A popular saying which some people consider derogatory goes thus if you want to hide something from an African or black man, hide it in a book. This is to justify the notion that Nigerians don’t read.
This saying or notion may probably not be tenable because books are now being digitised. In fact, there are now audio books.
And of course, a young Nigerian has taken the initiative and has established the first audiobooks startup and retailer of downloadable audiobooks in Nigeria and Africa.
The startup is called Talking Bookz and the young men behind the startup are Kolapo Ogungbile and Damilola Aransiola.
Talking Books, which was launched at the 2015 Mobile West Africa is a startup where users can purchase and download audiobooks straight to their devices. The subject matter of Talking Bookz’ catalog ranges from business, health, self-help, fiction, management, and children literature.
According to the CEO, Kolapo Ogungbile said: “TalkingBookz seeks to disrupt the traditional book publishing market and redefine how Africans consume books.”
Perhaps, this idea will encourage Nigerians to read more and arrest the declining reading culture.