The Culture of Reading in Sub-Saharan Africa

Law student Nkhole Anastasia Kepi describes the challenges of accessing books in Zambia with these words:

“We are a society that reads very little, simply because we cannot access books. Yet the path to cultivating a reading culture begins with access. I have loved African literature since childhood, but it has always been difficult for me to find books. I started by borrowing from relatives, then tried downloading e-books. But even those are not easy to get—most e-books are expensive. Sometimes I search for free books or promotional offers. In my country, there are very few public libraries. Even in my university library, it is difficult to find the books I need.”

When it comes to literacy rates, Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most disadvantaged region in the world. Literacy among adults is 65%, while among young people it is 75%.

The primary focus across the continent has been to increase literacy rates and bring as many students as possible into classrooms. However, the need for books and libraries beyond school textbooks and formal education has received far less attention.

Of course, in today’s digital age, smartphones provide access to countless reading materials. Yet printed books still hold their value. Across Africa, access to books—especially textbooks—remains a persistent challenge.

Even in the most developed capitals, there are very few bookstores, and the books available are priced far beyond the reach of the average citizen.

In Zambia, where the average monthly income ranges between 2,000 and 6,000 kwacha (about 2,500–7,500 Turkish lira), a single novel costs at least 250 kwacha (around 330 lira).

Like many other African countries, Zambia lacks the economic and political infrastructure to meet its educational needs independently. International aid for education, while present, remains inadequate.

Public libraries—arguably the most sustainable way to provide affordable or free access to books—are few and far between. Private schools and universities often offer relatively well-stocked libraries, but these remain accessible only to higher-income groups. In most state schools, where even textbooks are scarce, the idea of a school library is almost unimaginable. Public universities often have libraries, but they are filled with outdated materials, rendering them insufficient for today’s needs.

In Zambia, a country of nearly 20 million people, there are just 45 public libraries. Neighboring Tanzania, with a population of 63 million, has only about 100. For comparison: Turkey, with a similar population to Tanzania, has 1,252 public libraries and more than 34,000 institutional and community libraries.

Why are books so expensive?

High costs and limited local publishing capacity are major barriers to access. Josephine Sakala, president of the Zambian Literature Club, explains:

“Book prices are extremely high in our country. This is because there are very few local publishers, and those that do exist charge exorbitant fees for printing. Some writers have their books published abroad for less money, but they still have to pay shipping costs to bring the books into Zambia, which drives prices up even further. Since people’s incomes are already very low, readers must pay a significant portion of their earnings just to buy a book.”

Books donated from abroad do arrive from time to time, but these often fall short in both quality and relevance. Another issue is that most books available in shops or through donations are by foreign authors.

Josephine also highlights the lack of recognition for Zambian writers:

“Accessing books has never been easy, but I have always loved reading and tried to read as much as I could. By the time I was 17, I realized that out of all the books I had read, only one was written by a Zambian author. I felt I had to do something about it. That’s why I started my own online bookstore, to promote our literature and our writers. Later, I launched the Zambian Literature Club to connect readers with local authors. We meet once a month, and each participant receives a free book, which we fund through donations. In this way, we are building a small community library and helping readers purchase books at discounted prices.”

Africa’s urgent problems—poverty, famine, and hunger—often overshadow the long-term reality that building the future depends on education and an informed, literate society.

Young and dedicated entrepreneurs like Josephine are doing their part. Yet, to foster a broader culture of reading, book prices must be made more affordable. Achieving this will require more investment in educational institutions, publishing houses, and libraries, as well as targeted international aid—rather than the misdirected spending often seen today.

Improving literacy rates while simultaneously expanding access to reading materials is an essential step toward broadening access to knowledge, supporting individual growth, and building a more conscious society.

Sources:


This article was originally published in Independent Türkçe, on September 22,2023

Comments

  1. Okache12 September 2025 at 05:05

    Nigeria shares similar challenges as Zambia. Yes, many Nigerian writers are well known across Africa and in the West but access to certain books is a huge challenge indeed. Bookstores such a as RovingHeight, Booksellers, Paressia, Patabab and many more are really doing a fantastic job sourcing some of those book but books are very expensive in the era of Tinubu. I do prefer print any day to e-book.

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