YOUNG OBSERVER | Namibians encouraged to put books in children’s hands

Patience Makwele

Namibians are being encouraged to get more books into the hands of children, as BookSprint Namibia adds four locally produced titles to its growing collection of children’s reading material.

The call was made by German-Iranian author and BookSprint Namibia organising committee member Nasrin Siege, who said access to books can influence how children learn and understand the world around them.

“Through books, children learn to recognise and understand the world in which they are growing up. Children who have access to books achieve better learning outcomes than those without books. That is precisely why we established this initiative,” Siege said.

Her remarks come after 12 Namibian authors, illustrators and designers spent 12 hours creating four new children’s books during the third edition of BookSprint Namibia at the Goethe-Institut Namibia on 12 September.

The four titles: Mbondee, My Best Friend*, Naita and the Call of the Birds, Tuli’s Lucky Day and Unedjipa’s Magic Pen — are aimed at children aged three to eight.

The latest additions bring the BookSprint Namibia collection to 13 books.

Under Siege’s editorial guidance, the participating creatives were selected through open calls and challenged to develop and complete their books within the 12-hour session.

Jasko Rust, head of information and library at the Goethe-Institut Namibia, said the event showed how quickly local stories could be developed when creatives were given an opportunity.

“It was incredible to witness how quickly these Namibian stories were brought to life. We are excited to soon share the new books with young readers across the country,” Rust said.

The books are now undergoing final design refinements and will receive ISBNs before publication.

In 2027, the four titles are expected to be translated into eight additional Namibian languages in Afrikaans, German, Khoekhoegowab, Oshikwanyama, Oshindonga, Otjiherero, RuKwangali and Setswana.

They will then be made available free of charge to the public and educational initiatives throughout Namibia.

Clarissa Judmann of the Cultural Section of the German Embassy in Windhoek said the initiative also strengthens cultural ties between Namibia and Germany.

“This is another exciting educational project that ties Germany and Namibia closer together,” Judmann said.

The 2026 authors are Jada Hambeka, Priskila Akwaake, Mac Lenwhill Witbooi and Chalpha Viaungura Mbaukua.

The illustrators and designers are Luka Ndivayele, Helena Louw, Erastus Lenga, Ayishah Hipondoka, Gerson Ntusi, Benhard Nambambi, Nicola Sauber and Silas Mentos Nangolo.

The organization, BookSprint Namibia is jointly organised by the Goethe-Institut Namibia, the German Embassy in Windhoek and volunteers Nicole Abdinghoff, Siege and Detlef Pfeifer, with support from the University of Namibia in identifying aspiring young writers from its student community.

Previous BookSprint titles are already available free of charge in nine languages.