By Field Ruwe, EdD
In the 1960s and 70s, we were voracious readers who devoured books by authors black and white: Chinua Achebe, Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Wole Soyinka, Mills and Boon, Jack Higgins, Frederick Forsyth, James Hadley Chase, Ian Fleming, Alan Paton, Wilbur Smith, Agatha Christie, David Copperfield, Shakespeare, and many more. We delved into a vicarious world, transitioning from reality to the world depicted within the pages of the book, embarking on a voyage of knowledge acquisition.
The willpower, determination, rage, courage, and unwavering spirit of the character Okonkwo in Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” gave us the strength and knowledge with which to confront British colonial masters. “The Eagle Has Landed” by Jack Higgins revealed how Nazi officer Oberst Radl, acting on Hitler’s orders, devised a plan to kidnap and kill Winston Churchill. Higgins provided a captivating peek into the clandestine operations in both the British and German governments and a glimpse into World War II.
My favorite, “In God’s Name” by David Yallop, uncovers the truth behind the murder of Pope John Paul I (Albino Luciani), just thirty-three days after his installation in 1978. Before, I had regarded the Holy See as the epitome of holiness on Earth. However, my perspective drastically changed upon learning how the Vatican Bank lost a quarter of a million US Dollars through corruption. It remains a riveting eye-opener.
Each well-crafted narrative like Yallop’s led us down various avenues of personal growth, enriching our writing abilities and refining our spoken English. It helped us to think rationally, act intelligently, and apply some of the knowledge in our daily pursuits. Diversifying our reading materials by exploring various genres such as fiction, non-fiction, and poetry broadened our knowledge of different subjects, cultures, and historical eras. This helped cultivate our intellectual curiosity and encouraged a continuous pursuit of learning.
Regrettably, the culture of reading has significantly diminished in Zambia. Many individuals, including graduates, are finding it hard to read and finish a book. Worse still, a good portion of the population will not finish a newspaper article. According to the World Culture Score Index (WCSI), Zambia ranks among the countries with the lowest levels of reading-focused culture on a global scale. The aversion to reading spans across various age groups and academic levels from primary school to university, leading to low levels of IQ (Intelligence Quotient).
As trivial as it may sound, reading serves as a crucial instrument for the advancement of a society and is indispensable for our development as a nation.
“It’s regrettable we are not a reading nation,” Kenneth Kaunda said when he officiated at the opening of the Lubuto Library in 2007. He continued, “yet vast amounts of knowledge, useful creative information that could change you and me are still in the print media, in black and white, in books and magazines.” He added, “If you read, you’ll come out of the darkness that blurs your vision and keeps you in the vice-grip of poverty.”
Why are we not a reading society? To address this question, it is important to first explore the history of reading. Ancient Egypt played a significant role in the development of reading, with the invention of a form of phonetic writing called hieroglyphics around 3250 BC and the subsequent creation of papyrus in 3000 BC. Phonetic reading was instrumental in enabling the Egyptians to record their past, the present, and use the records to shape the future. Reading also played a crucial role in the development of Ancient Egyptian technology, which ultimately led to significant progress in architecture, astronomy, mathematics, and medicine.
The Library of Alexandria, Egypt, was founded due to the skill of reading, making it one of the oldest libraries in the world. The City of Alexandria became the capital of knowledge, attracting scholars from around the globe and transforming the library into a prominent research institution. Reading at the Library of Alexandria led to the rise of scholars, among them, Apollonius of Rhodes, who composed the epic poem “Argonautica”; Eratosthenes of Cyrene, who calculated the circumference of the earth; and Hero of Alexandria, who invented the first recorded steam engine.
The establishment of the first universities in Europe was influenced by the culture of reading. The word “read” led to the founding of the University of Oxford in England in 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world. Oxford has since cultivated a culture of reading among its students who commonly refer to their studies as “reading Philosophy” instead of “majoring in Philosophy.”
Let me now address the question: “Why are we not a reading society?” The answer is to be found in the annals of history. For blacks, reading is a hard-earned culture raced with blood and death. In the 1500s, there was a belief in the white world that a black person was less human, inherently unable to read, and unintelligent. He was, therefore, held in contempt as racially inferior.
In Southern Africa, the phenomenon of denying Africans the right to read was orchestrated in the 1890s by the Prime Minister of the Cape Colony Cecil John Rhodes, who strove to ensure Africans remained illiterate and trapped in a system of indentured labor. “We have got to treat the natives, where they are in a state of barbarism, in a different way to ourselves,” Rhodes proclaimed in his Glen Grey Speech of 1894.
The British imperial government, influenced by the Rhodes racist doctrine, intentionally omitted Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) from the royal charter during the establishment of universities in tropical Africa between 1920 and 1948. The exclusion prevented the establishment of a University of Northern Rhodesia that would have created a reading society and by extension a knowledge-based society.
The queen’s consent would have meant the University of Northern Rhodesia aping the University of London in its admission criteria for students, course content, examination protocols, and academic affairs. At the time, the University of London was laying a foundational culture of reading in all the African universities under its wings to help first-year students build strong reading skills and a lifelong passion for books. The result was the rise of Africa’s early writers like Chinua Achebe (University of Ibadan), and (James) Ngugi wa Thiong’o (Makerere University), Joseph Coleman de Graft (University College of the Gold Coast), George Kofi Nyidevu Awoonor-Williams (University of Ghana), and Kwasi Wiredu (University of Ghana).
As for Zambia, the absence of a university at the time of independence resulted in Zambians missing out on a foundation in vigilant, rigorous, scholarly, and enjoyable reading essential for academic achievement and national development. Kenneth Kaunda, who needed a myriad of personnel for the labor market, was forced to rely on the racially-motivated Lockwood Committee that recommended subpar teaching methods and curricula that did not prioritize general reading essential for cognitive development. Instead, it emphasized the cramming type of reading for passing examinations. Consequently, the University of Zambia witnessed a significant decline in reading proficiency among its graduates, reflecting a catastrophic outcome that can be seen in most of the 40,000 graduates.
Since its establishment in 1966, the University of Zambia, left to its own devices by the British government, has failed to emerge as the source of the culture of reading in Zambia. Zambian education experts appointed to boards like the Higher Education Authority, and the Zambia Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ZSG-QA), have failed to adopt policies that can turn the University of Zambia into the cornerstone of Zambia’s education system in the manner of Harvard and Oxford. Consequently, the university has failed to achieve the goal of providing relevant and quality education crucial to the country’s human capital development. Without a culture of reading, UNZA will continue to produce graduates who are professionally incompetent and internationally ineffective.
The growing apprehension over the diminishing reading culture among Zambians is of grave concern. With the global economy having shifted towards a knowledge-based framework, Zambia’s future is at risk due to the reading crisis it faces. Unless immediate action is taken to address this decline, all aspects of the Zambian state, including its economic, political, and social components, which heavily rely on knowledge, will continue to deteriorate. Establishing a campus and national readership promotion initiative at the University of Zambia is essential in fostering a reading culture among students and the wider community. Without a culture of reading, the University of Zambia is an ivory tower which, when we go downstairs, we go straight into the sewer of knowledge.
The rights to this article belong to ZDI (Zambia Development Institute), a proposed US-based Zambian think tank. On May 19, 2022, a comprehensive proposal was delivered to President Hichilema through Principal Private Secretary Bradford Machila. Author Dr. Field Ruwe holds a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership. He is affiliated with Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
Ba Ruwe, instead of continuing to bash UNZA, why not lead the charge in revamping it to acceptable international academic standards?
@May mpapa. Don’t stress. This is another version of Clive Chirwa. Self appointed “experts ” of numerous subjects. Armchair critics. The title PhD may have gone to their heads.
He had a library called Rute Library on Cairo road, his done his part. Next question?
He was already suggested that. That’s what his first article on UNZA was all about. Obviously you did not read it in full.
@Swahili. Field and Clive have stepped forward to help the country improve. Clive had been trying hard to let the current government listen to him. He keeps hitting the brick wall. People like him and Field must be embraced and allowed to share ideas with you.
And stop using old and tired adage which are fake and racist. Americans don’t read books also. Just look at the ignorant crowd that follows Trump.
Trump who can’t use logic, shifts from stance to stance, tells lies, is racist, and an egomaniac. Only the very dumb would make him a leader.
Ruwe was four years my senior at Kantanshi Secondary School. Let me remind him that because of my infatuation with reading I failed my Cambridge exams.
Kikikikiki Yes because of always discreetly reading James Hadley Chase’s novels during Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Geography classes my passmarks in these subjects were far from flying colours. So reading may not be all its mdae out to be
Imwe ba swahili fimofimo I wonder whether you are interested in Africa’s progress- just google Clive Chirwa’s profile and you will see how much he is recognised by various European institutions. You never want to acknowledge your own brains-Akalicho! You pull Him Downs! These are respected intellectuals just harvest from them dont waste time poking holes in them. Noone is perfect-that includes you
When I was a student at UNZA (at the same time as HH), I had a discussion with a friend of mine. Like me, he majored in the sciences. I pointed out that UNZA was a fantastic seed university, and that we should aspire to get hire education, and come back to teach tens of thousands of us to know what he had learned. My friend immediately attacking me, insisting that the small number of engineers, scientists, mathematicians, doctors, etc, were already enough, and that if more were graduated, they might dilute the prestige and reduce the emoluments paid to those who had already come before them. This is in a nutshell is what this Ruwe ***** is doing. This is why he keeps putting his PhD next to his name, and demeaning the education of other people
“higher education, no hire education”
Just sharing: Some insurance companies have length conditions with very tiny letters. The ones to lure you are few and readable letters. Come time to claim that’s when they read you the classes ” hidden” in the small crowded letters.
What we need in Zambia is to take those of us who already have degrees, and employ us 50 more universities that should be opened, so that each and every year, we should graduate 10 000 doctors, 10 000 engineers, 10 000 computer scientists, 20 000 ,maths and science teachers. China produces 4.7 million engineers and scientists every year; India 2.4 million, Russia and the US about 560 000 a year, Japan and Malaysia 300 000, Iran 200 000, Brazil and Mexico 100 000+; we have no time to waste listening to id1ots who claim that their education is the only education. This mentality of making education elitist is what destroyed England, while other countries soared
Praise Singer Field Ruwe still no appointment yet….
When his house is loadshedded, he prays that the engineer produced by the “substandard UNZA” give electricity. This hypocrite is busy blasting our best university so that people can say he is the only who has good education.
Those criticising Mr Ruwe, going by the saying “don’t raise your voice improve your argument”, can you counter his arguments? Being a UNZA product does not mean that you have to aimlessly defend the institution
UNZA is a fantastic university, with lecturers who have graduated from the best universities in the US, Canada, England and other parts of the West. The people criticising our education are hoping that weak minds will be swayed into ignoring the education that Kaunda has given us, and waiting for them to give us their education which we will never get, and is not better than what we have. I am sure that when this “Fiend Rugwe” gets VD from a namakwenkwe, he runs straight to UTH, to be treated by the doctors produced by the “substandard UNZA”. When his house is loadshedded, he prays that the engineer produced by the “substandard UNZA”. This hypocrite is busy blasting our best university so that people can say he is the only who has good education.
Kudos Dr. Ruwe.
I know that Dr. Ruwe’s efforts at promoting reading culture go back to the early ’90s when he had a library, “Rute Library” at Findeco House.
I was a dedicated member who read 3 books from his library every weekend.
Put in book form not here same with SS
This is a well-researched and brilliant piece of work. Those who criticize it likely haven’t finished reading the article. It explains why Zambian academicians, particularly UNZA graduates, are struggling to address critical issues affecting our country. With few exceptions, why are Zambian-trained engineers unable to solve problems related to infrastructure or urban planning? Take Lusaka, the capital city, for instance; it is essentially built around slums i.e. Kalikiliki, kanyama etc.
I am not an educationist nor a a librarian. But one thing I know is that reading culture does not start at unza it starts in from the formative stages of nursery, primary and secondary schools countrywide! Direct your efforts at teachers and parents NOT unza. That’s like trying to climb a tree from the branches. Inspite of the valid lamentation on poor reading culture, the pathological penchant to tie everything negative to unza renders Ruwe’s argument sinister & subjective
I concur that reading culture starts from the formative years of an individual.The family,school,church and the media.These institutions are currently in a state of confusion. Thats why people like DejaFoool are functional illiterates
Reading culture starts with those who already can read so they can teach the children how to read. That’s why we have teachers. Children can not teach themselves. If teachers are poorly read so will be the children.
Dude, it is 2024 and you want me to read a book. There is Internet now. Even grade 9 kind get assignments on whats App. HH here I will beg you to give this man a job. Newspaper, novels, TV news, postal letter, postcards are a thing of the past. Today we are using technology. Ruwe should come out of the stone age.
Yes, pick up a book and read cover to cover. Those who created the Internet still read books. Libraries in the West are not dead. If anything they are full of readers. Parks are full of people seated on benches reading. A meta-cognitive mind is a progressive mind!
Normally when I am flying I take a nice book which I finish before reaching my destination. That’s the only time I read a physical book…. most times I am on internet.
@kci, Books are also found on the internet.
You don’t have to read the hard copy.
DejaFoool.Are you just trying to tell us that you can also fly? Because everything you say afterwards is nonsensical.
@ sleepyjoe.Local government was killed by MMD when stripped councils of all revenue streams. Houses, liquor trade, motor vehicle licensing, driving licences, markets and bus station given to cadres. Even gazzetted Forests and graveyards become available for residential plots to be dished out by cadres during election campaign periods.That’s the reason we are living like pigs in our towns.Uncontrolled street vending and littering. Is all this dysfunctional system of governance a result of unza academicians and graduates?
That was under UNIP then MMD naba ba konkelepo bonse with no vision everything which was good under Unip was dismantled alamwandi uku ekusampaula ichalo and these days even fools of the fools want to rule Zambia.
EXPLAIN WHAT WAS GOOD UNDER UNIP ???
Field Ruwe and Sishuwa Sishuwa belong to the same soar grapes WhatsApp group. They’re notorious vuvuzelas these two, bya swabisa luli biwawa bye.
Is David Copperfield a writer?
No David Copperfield is the title of a book by Charles Dickens
It reminds me of when Kambwili asked “who is Moody?” after Zambian credit rating was downgraded
All council libraries have been turned into shops or bars. How can you foster a culture of reading when there aren’t even any libraries to talk about.
Books are expensive. It’s better to have a computer
@True zambian and Emancipate. Clive and Field are most welcome to contribute. I agree I am not perfect. Clive started off as a crash scientist, then he was a railway expert, recently he became a mining expert. Ruwe’s observation on poor reading culture is correct. But then how does in his conclusion blame it on unza? Culture is instilled from a very young age not a someone is already an adult at unza. A lot of we diasporans have made an impact in Zambia without the unwarrented special attention that these two seek. They behave like politicians
@ Emancipate. You are actually seeking validation from European institutions by statinghow these guysate recognised by European institutions, and by implicationwe cannotfaultthese guysbecausetheyhaveEuropean “credentials”. So who is enslaved to Europe me or you who is seeking validation from European institutions?
Yes I may be seen by you to be seeking validation from institutions that have a reputation in Europe. But I have sighted Europe because Iam seeking the confirmation of a biblical truth from Jesus when he said “A prophet is treated with honor everywhere except in his own hometown, among his relatives, and in his own house.”
Clearly you are trying to ignore local intellectuals with a fantastic reputation abroad
I used to think like this until I came to the United Kingdom. I have lived in the UK for 35 years and I find that reading is just as bad here as it is in Zambia. The difference between Zambia and other countries is lack of SPECIALISED READING. It is the COLLECTIVE reading of a people that matters. If a thousand people read one book each, that society will be more knowledgeable than if 10 people read 100 books each. Dr Ruwe reminisces about the past. We had very few books to read. It is impossible to catch up with the billions of books published every day. We need collective intelligence- which means each one person becomes a master in their own field or author.
You cannot compare apples and oranges…Clive and Field are not at par CLive is miles ahead of his peers…The man with the longest queue in town is well remembered for his cabaret shows, or his attempts at cracking a few jokes…it was when the opposite number tracked to the west that like the perpetuals tag along he followed….suddenly after obtaining a paper he long admired he has taken to bashing those he now feels he is better than…lets just say like his dry jokes it is that boy who was told sayn boyish, girlish etc wasn’t proper english on the boys english paper he wrote eng..
@Mate, it is really really sad to know envious, conceited people like yourself exist in this world. I have a bad feeling that you are either a close friend, classmate, or a relative of Ruwe for you to despise him with such venom. You are evidently a lowly educated person with a heart of a witch who bewitches his own brother because he has done better than him.
@Mate cont’d. This the reason we have failed as a people. When you have dark hearted people like this guy hiding behind the computer to spew his hatred for a fellow being then you know we are getting nowhere. Zambians, Zambians! Any member of your population who rises to the level were Ruwe is must be a role model. That’s what people in civilized societies do. The rally behind those who succeed where others have not.
@Mate Why arent they comparable? They were classmates at Kantanshi Secondary School.
Not only in Zambia. We Africans don’t like reading. Here in South Africa children who attend multiracial schools have a good reading cultural compared to black schools. I was reading an article in Sowetan newspaper years back titled Black people don’t like reading. A Study was done where a R100 note was put inside book and placed back on the bookshelf in the library in Soweto. They also did the same in a white area library. After six months, they took the book out of the shelf and checked if the money was still there. They find the R100 note still inside the book in Soweto which shows that for the past 6 months, no one read the book. In a White area library, it was not there.
Very poor researchers I’ll say. What if the book was say “David Copperfield”? Its unlikely to be of interest to Soweto readers but the white audience may want to read it. Just as a book by Kenneth Kaunda titled “Zambia shall be free” might not appeal to whites….
Sorry, some nitpicking by a proofreader: You dont say “read and finish a book” The correct phrasing is “finish reading a book”
@ TM. Thanks for your observation. Now, is it the fault of the cape town university or witwatersrand university or indeed any university in SA for the poor reading culture in Soweto? Our esteemed professor Field Ruwe correctly observes that there is a poor reading culture in Zambia. Alas, he blames the university of zambia for the this problem and actually calls the university a sewer. Is such a conclusion rational let alone civil, a trait you would expect among intellectuals. I think some people needs counselling to get to grips with a deepseated problem/hate/complex etc
Field does not call UNZA a sewer. “Without a culture of reading, the University of Zambia is an ivory tower which, when we go downstairs, we go straight into the sewer of knowledge” is a euphemism urging UNZA to
establish a campus and national readership promotion initiative at the University of Zambia in order to foster a reading culture among students and the wider community. He is urging UNZA not to ignore but do something about out.
@ University Don. I am human and I have my frailties. One thing I consciously abide to is humility and avoiding to throw black African people under the bus or to manoeuvre to take advantage of them/ourselves as a diasporan. Clive for example landed a job as ZRL managing director, was given Eurobond money. He promised bullet trains whilst the PF was talking rehabilitation. A total mess. There is a much more fulfilling life/service beyond government plum jobs. I can’t reduce myself to reporting to the likes of Kampyongo and Lusambo, Lungu etc. It’s unfortunate that you can pick out university graduates for the mess zambia is is in and turn a blind to the rogue political players that rule the country