Professor Ngugi wa Thio’ngo to attend the sixth annual reading conference

A well known African novelist, a Kenyan born Professor Ngugi wa Thion’go is expected to be among the key speakers at the sixth annual Pan-African Reading for All Conference scheduled to take place later in Dar es Salaam. According to the Chairman of the conference preparatory committee, Professor Mugyabuso Mulokozi, Professor Ngugi would also be accompanied by Kenyan popular scholar in the USA Professor Ally Mazrui, President of the Pearson Foundation Nieker Mark and Patricia Edward, President of International Reading Association. Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete would be the Chief guest of the conference that is expected to attract more than 200 local and International participants. The event has been championed by Children’s book project for Tanzania Develop Literature Society, Reading for All Pan-African voice of literacy and other stakeholders.


Chairperson of the preparatory committee for Pan-African Reading Conference for All Professor Mugyabuso Mulokozi talking to journalists partly hidden during a press conference at Children Book project offices at Kijitonyama in Dar es Salaam. On his left is the Executive Secretary of Children Book project Ms. Pili Dumea.
This will be the first time for Tanzania to have hosted such a big event scheduled to take place next month from August 10 – 14, 2009 at the University of Dar es Salaam. The forum whose theme would be “Literacy for Community Based Social-Economic transformation and Development”, would involve different scholars, teachers, students, publishers, book-sellers, policy makers and other close stakeholders in book industry. About 204 topics had been submitted to the organizing committee of people who want to present their views at the conference, and among the key participants would come from the hosts Tanzania, Nigeria, Botswana, Morocco, South Africa, USA and Canada.

Professor Ngugi wa Thion'go, a Kenyan national living in USA would grace the occassion and also he is expected to launch his new book entitled remembering Africa.

Others would come from Uganda, Kenya, Ghana, Zambia, Rwanda, Malawi, Denmark, Australia, Norway, Swaziland, Australia, New-Zealand, Cameroon and United Kingdom. This is a historic meeting to take place for the first time in Tanzanian soil. According to Professor Mulokozi, Information, Culture and Sports Ministry has extended its hands in support of the event and institutions such as Barrick Gold Tanzania International Reading Association Pearson Foundation for Development through Education and Mirad foundation. The Pan-African Reading for All (RFA) Conference is one of the most exciting and most memorable literacy events on the African continent. It is organized bi-annually by the International Reading Association’s International Development Committee in Africa (IRA/IDAC) and the National Reading Association in the host country. The first edition was held in 1999 in the glamorous South African City of Pretoria. The second edition was held in Abuja in Nigeria in 2001. In 2003, the third edition was held in Kampala, the city of seven hills in Uganda. In 2005, the 4th edition of the Pan-African Reading for All conference was taken down south to Swaziland, commonly known as the Switzerland of Africa because of its scenic beauty and climate. The most recent edition of the conference held in August 2007 took place in the West African country of Ghana, known for its gold wealth.