Guinea literary festival: Africa, literature and identity celebrated in Conakry
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Transcript
00:00 This is one of the few libraries in Guinea.
00:03 The titles available at the Gamal Abdel Nasser University are mostly scientific and, according
00:09 to the chief librarian, outdated.
00:13 "We're in the medical section, urology, pediatrics.
00:18 We have lots of books on medicine compared to other subjects.
00:23 To balance things out, the state needs to come to the rescue, along with institutions
00:28 and donors."
00:30 Until then, students have to make do with what is available.
00:34 Eladj Sidiki Kaba is an undergrad physics student.
00:38 "I do physics, so I need books about electronics that I can't find here, and there is also
00:44 no digital department."
00:47 Guinea has a dozen publishing houses, most of which have limited funds.
00:52 Bookstores mostly sell works imported from abroad at prices too high for most citizens.
00:59 A book club in the capital is trying to keep the literary flame alive with twice-monthly
01:05 meetings.
01:06 Members are lent books for free and take part in group reading sessions, meaning illiterate
01:12 people can also enjoy the literature.
01:16 "Books are very expensive.
01:22 Those of us from poor backgrounds don't have access to books.
01:25 That's why we created this club to help them.
01:28 The more they read, the more they're able to emancipate themselves."
01:34 The National Association of Writers in Guinea have called on the government to invest more
01:38 in the country's publishing sector.