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. German-Iranian author and BookSprint Namibia organising committee member Nasrin Siege emphasized the importance of access to books in influencing how children learn and understand the world around them.
The call was made 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.
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, including 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. 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.
The 2026 authors involved in the project are Jada Hambeka, Priskila Akwaake, Mac Lenwhill Witbooi and Chalpha Viaungura Mbaukua. The illustrators and designers include Luka Ndivayele, Helena Louw, Erastus Lenga, Ayishah Hipondoka, Gerson Ntusi, Benhard Nambambi, Nicola Sauber and Silas Mentos Nangolo.
Previous BookSprint titles are already available free of charge in nine languages, and the new additions are expected to have a significant impact on children's education in Namibia. The initiative aims to promote reading and learning among children, and the involvement of local creatives is seen as a key factor in its success.
Key points
- BookSprint Namibia adds four new locally produced children's books to its collection
- The books are expected to be translated into eight additional Namibian languages in 2027
- The initiative aims to promote reading and learning among children in Namibia
