SABDC – The South African Book Development Council

All National Book Week events aim to convey an important message, encouraging reading as an enjoyable pursuit, with each event, province, or location tailoring the programme to meet local demands. We advocate for a significant emphasis on supporting native languages, local writers, and raising awareness about libraries.

We look forward to sharing the love of reading with all South Africans once again. A reading nation is a leading nation!

#BOOKSBEYONDWORDS

ENTERTAIN THE YOUNG ONES WITH ONLINE STORYTELLING FOR KIDS.

National Reading Survey

The primary aim of the South African Book Development Council (SABDC) is to increase access to books in South Africa. This report describes the findings of robust research that uncovered the reading habits of adult South Africans from a variety of angles with a view to find change in patterns of reading behaviour and informing strategy for the SABDC to meet its core objective of increasing access to books.

National Book Week

Run by the South African Book Development Council (SABDC) in partnership with the Department Of Arts and Culture, National Book Week is South Africa’s official reading awareness week – celebrating its fifteenth anniversary with the hashtag #NBWturns10 in 2024.

NBW aims to mitigate the findings of the 2007 study that revealed that:

• 14%: Only 14% of South Africans read books.
• 58%: Over half of all South African households (58%) do not own a single leisure reading book.

Every year, during the first week of September, people, organisations, companies, schools, libraries and religious groups channel their efforts towards reading and book promotion. As the SABDC we visit locations in all 9 provinces to engage with audiences from all walks of life. Pre-schoolers, grade R to 12 learners, the youth, adults, and elders from communities throughout the country participate in various programme activities. This annual campaign is aimed at uncovering the thrill and magic of sharing #OURSTORIES by increasing access to books and changing perceptions around reading.

About the SABDC

The South African Book Development Council (SABDC) serves as the authoritative organization for the South African Book Sector. The primary aim of the SABDC is to increase access to books in South Africa and to get more citizens reading for leisure.

To achieve these goals the SABDC facilitates ongoing engagement with stakeholders from across the book value chain, in order to identify programmes that stimulate book development in the country.

National Book Week is South Africa’s dedicated reading awareness week. A time for any and every one to get involved in promoting the magic of books and reading in their communities, place of work, schools, religious institutions and most importantly, in the home.

NBW is implemented annually by the SABDC in partnership with the Department of Arts and Culture and takes place during the first week of September. This year, we will continue to celebrate a decade of book magic from 7 – 13 September 2024.

What Is Book Development?

UNESCO coined the term to cover the myriad of people, processes, and skills involved in making and reading a book. Book development is necessary not only to create more books or output but also to produce different kinds of outputs from those previously produced and to change the technical and institutional arrangements by which output is produced and distributed.

Is Book Development Necessary for South Africa?

Yes, we need more local books. Yes, we need more indigenous language and diverse content books. Yes, we need transformation and investment in the sector to better serve all South Africans.

The History of Book Development

During the mid-1960s, UNESCO organized a sequence of regional gatherings across Asia, Africa, the Arab States, and Latin America to evaluate the enduring requirements for books and assist in working out national policies and strategies to overcome the dearth of books in these areas. It was at these meetings that UNESCO also encouraged the formation of national book development councils which could significantly contribute to the promotion and coordination of all facets of book development in alignment with broader national development objectives.

Ambassadors

During the period from 4th to 8th September, ambassadors of National Book Week (NBW) embark on a nationwide tour to share personal anecdotes about the significance of books in their own experiences. They actively participate in NBW events, engage in reading sessions with children, and advocate for the value of books and reading.

The 2017 Ambassadors

• Keeno Lee: Keeno Lee, a renowned actor and musician hailing from Cape Town. He has garnered acclaim for his performances in various productions aired on international channels, including CBeebies, National Geographic, and Netflix. His stellar local career includes membership in the corporate band The Black Ties, with whom Keeno has opened for Tevin Campbell, Phil Fearon, and Brian McKnight.
• Stoan Seate: Stoan Seate, a multifaceted artist known for his work as a musician, actor, TV presenter, and MC, has been serving as an NBW ambassador since 2011. Renowned as a trailblazer in Setswana/vernacular rap, he rose to prominence in the mid-to-late 1990s as a founding member of Bongo Maffin, a highly acclaimed kwaito band. Recently, the group reunited to produce “The Second Son Rise,” earning nominations for both Metro and SAMA awards. Stoan serves as an ambassador for North West Tourism and has recently concluded the third Ikgate Motlhala mountain bike ride, where he visited schools and engaged with children in disadvantaged areas across all districts of the province. Additionally, Stoan collaborates with the UNHCR to raise awareness about the challenges faced by refugees in South Africa. In June 2017, he joined radio station Power 98.7 as the host of “POWER Fix,” a Sunday music programme.
• Mogau Paulina Motlatswi: Mogau Paulina Motlhatswi was born on July 13, 1997, in Mogoto Village, close to Lebowakgomo, Limpopo. She is a South African actress best known for her role as Mapitsi in the SABC1 soap opera Skeem Saam. She landed a role on Skeem Saam in 2011 as Mapitsi Magongwa. In 2014, she had a guest role in the SABC1 AIDS drama Soul City.
• Bhekisizwe Mahlawe: Bhekisizwe Mahlawe is a versatile and multi-talented South African music artist/actor/Tv presenter/songwriter and screenplay writer” In 2002, he wrote a screenplay (Uthisha wam) and a TV content (Mixed). He later participated as a contestant in Jam Alley, putting his area in the limelight which turned him into a role model to the youth of his hometown and province. He is currently presenting the kids TV show Rivoningo on SABC 2.
• Motsoaledi Setumo: Motsoaledi Setumo is a renowned South African radio producer and actress celebrated for her recurring portrayal of Thabitha Cele (Thabi), a spirited and bold character, on the SABC1 soap opera Generations The Legacy. Motsoaledi Studied media and specialised in radio broadcasting at Boston Media House from 2011-2013. Her role on Generations The Legacy in June 2015 was her first credited screen acting role.
• Zakes Bantwini: Zakes Bantwini is a South African record producer and musician. In 2009, he featured in the Black Coffees album titled Home Brewed in a hit song Juju. The song was nominated in the Record of the Year category at the 16th Annual SA Music Awards. In 2010, Zakes Bantwini released his debut studio album titled Love, Light and Music. It featured hit songs such as Bum Bum, Clap Your Hands. Bantwini has earned four nominations for Best Urban Dance Album, Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Male Artist of the Year.

National Book Week Ambassadors 2016

• Aaron Moloisi: TV Personality Aaron Moloisi is joining NBW once again. Aaron is MoPedi but also speaks Sesotho, Setswana, isiZulu, isiXhosa, a bit of Xitsonga, and Tshivenda. He is the perfect ambassador for NBW.
• Refiloe Mpakanyane: The radio personality, Refiloe Mpakanyane, is also staying on board this year. Her most notable accomplishments now encompass advocating for causes that resonate deeply with her, including promoting literacy. Alongside providing under-resourced schools with reading books for their libraries she is also a NBW ambassador as well as a mentor to a young lady at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls.
• Stoan Seate: A TV personality and artist best known for his part in the highly successful kwaito band, Bongo Maffin, since 1996.
• Azania Mosaka: Radio Personality Azania Mosaka is the presenter of the 1pm to 3pm show on 702 and brings her style and charm to early afternoons in Gauteng.

National Book Week Ambassadors 2015

• Aaron Moloisi: He is currently a presenter on the SABC Education talk show Shift on SABC1.
• Amaza Ntshanga: Radio Presenter on Umhlobo Wenene.
• Brian Ndevu: A radio personality on TruFM.
• Cynthia Jele: An award-winning South African author. Her book, Happiness is a Four-Letter Word, won the 2011 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best First Book, Africa Region and the M-Net film prize at the 2011 M-Net Literary Awards.
• Khaya Dlanga: This young author has established himself as one of the most influential individuals in South African media, particularly social media. He also works as the Senior Creative Excellence Manager at Coca-Cola and has been awarded more than 15 advertising awards, including many Loeries, a Gold Cannes Lion, a Black Eagle, and honorary membership in the University of the Witwatersrand Chapter’s Golden Key Award.
• Lupi Ngcayisa: A philanthropist who started the Lupi Ngcayisa Foundation. It started with a project of asking for a donation of 900 school shoes for a hundred children from each of the nine provinces. At the end of this project, they handed out 16 600 shoes.
• Pearl Thusi: A TV presenter who starred in the popular soap opera Isidingo. She also co-hosted LIVE AMP as well as SABC 1’s celebrity gossip show, The Real Goboza, with Phat Joe.
• Refiloe Mpakanyane: Refiloe Mpakanyane’s love of words has led to her writing for Baobab Literary Journal.
• Stoan Seate: A South African kwaito singer, music producer, actor, and television presenter.
• Zelda Le Grange: The author of Good Morning, Mr Mandela – A memoir of the nineteen years of her life working for Mr Nelson Mandela.