In general, many people in Burundi don’t have the culture of reading. They give more importance to oral tradition; they like what is told to them orally. They tend to forget that reading is one of the sources of development.-By Yves – Didier Irakoze
Someone who is reading a newspaper. ©Iwacu
“Many Burundians do not care about reading, if they get the opportunity to listen to the news on the radio or watch TV, it’s enough for them. They don’t give enough time to reading,” regrets G. Niyonzima, a mother who was a former primary teacher. She goes on saying that even at school students and pupils are not taught and encouraged to read effectively. According to her, even intellectuals like teachers, lecturers or other civil servants hardly read: this may partly be explained by the fact that reading hasn’t been given an appropriate place or importance in Burundi educational curricula. Otis Burundi, a businessman mentions that in Burundi a lot of people are illiterate. Thus, a lot of Burundians don’t have any motivation and interest in reading. Expensive life is another factor that is not less important causing disinterest in reading; a Burundian seldom buys a newspaper or a book to read. “For example, a newspaper costs around 1000BIF while some people don’t even have anything to eat. As a matter of fact, he will never feel excited or encouraged to buy it,” points out Burundi. He also indicates that many newspapers focus much on politics instead of writing diverse topics like sport, entertainment, business… in order to give an immense range of choice to the readers.
Burundians read less than other EAC citizens
Otis Burundi witnesses that in other countries like Kenya even rural people read much, or when different workers are waiting for a bus they have a newspaper with them. While Burundians rush to listen to the radio during news hours, people in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania run to various newspaper offices to buy different papers in order to have more detailed information. “In Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, a child is taught to read since his early childhood; even a simple citizen knows that it is very important to buy a newspaper in the morning in order to know what has happened, what is going on or what is changing around the world. This is the reason why they are more developed intellectually. You can’t be a good writer without being a good reader. In Burundi for instance, we don’t have many writers because many people don’t read. It is different in other EAC countries where there are many writers, philosophers, development experts, scientists or research fellows” says Joseph Butoyi, Chairman of Burundian Writers and Vice-Chairman of the Association for the Protection and Promotion of Intellectual Property (ABPI). M. M., a lecturer in one of private Universities in Bujumbura indicates that in Kenya people travel while reading; they have a great sense reading. There are many various newspaper offices where everybody including rural people can be supplied at a low price.
It’s time Burundians changed mentality
According to Otis Burundi, Burundians should read to develop their mind in order to cope with the rhythm of the world.
“Burundians must develop curiosity, hunger and thirst of reading rather than wasting time drinking beer in pubs,” he highlights.
Butoyi on his side, states that the educational system should be restructured in schools at all levels to teach reading skills effectively for information and communication. He adds that teachers and lecturers should be aware that different people read differently for different reasons.
IWACU Open Data
