multilingual children’s book publishing: a developing industry in ethiopia a presentation to the...
TRANSCRIPT
Multilingual Multilingual
Children’s Children’s
Book Book
Publishing: Publishing:
a Developing a Developing
Industry inIndustry in
EthiopiEthiopiaa
• A presentation to the International Sustainable Library Development Interest Group
• June 28th, 2010
• ALA Washington, D.C.
An Introduction . . . An Introduction . . .
Upcoming Projects . . . Upcoming Projects . . .
• Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Endeber, Ethiopia 1974–76
• Librarian—Regis University, Denver
• Project Mercy, 2006
• Dr. Thomas Hooyman MemorialLibrary and Media CenterMekelle, Tigray Region
Segenat Children and Youth LibrarySegenat Children and Youth LibraryMekelle, Tigray Region, EthiopiaMekelle, Tigray Region, Ethiopia
An overview:
Population: 88 million
0–14 years 46.2%15–64 years 51.1%65 years 2.7%
Urban population: 17%
Literacy in EthiopiaLiteracy in Ethiopia
Languages:
Amarigna 32.7%Oromigna 31.6%Tigrigna 6.1%Somaligna 6%Guragigna 3.5%
Up to 70 different languages and dialects.
English medium of instruction in schools.
Literacy in EthiopiaLiteracy in Ethiopia
Literacy in EthiopiaLiteracy in Ethiopia
Fidel:
• Semitic language
• Read left to right
• 7 vowel sounds
• 33 consonants
• 231 syllables
• Amharic, Tigringa, and some dialects of Guragina
Literacy rates: (age 15 and over can read and write)
Total population: 42.7%Male: 50.3%Female: 35.1%
School life expectancyTotal: 8 yearsMale: 8 yearsFemale: 7 years
Literacy in EthiopiaLiteracy in Ethiopia
• Strong base in L1 facilitates higher levels of proficiency in L2
• Academic skills learned in L1 directly transfer to L2
• Literacy skills directly transfer: letters form sounds, words form sentences, punctuation has meaning.
Importance of L1 (first language) literacy for Importance of L1 (first language) literacy for bilingual and multilingual studentsbilingual and multilingual students
Yohannes GebregeorgisYohannes Gebregeorgis
Libraries and literacy goes hand
in hand.
Highlights:
• 40 school library partnerships• 2 free standing children’s libraries• 6 Donkey mobile libraries• Several portable libraries
Publishing ProjectsPublishing Projects
Published many bilingual and trilingual books
High quality books with Ethiopian illustrations
Titles include:
• Silly Mammo• The Fig Tree• The Beekeeper of Lalibela• The Elephant and The Cock• Fafi’s Sheep• The Lion’s Tail• Bekelena Adisochu Bucheloch
Culturally representative stories
Every child Every child receives a book receives a book published by published by EBCEF EBCEF
during bread and book day.during bread and book day.
The Golden Kuraz AwardThe Golden Kuraz Award
Ato Sebhat Gebre Ato Sebhat Gebre EgziabherEgziabher
Alemu Eshetu Alemu Eshetu
Noted authors Noted authors present during book present during book club events.club events.
Authors from the Ethiopian DiasporaAuthors from the Ethiopian DiasporaDinaw Mengestu, Maaza Mengeste Dinaw Mengestu, Maaza Mengeste
Named New Yorker’s 20 under 40 in 2010
Multilingual bookMultilingual book
Christensen FundChristensen Fund
Sololia Publishing, LTDSololia Publishing, LTD
Challenges and opportunities:
• Cost and quality of printing• Distribution• Market• Economy• Trained workforce• Raising capital• Government regulations• Telecommunications• Translations • Foreign currency• Wealth of potential stories• Unexplored talent
Just published : Just published : Tirhas Celebrates Ashenda: Tirhas Celebrates Ashenda: An Ethiopian Girl’s HolidayAn Ethiopian Girl’s Holiday..
In publication:In publication:
• Abune Petros
• Under the Tamarind Tree
• The Monkey with No Tail
• Silly Mammo (sound recording)
For more information For more information contact: contact: Janet LeeJanet Lee
Email:[email protected]@gmail.com
Email:[email protected]@gmail.com