No reading culture in Namibia

Rosalia David

WHEN exactly was the last time you read a book or a simple magazine article? Or do your daily reading habits only centre on social media updates? 
Well, if you are one of the countless people who don’t make a habit of reading regularly you might be missing out on a whole lot of information that might teach you one or two things. 
I believe every book or article gives an opportunity to learn new things and explore new ideas but I guess each person has a different habit. 
However the one thing I have picked up from Namibians is that they really just hate reading. If you think I am being mendacious, try reading comments on an article posted on social media. 
Matter of fact, if you have ever tried marketing a particular product on social media with all the information on it, read the comments and see what type of questions you will get. 
Perhaps not much has been done to promote a reading culture amongst Namibians but for your own general knowledge it is indeed important to read more. 
It is hilarious how at this time of Covid-19 one still finds people who have no idea what coronavirus is all about simply because they have no interest in reading about it. 
Perhaps there are those who do not read because they have no access to information but if a survey had to be conducted in Namibia on the amount of people interested in reading books, the results would be disappointing. 
I mean, we have a few local authors who have written books based on inspiring stories but only a handful would bother to buy local novels. 
Therefore, writing a book in Namibia is a waste of paper and money really. 
There are a few bookworms out there but the majority of Namibians don’t even enjoy reading a full written article, they only read the introduction. 
Studies have shown that staying mentally stimulated can slow the progress of (or possibly even prevent) Alzheimer’s and dementia, since keeping your brain active and engaged prevents it from losing power. 
Reading also reduces stress – no matter how much stress you have at work, in your personal relationships, or countless other issues faced in daily life, it all just slips away when you lose yourself in a great story.