I am not sure if it was Myles Munroe who originally said,"if you want to hide anything from a black man,put it in a book".
Nigerians are no exception.

In a recent post UME test conducted by one of the universities,a question was asked about who the author of "Things Fall Apart" is, one of the candidates answered, "Sani Abacha"!

Why do you think we suddenly become cold and bored when it comes to books? What's the use of reading anyway?

how much do u read urself. meanwhile, your post is an old joke. i v heard it a billion times.

I dont think we have got a poor reading culture amon nigerians.T

we dont have any reading culture at all.

Dear NL

I am a victim of it, the reason i hate reading novel expecially the foreign one which are the most dominant is that i do not like the character of the name they used, for example; use names like, browns, shittle, gibson, i would be interested in reading one if they used our Nigeria name like Musa, Titi, Ada e.t.c stuff like that so that it will be enjoyable rememberable and fun while reading. not trying to crame the names

go and read olowolayemo. just finished it. it is so interesting!

I think some nigerian youth do read alot esp. romance novels.

There are many people who read (otherwise, we would have absolutely no bookstores or bookclubs) but for the most part, Nigerians certainly do not have a reading culture. Sad, really because books (Not Mills and Boons or James Hadley Chase they may have their uses) expand one's horizon and broaden one's mind. It's just sad.


@charlisco, may I suggest Purple Hibiscus by Ngozi Adichie or The Famished Road by Ben Okri....

Oiza:

@charlisco, may I suggest Purple Hibiscus by Ngozi Adichie or The Famished Road by Ben Okri....

how nice are those? am always scared of books from celebrated writers. they r always so bland... try a wole soyinka

@ pearl.
When it comes to reading, Nigerians read more than any  group of people I've been around.Most American kids don't read romance novels come to think of it, why read a book when you can just see the movie.Reading novels is sooooo GAY.

No Nigerian writer is more celebrated than Wole Soyinka, I think. Purple Hibiscus is excellent. In the vein of Things Fall Apart....The Famished Road is a little hard but it is a great book, nonetheless. The Palm Wine Drunkard by Amos Tutuola is another good book but may be a little difficult to find.

i love yoruba novels. may be coz am so local and razz. but they r funnier. it is very though to read them though. i have read all books by DO Fagunwa

Hey I just read the purple Hibiscus, that was an awesome book I'll read it again before I get the two books I'm still wainting on from Amazon ( The slave girl and Efuru )

I have read two great books too. Lonely Londoner by Samuel Selvon and You gotta cry to laugh by Peter Enahoro (cant find that book anywhere again!)

Well, Amos Tutuola is Yoruba and his books are written in a kind of broken english with a lot of Yoruba (and translations) in it....I don't speak the language so I cannot say that I have had the pleasure of reading books written in Yoruba...

Eya! u missed.

Noted, Slave Girl, Efuru, and You Gotta Laugh Before You Can Cry. Thanks, guys.....

Oiza:

Noted, Slave Girl, Efuru, and You Gotta Laugh Before You Can Cry. Thanks, guys.....

Thank you, it's good to know someone else is into reading Nigerian books

have u read the last 100 days of abacha?

dejiolowe:

have u read the last 100 days of abacha?

I've not had the opportunity to. I hope his last 100 days was painful

it was his last 100 seconds that were pretty bad. the previous last 100 minutes were spent with indian babes which i guess was pleasurable...

dejiolowe,I still think the topic is relevant even if you've heard it before.If you agree that reading is a good habit to cultivate, then I think it's in order to stimulate others or be encouraged by others in the habit.I would admit I dont read now as much as T want to;you know,the cares of this world......
Am familiar with Fagunwa,I read most of his works.Recently,I read Purple Hibiscus,Waiting for An Angel by Helon habila.Also The Famished Road by Okri,although I could relate more with his Flowers and Shadows.I also love Soyinka,I've read Ake,Isara,The Man Died and a few others.
I dont think Adichie is bland at all,or Habila try and read them.

since i v two weeks of holidays to do, i guess i just pack books along...

It's great to see Nigerians turning to Nigerian arts generally, be it  in books, music or thought patterns. Oyinbo books are emissaries of colonisation. Nigerians have always read relevant materials like local magazines, newspapers and we are beggining to watch Nija films more than any other. Earned freedom at last. Amos Tutuola's 'palmwine drinkard is ace. So are Dan Maraya's songs. As for Sunny Ade, he is the true King amongst other great Nigerian traditional musicians and minstrels.

Nigerian don't read that is true, the habit of reading is a luxury why you may ask. At what age are kids actually suppose to start reading. The poverty in the country is so bad that families can't eat not to talk of encouraging there kids to read, by buying them a book.

Well I remember when My mum look me to a bookshop in my primary 5 that should be in 1988 she wanted me to improve my reading, after two or three buys, she stopped well i don't know why she stopped so don't ask me. Now i read but not novels, motivational books is what i have interest in, i want to know i am gaining information that will change my life the better. But i want to start reading novels soon sha.

i love reading and i am still going to be reading and reading. i just read anything be it novel, bible, magazines, dictionary. infact, i read all the credit that comes to my boss desk. i just bring out some files and i will start studying and reading. i could just be online and be reading and reading. it is good to read because , you'll be so updated and current. you'll be so informed and sound. reading works on and with your brain

As a matter of testimony, when i got this my job, i only have OND but i was able to dust and conquer even people with Bsc just because i have read so many things and have so many information about financial analysis, cashflow analyis, maxwells, peter drukard. wole soyinka, mandela, which i was just introducing into the conversation at a very easy pace e.t.c .i had already read the basic things about the bank. i came out so successful that, the people on the panel did not believe that i havent got my first degree.

No matter what and how you want to look at it, it is very good to read because, it definately wiil broaden your mind and horizon.
Simply, reading is an Oasis.!
keep reading for real.
gbam

I have read millions of books and I will continue to read. I have benefited immensely from the knowledge I gained from novels. It is a shame that a lot of Nigerians prefer watching movies to reading. You cannot learn as much from films.

My advice to one and all is - read! read!! and read!!!

is dat so serious

queenesthr:
I have read millions of books and I will continue to read. I have benefited immensely from the knowledge I gained from novels. It is a shame that a lot of Nigerians prefer watching movies to reading. You cannot learn as much from films.

My advice to one and all is - read! read!! and read!!!

millions?
Fascinating!

queenesthr:
I have read millions of books and I will continue to read. I have benefited immensely from the knowledge I gained from novels. It is a shame that a lot of Nigerians prefer watching movies to reading. You cannot learn as much from films.

My advice to one and all is - read! read!! and read!!!

You tend to learn well when you watch novels translated into movies. You could feel the character instead of imaginary object. Haven't you wonder why many persons are able to give summary of what they watched on tv compare to novel?.

charlisco:
Dear NL

I am a victim of it, the reason i hate reading novel expecially the foreign one which are the most dominant is that i do not like the character of the name they used, for example; use names like, browns, shittle, gibson, i would be interested in reading one if they used our Nigeria name like Musa, Titi, Ada e.t.c stuff like that so that it will be enjoyable rememberable and fun while reading. not trying to crame the names

You still frequent nairaland since all these years??

I hail thee!

i read and research i am overwhelmed...