By Tibebeselassie Tigabu

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia- the second edition of ‘Addis Ababa tanibib’ [Addis Ababa shall read] festival with a theme of ‘enanbib yetim mechem’ [lets read whenever, wherever] was launched on Wednesday April 7.

The event was launched colorfully with students who came from different schools wearing T-shirts with this year’s team on it, featured by march band took to the streets from Mexico Square to National archive and Library agency [wemezekir].

The event which was also attended by President Girma Woldegiorgis was highlighted with Ambassador Mahmoud Drir story reading about King Lalibela and one a student representative read two poems from the works of Kebede Michael which amazed many people.

The festival will continue with different events for a month and selected writers, officials will go to the different private and public schools of Addis Ababa.

Authors like Sisay Nigusu, Asfaw Damte, Bekele Mekonnen, Dr. Fikade Azeze and young writers like Bewketu seyoum, Meron Getnet and musicians like Abinet Agonafir, Niway Debebe and Teddy Afro will be part of the festivities.

“Many people were willing when we asked them and were excited about the ideas. We want to create the stage where these people will share their experiences and so they can see behind every success there is a book. If Teddy Afro tells the children he reads for sure it will inspire them”, explained the organizer of the event and founder of Tibeb Ethiopia Daniel Worku.

The event will also continue in the different cities of Ethiopia namely Bahir dar, Mekele and Dire dawa.

Organized by Tibeb Ethiopia, to facilitate this festival they founded ‘Addis tanbib library no.1 around sidist kilo and other libraries will be also opened in the different cities.

“We want to make books accessible to children so they can come and read and we are collecting books for the different libraries. It is also a way of leaving a legacy and many children for sure use the library and we are collaborating with different organizations and people. There are many bars in every neighborhood and children grow up with that kind of environment so establishing a library will shift their minds from bad things”, Daniel stated.

It’s kind of common to hear that people hearing that young people don’t read at a contemporary time and Daniel assures the idea.

“Many children are under the influence of technology and they watch films and play video games and we want to change that, with reading you can actually explore the world.” Daniel stated.

After the first edition Daniel explains how things are improving.

“Many children wrote many letters and they explain to me how they started reading and it’s a very exciting thing for us”, revealed Daniel.

Their next project is going to the parliament and pushing to have ‘national reading day’