them for book reviews and recommendations. This is a cry to comment any time a review nudges you to give the book a chance, they will appreciate it.
Let us conclude by talking about how many people are in the hunt of hobbies. In their pursuit most of them have stumbled upon writing which has quickly become a hobby. This book reading hobby has some setting their reading goal up all the way to fifty books or more. If you are to read that number of books you have to read daily. I have to warn you that this can get addictive before you even know it, it is now your full time hobby.
These and more are reasons why the reading culture is one of fastest growing cultures in the country. This is also an invitation to join the community as the mind needs a book as its sword. Happy reading.
