Nso writers immortalised In Book Fair to encourage a reading culture

NKUMBIWA has paid tribute to both the older and current generations of Nso writers.

This was during a two-day Book Fair, recently organised in Kumbo by the NKUMBIWA Development Forum.

The Forum is a group of volunteers drawn from the four Nso Council areas in Bui Division, Northwest Region. These areas include; Nkum, Kumbo, Mbiame and Dzekwa.

During the Book Fair, literary icons such as; late Prof. Bernard Fonlon, Kenjo Jumbam, Mgr. Paul Verdzekov, amongst others, were immortalised.

Other writers equally identified included Prof Daniel Lantum, Prof Fanso Verkijika, Cardinal Tumi, and so on.

Speaking at the Book Fair, the Technical Adviser at the Ministry of Culture, Dr. Asheri Kilo, said her Ministry’s mission is to promote a reading and writing culture.

“Of the five departments that we have in the Ministry, the Department of Writing and Books stands out distinctly,” she declared.

She lauded the initiative of NKUMBIWA for organising the Book Fair and debunked claims that books are expensive.

“Books are not as expensive as the beer Cameroonians drink,” she stated while urging young people not to allow their parents drink away the money they would have used in buying books for them.

Kilo, however, regretted that many authors had received financial assistance from the Ministry, but failed to publish the books for which the money was given.

Kilo expressed satisfaction with the publications in Lamnso, saying they will go a long way to encourage the young generation to develop an interest in learning the language.

According to Bui Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, Theophile Nzeki; “Bui is powerful because she has very prominent sons and daughters, who have, over the years, endeavoured to immortalise their ideas.”

Earlier, NKUMBIWA National Coordinator, Bertha Yiberla, said her group is composed of volunteers who have a passion for development. She said her group has discovered that the reading culture among youths was dwindling and it is resolute to revive it.

She also paid tribute to the elderly Nso writers, appreciating the marvelous literary works they did.

Other speakers harped on the importance of books as vessels of knowledge that could be used for development.