In Tanzania, we usually organize book festivals every year and the events take place countrywide. The festival’s mission is to encourage and promote the reading culture especially among the youths. A nation whose people never read is in trouble because there will be no new ideas and the level of understanding new things will drop among children.

Raphael Millinga
Regional Labor Officer
Arusha

This year’s book festival is the 15th since the annual events were introduced countrywide by the Book Development Council of Tanzani (BAMVITA) in association with the Tanzania Library Services (TLS).

For the whole week of the festival people are allowed to come and read books, magazines, newspapers and other publications free of charge.

Sophia Laboke
Regional Librarian
Arusha

I would like to encourage all people but especially my fellow students to keep reading and reading. Even when you come across a piece of discarded, printed paper lying on the road pick it up and read, you will never know which, or when, will many of the writings that you encounter become useful.

Awazi Rashid
Class Four Pupil
Meru primary
Arusha

Book festivals are wonderful opportunity to re-acquaint people who have long forgotten to read, with books and other interesting publications. Reading gives you the confidence to speak in public, offer views and even be in position to solve many problems.

Geoffrey Mjema
Sanawari