BY ALEM HAILU G/KRISTOS
At this precise moment in time the publication cost of books is ever soaring penning down literary pieces, references and the like proves daunting to authors. All the more so as people are shifting floor from reading books to scouring social media networks nonstop, publishers are greeting authors even the established ones with a cold shoulder, readers shy away from purchasing books and book centers are hesitant to take book on consignment or less willing to pay authors what is due to them.
Outlaying money for publication of books seems gambling like leaving a pile of hay subject to a ferocious wind. Such unglamorous unfolding took place at a time when the reading cultures of people have not got off the ground. Yet, with a spirit of never say die some published authors flex their pen born prolific authors. In order esteemed readers get a glimpse of the aforementioned fact, in this piece, we shall introduce you to an author and English teacher with a journalistic bent who writes in three languages English, French, and Amharic. A good read.
To begin with could you acquaint us with your personal backdrop?
I go by the name Gelawedewose Aleleng. I was born and brought up in Addis Ababa. Since my childhood I have the interest to read and to write even to philosophize raising some interesting issues like politics and other social science aspects. After I grew up I liked very much observing people especially when they discussed with one another even in a tavern. All my childhood memories made me to be a person who likes to live for something which has purpose and goals. For me, life is living for something which has a visible meaning than squandering irreversible and precious time. We humans are born once and will die only once. There is no second time to live. So, I personally do not want to lead a life which is not meaningful.
Would you relate to us how and when you started trying your hands on literature?
Since I studied philosophy at AAU PSIR and French language as my minor, I am very close to literature. I also highly participate in different occasions which are directly related to book review and book critiques. I have also the habits of discussing about global issues with friends, teachers and other individuals who are very interested and close to me. Nothing else affords me gratification.
In how many languages do you pen down literary pieces?
I have almost 8 books out of which 4 are already published. The rest are waiting their turn till the sky-rocketing inflation is tamed. Out of the eight books that I prepared, two of them are French language teaching books for Amharic speakers and the rest are riddles and dictionaries. I have voluminous books which are related to worldwide general knowledge.
Which genres of literature do you prefer most (informal essay, short stories, poems, novels…)? How many books do you have? Do brief us about the books. What are the themes they revolve around?For the time being, I am preparing books which are very important to develop English language with different systems like through playing riddles and other types of games especially for children.The books that I am preparing with creative touches include new ways or approaches to develop languages and general knowledge. I purposely add new philosophical approaches to show my personal career.
Does it pay off producing literary pieces in foreign languages or is it daunting in terms of financial returns? Has it helped you in expanding your fan base? Do you partake in translation works? What is the experience like?
It is too hard to expect money from the books. It has been five years since I published my first book and two years ago I also published three riddles books (book one, two, and three) at the same time. I can say that publishing a book here in Ethiopia is not an industry by itself. It is very important for book sellers not for writers. There is no well developed system to consign books and receive money except in one or two book store. This might be my experience but as I had conversation with some writers, the system is very weak and can kill authors financially.
All in all, though there are some benefits it is not encouraging to publish books year to year or periodically. The COVID pandemic also broke the backbone of the book publishing industry. I personally cannot publish my fifth book which is almost 1200 pages because of the current printing price. I do know there are also many writers who have unpublished books in hand. I sometimes feel that this is not the time for writers.
Do you contribute articles to Newspapers? Does journalistic practice and literature cross-fertilize?
Actually I started writing some articles three years ago in English language. My articles focus on social life, philosophy, psychology, politics, and leadership since I have some educational back ground in these areas both in under and post graduate studies.
I feel that there has to be a big awareness creation work concerning the importance of reading. Though I have not read about any conducted research, observably, people do not have that much endurance to read. For this, I do believe that social Media networks have a big role. Many people are missing what they have in nature when they glue themselves to the external world (cellphones). Even children prefer to watch you tube, tiktok…which have the power to damage our internal identity unless such bents are managed properly. Of course we all need all of them since they are means of exchanging information but the reality is they are not well managed.
You can see people who are in café, in means of transportation, talking one to another… majority of them are touching their smart phones, while their cognitive part is smarter than the phone. So, to see the fruits of journalistic ways, there must be also real social test which is well organized and meeting the reader too than discussing only from professional point of view.
Based on your experience of teaching (vocabulary), you are preparing a special dictionary. Could you tell us what makes it so special? As many authors put it is it an uphill battle finding a publisher in the true sense of the word? Do you have a plan to go for e-books?
Yes, I have already prepared three big volume dictionaries but only one of them is ready for publication though the time is one that coerces struggle for basic needs not to go for publication. We should not forget that we are living in Africa in which life is too hard because of many internal and external reasons.
I wish I can see all the technologies to write books as well as to outreach readers. But I wish also people not to stop having books in their hands. I think that is preferable than using software like as you mentioned e-books.
If you have a message to convey to emerging Ethiopian authors and youngsters you are welcome.
My message for all is never give up even if life is very trying. A country without literature cannot develop itself. You can see the world. There are more than 179 countries but only 18 or 19 countries have written language. Ethiopia is the only country in Africa which has its own literature tradition since civilization while the rest countries started writing during and after colonization. Now a day every country develops its literature in an alphabet which is appropriate for their original language since it is too hard to be out of written information at any direction. This is also how history can archive and we know what our great grand parents did in addition to the oral history.
Also your message to Ethiopian and Africans
All African countries are very powerful in culture, natural resources, social capital…..but still the weak political administration prevails almost in every country. So, our life is like our body system. A person may say I am sick only when s/he feels back pain or throat ache, this shows that how far our life is so holistic and all rounded. If there is no good administration, I do believe that there is no good chain of knowledge exchange through different means like through using books and newspapers. So, I wish for the new birth of everything in Africa to see peace and security, people with basic needs than looking famine and poverty at the time of the 21st century while we are saying as we have history which is aged more than 3000 or 5000 years. Our archived history and our visible life do not match.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 11 MARCH 2023
