Nsanzabera: Rwanda’s ambassador of the reading culture

LAST week I visited the Rwanda library service located at Kacyiru opposite the American embassy. It was the beginning of a reading week festival. Exhibitors including publishers, book sellers and writers were exhibiting their products.Generally the reading culture in this country is low. People hate reading and writing.My worries were confirmed by the exhibitors and officials turned up for the reading week festival.But when it comes to Jean de Dieu Nsanzabera, a 32- year-old –it is a different story. Born and raised in Rwanda, Nsanzabera is an orator, writer and artist. He has published nine books most of them based on research to improve the reading culture. He is also piecing together 16 other books to put his works at a total of 25 books of his own.“My first book was Subira ku isoko which is translated as, ‘go back to the source,’ it was published in 2000. It is composed of poems, the poem Subira ku isoko also the name of the book talks about liberation of Rwanda after a long time with a sorrowful life of a Rwandan abroad,” says Nsanzabera. The poem was officially recited in July 2001 during the liberation day according to Nsaanzabera.. Among his other books are Imizi y’Urwanda (Rwandan roots) a 300 page book which talks about the history of the country. Others are Ikinamico about forgiveness, unity and reconciliation and the fight against genocide ideology. Another interesting book is Umuco about the literature and the culture of Rwanda among others“Being an artist is a gift that shapes your life. I started as a poet and other things came after,” he narrates He says that the art he has is a tradition he inherited from his ancestors. “Like father like son, my grandfather used to be a story teller and a poet during his period, I followed his way and discovered that it was a gift, now I live on with it,” he saysHaving written various books, Nzanzabera says it requires commitment and reading other than having spent many years in classes without reading or writing.“I have written research based books. I read various books and came up with a big document in Kinyarwanda teaching Rwandans to take care of their small land,” he explains He says that it took him much time to write a book and confirmed that Rwandans still lack the culture of reading.“Time is no longer a problem. Rwandans have inherited oral communication and it has been taken as normal. But what I know is that reading and writing is wealth and the whites say that when you want to hide something from a black you write it in a book,” he saysNzanzabera is a secondary school graduate who also doubles as a professional master of ceremonies at functions like weddings.He says his writings aim at improving Rwandans knowledge while promoting the culture of reading. However, he requests that the government and well wishers to provide support so that he can keep writing and publish many more books. “Rwandans should cultivate the culture of reading and kick out laziness,” he addsNsanzabera has been inspired by Rwandan artists such as Alex Kagame and Aloys Bigirumwami who have been role models in promoting Rwandan culture.The permanent secretary in the ministry of sport and culture Eduard Kalisa decried the lack of reading culture in Rwanda and stated that it can have a negative impact.“In order for our country to develop, Rwandans should wake up and those able to write can do. Parents should also cultivate the culture of reading” he said He added that in Rwanda there is a National Academy of language and culture to gather with other institutions to approve and value books written in Rwanda.