French Readers And Nigerian Literature
The Ken Saro Wiwa Center in the north eastern part of Paris demonstrates the interest of French readers in Nigerian literature.Although there is nothing special in the work of this local cultural center,but the decision to name such an important community service in the memory of a Nigerian author,who lost his life in the hands of a military dictator remains a laudable symbol.
Features of The Average Reader
If the Ken Saro Wiwa center surprises literary observers,the tradition of reading and literacy are some of the reasons that insiders will attribute to the display of the last novel of Uzodima Iweala in a remote library.An experience that will make people familiar with France to think of the 2017 findings of the Centre National du Livre,saying that 88% of the respondents to a survey conducted by the institute are prolific readers.Majority of these readers are women,the average reader reads about 20 titles during the period under study and young people between 15-24 years old are also voracious readers in this our world of electronic books.
Attracting Readers For Nigerian Authors
Another encouraging factor in the popularity of Nigerian authors is how publishers are using social media techniques to promote Nigerian literature.For example,in the course of the second week of January 2019,the dust jacket of the title of Oyinkan Braitwaite was displayed on the Facebook page of Delcourt-Littérature(now Editions La Croisée).One month later,Emmanuelle Hertebize, declared that it was a literary agent that sent her the manuscript and on the spur of the moment,she knew that there was a jewel in the offer.This facebook post generated favourable feedbacks from many regional book sellers that when you walk in front of some Paris bookshops.You notice the stopping power of the new title of Oyinkan Braithwaite.You remember the half page advertisement of the title in the Spring issue of Page des Libraires and on page 69, of this trade publication,a review by Anne-Sophie Rouveloux beginning with Korede I finished her!
Destination | Festivals |Festival Guest |Labaf-one| Paris
