Teddy Muriu.

The veracity of the content inherent in this recollection deserves some deletions to preclude the opportunities for resuscitation, burial and alleged reincarnation.

Joan draws from the emerging collective consciousness – a shared sentiment that the reading culture in Kenya is drooping. While I too can evoke the self-guilt of the authors read, bemoaning this stereotype demeans the fortunes of Kenya, particularly “after the vote”.

In extension, the ‘Y’ generation concedes to the notion that the intelligent are immune to propaganda and cannot be manipulated. On the other hand - so alleges ‘Y’ generation; those with a partial loss of the critical faculties (deficient intellectual powers) are prone to a premature foreclosure of alternatives either for lack of education or being badly bred readers. Didn’t both sides take sides or some just sat on the fence having no experience of war?

Neither the 68% literacy by Prof. Sam Ongeri nor books nor education had a play on post-election Kenya. The rudiments would be youth, religion, sect and there subsequent appendages.

The wry description as ‘a great deal of truth’ what besets reading about wars and woes, character and integrity, stains with blind spots across time the heritage handed down by education. It does so in three ways.

First, it heightens the attitude of writers (not being read). Dozens are collegiate instructors whose publications repel the very curricula they quench from. Be it policy or sheer academic dissension, this throws doubt on their legitimacy to woe avid consumers of that written word and stem thematic stigma in publishing.

Secondly, it conjures the victorious hierarchy of fictitious roles and celebrated biographies as true embodiments in a society at the peripheries of evolution. Going by history, society is refined by rituals and conflict is part of that finesse. Does the cultivation of a legend attain a drab existence in a reader or add to the advocacy for realigning the docile crowds? Maybe the aggressive proponents in post election chaos had read epics and were moved by the epitomes of Hitler or Martin Luther.

Lastly, while it is overly trustworthy to dissect the nominal role of syllabi with contrast for contention, I remind myself that the usefulness of education is in the student, not with the issues that demand redress in the crudest way.

No doubt that pluralistic Asia has leaped in technology. Just how much has that to do with reading? Anthropology documents kaizen, which is a value based philosophy credited of this. You will be amazed how much of it is written and transmitted via books.

Assuming Ngugi wa Thiong’o was to hold a political office, or write a title in the present Kenya would you endorse his ideas or borrow his insight? I would ignore either for one reason. His is a fictitious world where reality is distorted.

As a writer, it affects me when my words do not arouse a following. Again, setting limits on discourse is a discipline that confers both leadership and influential participation in the community. However, it renders me less and less stoic to realize that my work is no different from the political instigators; that out of my surface research, my country is forever in the bathroom vomiting those edifying rumors: that I am the slough that society wades and kneads through.

I will vote for education before books.

Okello J.

I feel where you are comming from trying to make sense of the predicament of the Y generation. Truth be told we are caught in transition and if we are to succeed we will have to be radical, we will have to debunk alot of myths that have been asssociated with education our generation.
Fact growing up I was told by my teacher that if I did not study hard I would end up as a matatu driver, or a juakali person!!! That attitude only kills creativity and puts young people in a limbo waiting for something big to happen rather than initiating something. We must acknowledge that the era of Ngugi wa Thiong, Taban Loliyong and Chinua Achebe is no different to the times we live in. Times where we can still be pioneers if we choose so in whatever field. Kenya and indeed the whole world is waiting for Africa to take a big leap..And we are the people to steer this exciting endevour.

Oti

What a challenge from a ‘Y’ generationer! Indeed, you are right on target on these issues. As you rightly imply the problem is not books or education but what we do or don’t do with them.

I am confident that the future is bright with more generationers of your calibre starting to emerge. I applaud Kwani Litfest for taking the pains to bring out the talent in you and other young (and young-at-heart) Africans.

I am confident through my recent interaction with you that the sky is the limit for you.

Reading culture- most Kenyans don’t read and it will take a generational change to make them start- like begin with them at pre-unit and develop it. You will; find the the people who read did not begin in adulthood. It is something they have developed with time.