As the international community observes the 25th edition of World Book and Copyright Day, Executive Secretary, Centre for Research and Documentation on African Languages and Traditions, Prof Charles Binam Bikoi has lauded the United Nations’ untiring efforts in promoting the much needed reading culture.
During a chat with CEOAFRICA, Professor Charles Binam said he is very pleased with what the United Nations is doing through its several programmes, especially the World Book Day.
According to him, over the years, the celebration has had tremendous impact on the reading culture of people around the world.
“The World Book Day as we know it is not something that started today. It is something that has been on for many years now, and I’m really pleased with the relentlessness of UNESCO, the arm of the United Nations responsible for putting up the celebration.
“It has significantly affected the global reading culture. Its something I must say is commendable by all standards.”
According to the erudite professor, the celebration is coming at a very symbolic time given the effects of the global pandemic.
“Globally, the reading culture improved significantly during the lockdown. So at this point that the lock down is still effective in some places, the World Book Day comes in handy. Its basically an enhancement of a culture that more and more people are coming to embrace.”
In the literary world, April 23 is most significant for several reasons. It was on April 23 in 1616 that Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespeare, and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all died. Other names such as Maurice Druon, Haldor K Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Manuel Mejia Vallejo and Josep Pla are also among the famous writers who either died or were born on April 23.
Owing to the symbolic place the day holds, at the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), General Conference in 1995, it was decided that the day should be set aside to commemorate the life and efforts of these authors.
The annual global celebration has since then been used as a platform to encourage people around the world, especially the younger generation to appreciate the value of books and also embrace the reading culture.
Twenty-five years later, the celebration still surges on even stronger. This year, the global capital for the World Book Day is Tbilisi, capital of Georgia. As part of UNESCOS’s efforts to drive home the relevance of the celebration this year, UNESCO created #bookface challenge targeted at youth participation.
