Accra, the capital city of Ghana, has officially taken over as the 2023 World Book Capital of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) from the Mexican city of Guadalajara on Monday. This exciting news has been met with joy and celebration as Accra prepares to showcase the importance of books and reading and promote African children’s literature.
Muna Kalati, a leading cultural news organization, is proud to announce our partnership with the Ghana Books Development Council (GBDC) for the Accra World Book Capital (AWBC) 2023. Muna Kalati’s mission is to promote diversity, equity, and inclusivity in the cultural news ecosystem, especially in the children’s book industry.
The launch of the Accra World Book Capital was a highly anticipated event, attracting a range of notable figures from various sectors. The President of Ghana, the Minister for Education, and officials from UNESCO, including Director-General Audrey Azoulay and a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, were in attendance. City Mayors from the World Book Capital Network and representatives from the International Publishers Association and the International Federation of Library Associations were also present. The 2023 programme is themed “Reading to Connect Minds for Social Transformation” and will aim to reinforce school and community infrastructure while providing institutional support for lifelong learning.
The Executive Director of Muna Kalati was invited to attend the launch of the AWBC by the GBDC, where the importance of books and reading in the African continent was showcased, and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals were promoted. Muna Kalati is excited to participate in this global initiative and collaborate with industry actors to promote African children’s literature. “We are thrilled to partner with the Ghana Books Development Council for the Accra World Book Capital,” said Muna Kalati’s ED. “We believe that by promoting diverse books, we are reducing ethnocentrism and eurocentrism and improving international understanding. Our activities during the AWBC year will facilitate intercultural communication and improve literacy by exposing kids to African and black children’s books and educational materials.”
The World Book Capital is more than a reading campaign, according to Akufo-Addo, Ghana’s President, who read books with some school children at the ceremony. “It is an opportunity for the government and international partners to leverage these diverse linkages to culture and education to deepen our collective actions to make progress on the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.”
As part of its partnership with GBDC, Muna Kalati has outlined a series of activities that will be carried out during the AWBC year. These include Google News Validation Workshop, Muna Kalati Talks 17-21, and various digital workshops focused on audiobook production, artwork and cartoon creation, and creating diverse and inclusive children’s books are among the activities planned. There will also be a Writing Workshop under the Adw3n Kese3 Initiative, as well as a discussion on building interactive reading experiences. The activities aim to improve literacy and promote African children’s literature while also fostering cross-cultural storytelling and collaboration.
Muna Kalati believes that everyone can help to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the cultural news ecosystem. We encourage prospective cooperation with industry actors in the children’s book industry to improve access to culturally relevant resources and information about children’s books and to promote African children’s literature.
In conclusion, the AWBC 2023 is an excellent opportunity to showcase the importance of books and reading and promote African children’s literature. Muna Kalati’s partnership with GBDC will enable us to create a more accessible and culturally relevant literary ecosystem for African children and families. We look forward to collaborating with industry actors to promote diversity, equity, and inclusivity in the cultural news ecosystem.
