Multilingual Children's Book Publishing in Ethiopia: Industry Overview

1. Multilingual Children’s Book Publishing: a Developing Industry inEthiopia • A presentation to the International Sustainable Library Development Interest Group • June 28th, 2010 • ALA Washington, D.C.

2. An Introduction . . . • Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Endeber, Ethiopia 1974–76 • Librarian—Regis University, Denver • Project Mercy, 2006 • Dr. Thomas Hooyman Memorial Library and Media Center Mekelle, Tigray Region Upcoming Projects . . .

3. Segenat Children and Youth LibraryMekelle, Tigray Region, Ethiopia

4. Literacy in Ethiopia An overview: Population: 88 million 0–14 years 46.2% 15–64 years 51.1% 65 years 2.7% Urban population: 17%

5. Literacy 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.

6. Literacy in Ethiopia Fidel: • Semitic language • Read left to right • 7 vowel sounds • 33 consonants • 231 syllables • Amharic, Tigringa, and some dialects of Guragina

7. Literacy in Ethiopia Literacy rates: (age 15 and over can read and write) Total population: 42.7% Male: 50.3% Female: 35.1% School life expectancy Total: 8 years Male: 8 years Female: 7 years

8. Importance of L1 (first language) literacy for bilingual and multilingual students • 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.

9. YohannesGebregeorgis Highlights: • 40 school library partnerships • 2 free standing children’s libraries • 6 Donkey mobile libraries • Several portable libraries Libraries and literacy goes hand in hand.

10. Publishing Projects Culturally representative stories High quality books with Ethiopian illustrations Titles include: • Silly Mammo • The Fig Tree • The Beekeeper of Lalibela • The Elephant and The Cock Published many bilingual and trilingual books • Fafi’s Sheep • The Lion’s Tail • BekelenaAdisochuBucheloch

11. Every child receives a book published by EBCEF

12. during bread and book day.

13. The Golden Kuraz Award

15. Noted authors present during book club events. AlemuEshetu AtoSebhatGebreEgziabher

16. Authors from the Ethiopian Diaspora DinawMengestu, MaazaMengeste Named New Yorker’s 20 under 40 in 2010

17. Multilingual book

21. Christensen Fund

25. Sololia 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

26. Just published : Tirhas Celebrates Ashenda: An Ethiopian Girl’s Holiday.

28. In publication: • AbunePetros • Under the Tamarind Tree • The Monkey with No Tail • Silly Mammo (sound recording)

29. For more information contact: Janet Lee Email: jlee@regis.edu janet.lee35@gmail.com