The Second Lady Samira Bawumia has called on the youth to make reading and writing an enviable attribute of their everyday life so they can contribute to projecting African literature to the world.
She observed that the culture of reading seems to be dying and there is no significant difference between an illiterate an educated person who does not read.
The special guest of honour, speaking at the launch of Joy FM’s investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awune’s book, ‘Letters To My Wife’ Wednesday, Mrs Bawumia noted that the current generation rather spends time on social media and are not fond of reading, a phenomenon she says poses a threat to the history of Africa.
“African literature should not be allowed to age and die with the likes of Efua Sutherland, Ama Ata Aidoo, Chinua Achebe and a host of ageing literary giants,” she told the hundreds of patrons at the Christ the King Parish auditorium in Accra.
“These writers chronicled the history of Africa’s colonization, our independence struggle and our sense for self-identity.
The life of the contemporary African in the 21st century and our place in the global village must be told in both fiction and non-fiction. Nobody can tell our story better than ourselves,” she noted.
‘Letters To My Wife’ is a collection of 30 of some of the letters one of Ghana’s foremost investigative journalist wrote to his imaginary wife-to-be, Serwaa, before he eventually wedded his real wife Rebecca Eduafo-Abraham last year.
Mrs Bawumia who said she is awed by Manasseh Azuri’s writing prowess spoke about the real nature of the letters adding the writer brings home everyday relationship issues.
“I’m particularly intrigued by the book, ‘Letters to My Future Wife’ because of a number of reasons. Manasseh is a very good storyteller who uses everyday experiences to creatively tell compelling stories about the meaning of life and its intricacies.
“Even if you disagree with the content, you are still entertained by the writer’s dexterity and the quality of what you read. I also find this publication interesting because of the enormous lessons it presents to its readers.
“This book contains lessons for the single and the married, the young and the old, the naïve and experienced as well as any open-minded person who is ready to learn from the experiences of others.” she added.
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