How Publishers, Authors Celebrated World Book/Copyright Day- By Fẹ́mi Akínṣọlá & O’Tayo Damilola Noel
By Fẹ́mi Akínṣọlá & O’Tayo Damilola Noel
World Book and Copyright Day is celebrated on April 23 each year. It is a worldwide celebration of books and readers. Here is all you need to know.
Every year on April 23, World Book Day celebrations take place across the globe.
In this report by Fountain Newsbresker, individual authors and publishers alike wish each other “Happy World Book and Copyright Day” and come together to commemorate this special day.
To start with, what is the meaning of World Book and Copyright?
The World Book and Copyright Day is celebrated by UNESCO (The United Nations Educational Cultural Organisation) on an International scale. It is a worldwide celebration of readers, authors, and books. Each year, children from different cultural backgrounds, countries, come together for world book day celebration. They explore the excitement in reading books together.
In the industry of books, there are mainly three sectors i.e publishers, booksellers, and libraries. On the World Book and Copyright Day, the International Organisation chose one place, which acts as a World Book Capital for an annual year. Hence, this specific world capital through its proceedings, initiatives, and, programmes celebrate this highly historic day in their own way
World Book Day Celebration 2020
Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur is chosen to be the World Book Capital for 2020. The slogan for world book and copyright day 2020 is “KL Baca ‘ “Caring Through Reading”. Also every year, there is a different theme or a different set of themes. So for the International Book Day 2020, there are four themes which include: Reading in all its forms, development of the book industry infrastructure, inclusiveness and digital accessibility and empowerment of children through reading
Numerous activities are conducted for the promotion of book reading. This includes new digital libraries in the economically backward areas, more accessibility for the disabled, reading campaigns and others. Furthermore, there will also be an entire book city constructed for the World Book and Copyright Day 2020. The book city is called “The Kota Buku Complex”.
Significance of World Book/Copyright Day
The reason behind the Wold Book Day celebration on the date of April 23 is linked to history. April 23 holds a lot of importance, as some of the greatest authors like William Shakespeare, Miguel Cervantes, and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega deceased on this very day. So in order to mark a tribute to all these great literary giants, the UNESCO selected this date to commemorate the International Book day each year.
World Book and Copyright Day 2020 amid COVID-19 Pandemic
Since the entire globe is going through a state of a pandemic due to the widespread COVID-19 Virus, most educational institutions have gone into a shutdown mode for the safety and security of their students, teachers, and staff. Yet through the power of e-books, digitalisation reading positive things, and gaining knowledge is need of the hours. As it not only helps to protect ourselves but also widens our horizons towards a long-term approach. So it is best to enjoy the world book and copyright day 2020 at the comfort of home by indulging into some necessary reading.
Below are what various authors and publishers said about their books and personal experiences:
Mrs Linda Eden Davies
Mrs Linda Eden Davies, Author of “A Basket of Realities” says:
Publishing today is mostly done by writers as you well know. Some writers have become so good at it, they’ve even taken up publishing for other fellow writers not acquainted with the ins and outs of the printing game, cos basically that’s what it boils down to….printing.
The days of dreaming of a Publishing house to publish and distribute ones work is gone and those publishers still in existence deal strictly with writers well-known and whose works they are guaranteed to get their investment richly paid back.
Piracy is the norm too. More so if your work happens to have f approved by any Ministry of Education in the country and it’s part of the educational curriculum.
Royalties most times when you do get a Publishing house to publish and market your book is akin to ” Monkey de work, baboon de chop” business.
Most times the only thing you get out of the those late nights of writing in terms of royalties is just the joy of seeing your name in print. The Publishing houses just give you peanuts and give you the old story line of ” no one is reading, no one is buying = no sales.
Welcome to the real world.
Writing as a full time career is not my advice to
any one bent on making good money, not in our present economic dispensation anyways.
THE NIGERIA REVIEW:THE BACK ISSUE GOES INTO PDF VERSION.
The reviews of the maiden edition of the NIGERIA REVIEW shall be downloadable from 7th May, 2020 to give easy access to users. The editor is Saddiq Dzukogi.
Also, the 2nd edition due for 5th May, 2020 shall be downloadable as PDF from 15th May, 2020. The editor is Ismail Bala..
Pls, visit our website: www.nigeriareview.com.ng
Do You Have News or Adverts for Fountain Newsbreaker?
Call: 08034386563
0806023 4129
0703105 0530
Dr Solomon Igwuanre
Dr Solomon Igwuanre, a senior lecturer at Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo and former Chairman Association of Nigerian Authors, Oyo chapter, only reviewed his three works.
According to him, “The Grave Encounter” is a drama on the HIV/AIDS awareness, designed with AIDS personalised and taking a randy character, Kilo on an expedition into the lives and times ofgrave inmates. Here the readers/audience are given insights into the various means of contracting the disease in a seamless and entertaining manner.
His second work, “Scented Debris” is a novel based on unethical professional practice involving the swapping of a set of twins with a baby in another family thereby creating a fundamental disarray on both families. The effect of this heinous act becomes manifest when the twin siblings inadvertently engage in a romantic friendship leading to the altar. Hell is let loose when the matron, Majaro halts the marriage proceedings.
Dr Igwunanre’s third work, “Oh Obedeki” is a parlour comedy involving class consciousness, tribal sentiments and other minor themes. Obedeki, the eponymous character and houseboy, by stroke of fate, ends up marrying the only daughter of his master, whose crave for riches is phenomenal.
Speaking about piracy, Igwuanre said: “A school once asked for copies from me but later said they got copies from another source so they didn’t need my copies again. I later discovered that pirated copies had been supplied into those schools. One thing is clear, the pirates are everywhere, they are mean, ruthless and desperate. Above all, they have the wherewithal to fight their battles even when confronted
All these and many more are from the desk of CCN – COTAI COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK in Ado Ekiti. Publishing outfit with a golden touch!
Do You Have News or Adverts for Fountain Newsbreaker?
Call: 08034386563
0806023 4129
0703105 0530
Akogun Tai Oguntayo
Special Adviser (Media) to the Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly and the
General Secretary, Association of Nigerian Authors.
HAPPY WORLD BOOK/COPYRIGHT DAY FOLKS
He has this to say: “Here are 6 out of my 7 books since 1993 (27 years ago). Well, so far so good, I can attest to it that book writing pays. I do hear people say they don’t make money from their writings, it depends on your focus. If you write mainly to win award, you get the prize and it may end there. If you write for school children, it may not win award but if it enters school curriculum it fetches you cool money every season. If you write for politics, it fetches you fame and that may fetch you recognition in political space. So, by and large, your focus while writing matters. Amongst the books below, three have been consistently leading in the recommended text books by the ministry of Education in Ekiti State in the last 18 years while another two have been recommended by Mass Communication lecturers of many tertiary institutions. With direct marketing and close monitoring, it has been a success story all the way. I wish this little narration helps somebody.
Tolulope Comfort, Afolabi
Tolulope has this to say “Of a truth, it’s a global sober and retrospection period because of the emergence of the pandemic that all and sundry are battling with at the moment. Nevertheless, it remains a period to celebrate age-long friendship, and the very life and being that breathes on our shelves. It’s the #WorldBookDay and we cannot but see more reasons to go inwards at this period and find a consolation for our souls, as this outbreak has made us see the vanity embedded in our pursuits.
Tolulope Comfort, Afolabi is a young writer, reader, researcher and critic. She got her debut novel “Ordeals of Women” published in 2018. “Ordeals of Women” is a novel that centres on the life of Women and the girl-child in their quest for recognition in a male-centred society and how they were able to pull through. It remains a book every genderly-sane individual must have on their shelves”.
Do You Have News or Adverts for Fountain Newsbreaker?
Call: 08034386563
0806023 4129
0703105 0530
Dr Sola Balogun
Dr Sola Balogun, a lecturer at Federal University, Oye Ekiti and Secretary of Ekiti ANA says:
My own experience in this lockdown has been a mixture of joy and frustration. Joy because I was able to complete a radio play in addition to almost completing two research papers. But frustration
because I had limited cash at hand to really meet up with household needs and to assist my relations
who look up to me as well as less privileged people in my neighborhood. All of these aggravated by the seizure of our salaries by the FG since February. Well we are keeping hope alive, believing that the COVID-19 pandemic would eventually leave our land and the entire globe will be healed.
Do You Have News or Adverts for Fountain Newsbreaker?
Call: 08034386563
0806023 4129
0703105 0530
Alhaji Abdusallam El Mubashir
Former Chairman ANA Oyo, Alhaji Abdusallam El Mubashir has this to say:
Challenges of COVID 19: Well, it is a mixed grill. Man naturally is supposed to be social animal. We live by and on associations. That obviously has been significantly altered. We are under some sort of ‘house arrest’. However, as a writer, it offers opportunity to either start new writings or review old unpublished ones. But this in itself is constrained by the quest for information on the pandemic which has become such a jealous subject that will not allow others to live. Also the dynamism that makes life and living interesting has been replaced by a boring monotony even with your family members around. Thanks. Abdulsalam elmubashir is the author of ‘HOPE STILL FOR MY RAPED LAND’. A Poetry published in 2017. His short stories collection won the ANA/NDDC KEN SARO WIWA PROSE PRIZE FOR 2013.
Do You Have News or Adverts for Fountain Newsbreaker?
Call: 08034386563
0806023 4129
0703105 0530
Dr Chris Omotoso
Below is the former Secretary of Ogun ANA, Dr Chris Omotoso’s snippets from his works, “A Saintly Devil”
It is always a nightmare of sort, going to work! The take home is not bad for my level. The office environment is somewhat conducive and a good place to be. But my direct boss, a woman, is a hell of a person to deal with! Whoever is in search of Devil or what Devil looks like should see me because I know where Devil is…
A single parent who would not let a young and handsome guy like me to have a peace of mind. I thought the first attempt on that afternoon, at her place, on our way from an official engagement would be enough…
There is nothing good in whatever I do for her. I dread going to work. I celebrate her trips outside town. I look forward to the illness that would take her away from work for days. I look forward to public holidays and my annual leave. But I still enjoy going for lunch with her, most of which she commandeered me to. And I found her gifts irresistible, but I am still succeeding in not going again to her house…
Alas! The unexpected holiday came in the name of COVID. I was the happiest person, as the holiday would be a relief from the Devil re-incanate of a boss. Lo and behold, the holiday is fast extending and with no definite date of resumption in sight. And my boss? I am beginning to miss her, longing to be at work, missing the free lunch, the gifts and her troubles! Her calls do come and wish I could find my way to her cosy place. It came out of me that, “I am missing you too”…I could hear the sensation and the feel from the other end but here is the almighty lockdown! For the first time, I am beginning to miss my office and the troublesome boss. Could it be that she was not trouble after all? Or is it that I haves been living in self-denial hitherto? Have I actually been in love with my boss? COVID 19 might give me the answer!
Dr. Chris Omotosho
Paul Oni,
Chairman of ANA Ogun
My corvid-19 Shock
At beginning when the news of corvid-19 filtered in January 2020, what first came to my mind was how to help at all costs.
I had been practicing alternative therapies for 20 years now immediately I retired from the Nigerian Air Force. I had developed 7 major Herbal Medications. Among them, I have HERBIOTICS Syrup, which is very efficacious against fibrosis, congelation of the lungs and stubborn dry coughs. Immediately, I thought that it will definitely help against Corona virus. I therefore bought air tickets for Abuja.
I went straight to the Ministry of Health and reported to the Director of Alternative Medicine. She received me well and promised to push it forward to the honourable minister.
I came back to Abeokuta hoping to receive a call soon from Abuja. However, nothing came through. Therefore, after a month of waiting in February, I called the director and she said I should do a letter directly to the honourable minister of health and come to Abuja with my samples. The next day, I again bought air tickets and went to Abuja to submit the letter and samples. However, they took the letter and rejected the samples. Up till this moment I haven’t heard anything from them. I then decided to approach the Ogun State Commissioner of Health and she told me to go to Abuja.
It was then that it dawned on me that we are actually slaves of the whites and the Chinese. We will never do anything except it comes from abroad.
I had thought that Nigeria been blessed with unlimited possibilities of Herbal Medicine, our government should have been interested in finding a local Herbal solution to corvid-19 and thereby gain economic advantage thereby.
It is in the same vein that I advised that our tailors be commissioned to sew face masks with our local cotton fabrics instead of waiting for imported once.
Paul Oni is the author of The Middlemen, Lion in Sheep’s Skin, President of Presidents, Olaadara – Bright Future, Ikueru – Death of Fear and Cryptic Crux
I want to congratulate the organisation that set a day aside to honour books and book writers. I also commend the organisation for protecting the intellectual property right of book writers through a day like this. I would like to advise that an important day like this should be celebrated in all institutions by all of us who have immensely benefited from books and book writing. Clement O. O. Kolawole, Ph.D, University of Ibadan
Mrs ABIMBOLA Muibat Oyesola,
HOD Arts & Languages St Patrick’s Grammar School Ibadan
One can actually write a whole thesis on the topic. That a day is set apart to appreciate the important contribution of the written word to our lives is commendable. Books open up a whole vista of experiences to us. Through books we can delve into the inner recesses of other people’s minds. We can move to and fro the past and the future while standing in the present. Books are living entities in and of themselves. The development of copyright as an aspect of publishing came later on. It was in a bid to protect the right of those who take their time to pin down events, history and whatever we can find in books. A good development which in several ways is also an impetus for past, present and future writers as well as those saddled with the responsibility of taking care of the rights of those who write.
