This is a Channel Africa podcast. You can also get Channel Africa on satellite PAS 10, DSTV Audio bouquet, 802, and Open View Bouquet, Channel 628. The Benin Writers Society is on a mission to get young people attracted to reading and writing. A president of the Benin Writers Society is launching two books, Nuggets for Life, Revised Edition and Tales.

This is a Channel Africa podcast. You can also get Channel Africa on satellite PAS 10, DSTV Audio bouquet, 802, and Open View Bouquet, Channel 628. The Benin Writers Society is on a mission to get young people attracted to reading and writing. A president of the Benin Writers Society is launching two books, Nuggets for Life, Revised Edition and Tales.

from Benin at a book launch that will appeal to the young. The society believes that book launches do not catch the attention of the youth and are going to instill an infusion of vibes in this book launch. And to tell us more, we are joined on the line by the president of the Benin Writers Society, that's Douglas Obankwe. Now, Douglas, what do you think are the reasons that the youth are not attracted to reading and writing?

from Benin at a book launch that will appeal to the young. The society believes that book launches do not catch the attention of the youth and are going to instill an infusion of vibes in this book launch. And to tell us more, we are joined on the line by the president of the Benin Writers Society, that's Douglas Obankwe. Now, Douglas, what do you think are the reasons that the youth are not attracted to reading and writing?

Thank you very much for that brilliant question. So, you see, we have a new wave of youths, you know, that have, you know, that exist right now. We call them the Gen Zs around 2000, from 2000 till now, and they are actually captured by the internet and the internet, it's basically.

Thank you very much for that brilliant question. So, you see, we have a new wave of youths, you know, that have, you know, that exist right now. We call them the Gen Zs around 2000, from 2000 till now, and they are actually captured by the internet and the internet, it's basically.

Apart from um the news-based um um social media platforms, it's based on entertainment. So you have things like TikTok, um, um, Instagram, Facebook, of course, WhatsApp and Twitter. Um, so, do you actually see things that are like PayPal, like you're reading, they see it like this is outdated.

Apart from um the news-based um um social media platforms, it's based on entertainment. So you have things like TikTok, um, um, Instagram, Facebook, of course, WhatsApp and Twitter. Um, so, do you actually see things that are like PayPal, like you're reading, they see it like this is outdated.

And most times when we're doing book launch, you find that it's so subdued, um, it follows a particular pattern. People are wearing suits and tie, and they, and they don't tend to resonate with that narrative. So the Beriter Society right now is trying to regurgitate the whole system by trying to bring in.

And most times when we're doing book launch, you find that it's so subdued, um, it follows a particular pattern. People are wearing suits and tie, and they, and they don't tend to resonate with that narrative. So the Beriter Society right now is trying to regurgitate the whole system by trying to bring in.

You know, some fusion, some youth fusion into books and, you know, and the launch itself of the book is actually the most cardinal element in the whole trajectory because it tends to bring the book to life. So in that particular launch, which was held on the 11th of February 2025, which happens to be my birthday, we are going to have

You know, some fusion, some youth fusion into books and, you know, and the launch itself of the book is actually the most cardinal element in the whole trajectory because it tends to bring the book to life. So in that particular launch, which was held on the 11th of February 2025, which happens to be my birthday, we are going to have

Book launch and a party and it's not as if we're gonna do one before the other, we're gonna do it at the same time. And we're gonna be, this will capture, you know, the, the, the, the, the, the mind of the youth to say, oh, you can also read, write, wine, dance, and d. And that's for me, it's something that we have to start looking at because if you, if, if you don't change.

Book launch and a party and it's not as if we're gonna do one before the other, we're gonna do it at the same time. And we're gonna be, this will capture, you know, the, the, the, the, the, the mind of the youth to say, oh, you can also read, write, wine, dance, and d. And that's for me, it's something that we have to start looking at because if you, if, if you don't change.

Your ways, then the, the, you'll be left behind. And it is said that change is a challenge to the adventurers and a threat to the upscale insecure. So we actually want to try and change the way the, the, the, the, the way we, we present books to the youth, to the young and the youth, so that they themselves will say, oh, so it can be exciting reading, exciting writing, exciting trying to know about books, about writing and all that. That's actually our, our focus.

Your ways, then the, the, you'll be left behind. And it is said that change is a challenge to the adventurers and a threat to the upscale insecure. So we actually want to try and change the way the, the, the, the, the way we, we present books to the youth, to the young and the youth, so that they themselves will say, oh, so it can be exciting reading, exciting writing, exciting trying to know about books, about writing and all that. That's actually our, our focus.

And I'm interested to know or to find out whether uh you did some sort of uh testing of of the market, of the target market and what sort of response did you get if you did?

And I'm interested to know or to find out whether uh you did some sort of uh testing of of the market, of the target market and what sort of response did you get if you did?

Yes, absolutely. We, uh, we've, we've done the testing of the, of the target market. Um, we've had one or two programs that we did, and we invited, you know, some of these writers, and those programs are programs that are actually um focused on entertainment. And we find that the writers find it more exciting to show up or to perform when they find that there are other exciting elements that will be available in the ceremony.

Yes, absolutely. We, uh, we've, we've done the testing of the, of the target market. Um, we've had one or two programs that we did, and we invited, you know, some of these writers, and those programs are programs that are actually um focused on entertainment. And we find that the writers find it more exciting to show up or to perform when they find that there are other exciting elements that will be available in the ceremony.

So it, it's actually something that is new. It's a work in progress, but we are really excited to uh to, to, to, to blaze the trail, you know, as far as we're concerned anywhere in Nigeria. Um, we, we want to do something that is like a, a, a, a, a locus classical, something that the whole world will say, oh, although Nigeria and Africa will say, oh, so if we want to write it, we want to talk a bad book, we want to read bad books, then we have to.

So it, it's actually something that is new. It's a work in progress, but we are really excited to uh to, to, to, to blaze the trail, you know, as far as we're concerned anywhere in Nigeria. Um, we, we want to do something that is like a, a, a, a, a locus classical, something that the whole world will say, oh, although Nigeria and Africa will say, oh, so if we want to write it, we want to talk a bad book, we want to read bad books, then we have to.

some music, we need to get a DJ, we need to get a hype man, we need to get some dancers. We need to get uh people that do spoken word, rap. So what is actually rap? Rap is reading applied poetry. Rap itself is poetry. So it was, it was the, in America, the, the, the, the, the um pioneers of rap, and they actually thought that instead of just reading it as a poem, you turn it into music. So you're gonna have a fusion of music.

some music, we need to get a DJ, we need to get a hype man, we need to get some dancers. We need to get uh people that do spoken word, rap. So what is actually rap? Rap is reading applied poetry. Rap itself is poetry. So it was, it was the, in America, the, the, the, the, the um pioneers of rap, and they actually thought that instead of just reading it as a poem, you turn it into music. So you're gonna have a fusion of music.

And also literature. And for me, that is something that would capture the attention of the young and the youth.

And also literature. And for me, that is something that would capture the attention of the young and the youth.

Well, Douglas, very quickly, just in wrapping up, you know, uh, going back to thinking back when we started reading, just the smell of the the paper of of the books was always quite

Well, Douglas, very quickly, just in wrapping up, you know, uh, going back to thinking back when we started reading, just the smell of the the paper of of the books was always quite

Um, intriguing because you always thought, OK, this smells different and you turn the pages. How do we get our children to take a step back, not only just read when they have to when it's time to study, but read just for the fun of it without having to think of um hype men and and uh you know, artists to to bring them in and you know, for them to have a good time and then

Um, intriguing because you always thought, OK, this smells different and you turn the pages. How do we get our children to take a step back, not only just read when they have to when it's time to study, but read just for the fun of it without having to think of um hype men and and uh you know, artists to to bring them in and you know, for them to have a good time and then

Uh, look at reading as also a pastime, but starting it early.

Uh, look at reading as also a pastime, but starting it early.

Very well. It has to be a culture. You know, anything that goes with society starts with socialization and the family is the primary um agent of socialization. So parents will have to start by leaving books with their children when they sleep, singing to them lullabies before they go to bed. And when they wake up, maybe they have a book by their side. And when they're on holidays, instead of them to be looking at um those um uh funny dances by Asian um themed groups.

Very well. It has to be a culture. You know, anything that goes with society starts with socialization and the family is the primary um agent of socialization. So parents will have to start by leaving books with their children when they sleep, singing to them lullabies before they go to bed. And when they wake up, maybe they have a book by their side. And when they're on holidays, instead of them to be looking at um those um uh funny dances by Asian um themed groups.

We may have to leave them with some books to read. I started by reading Queen Premier. Then I started reading books like, um, um, my, my, my dau my sisters, um, um, um, Vivian and Amway and then, and Esther Joy reading Mills and Boom. Then I started reading Mills and Boom. Then I found it very drab. Then I started reading James Hanley Chase. From there, I moved to Sydney Sheldon. I read Nick Carter, I read Jeffrey Archer. So I keep, I kept, sorry, I kept, um growing in reading.

We may have to leave them with some books to read. I started by reading Queen Premier. Then I started reading books like, um, um, my, my, my dau my sisters, um, um, um, Vivian and Amway and then, and Esther Joy reading Mills and Boom. Then I started reading Mills and Boom. Then I found it very drab. Then I started reading James Hanley Chase. From there, I moved to Sydney Sheldon. I read Nick Carter, I read Jeffrey Archer. So I keep, I kept, sorry, I kept, um growing in reading.

Then and I told myself, I've read enough, it's time for me to start writing. So I actually founded this Bei Writers Society when in my teens, I was I was I was reading to get into the university. I went to the University of Benin. That was when I started this society. And over the years we have been able to nurture a lot of young writers. So, we've published Nigeria's first online.

Then and I told myself, I've read enough, it's time for me to start writing. So I actually founded this Bei Writers Society when in my teens, I was I was I was reading to get into the university. I went to the University of Benin. That was when I started this society. And over the years we have been able to nurture a lot of young writers. So, we've published Nigeria's first online.

Anthology, which is 50 poems for Lancelord Emanswe at 50. It was Lasso is an iconic director, movie director in Nigeria. I wanted to do something and you could see that because that particular um um um um an anthology affected, um, you know, a, a, a figure in the entertainment industry. It took some traction. So for me, that was when I said, oh, so I think we need to start dragging entertainment.

Anthology, which is 50 poems for Lancelord Emanswe at 50. It was Lasso is an iconic director, movie director in Nigeria. I wanted to do something and you could see that because that particular um um um um an anthology affected, um, you know, a, a, a figure in the entertainment industry. It took some traction. So for me, that was when I said, oh, so I think we need to start dragging entertainment.

In writing. If you were to do it the old way, if you were to do it the old way, it would be very difficult. So not to be smelling good for how they should be smelling good food and encourage them to want to read or write.

In writing. If you were to do it the old way, if you were to do it the old way, it would be very difficult. So not to be smelling good for how they should be smelling good food and encourage them to want to read or write.

That's the president of Benin Writers Association, Douglas Ogbanwa, joining us on the line. That podcast was courtesy of Channel Africa. The African perspective.

That's the president of Benin Writers Association, Douglas Ogbanwa, joining us on the line. That podcast was courtesy of Channel Africa. The African perspective.