A BULAWAYO-BASED writer has produced a multimedia book as she moves to promote interest in local production amid a drop in the reading culture.
Samantha Nunu has made a multimedia folktale manuscript titled Ukhul uJack loNdevuzohlanga, an isiNdebele book comprising video, voice over artist, sound effect that match scenarios, illustrations and text that moves in line with voice over effect.
The anthology uses folktales to promote cultural preservation, women’s empowerment, financial ethics, contentment and social inclusivity. It also aims at inspiring resilience, challenging harmful biases and fostering a more compassionate society.
Speaking to NewsDay Life & Style, Nunu said she was aiming to give the new generation something it can have multiple options in interpreting.
“We live with a techno frenzy generation, I wanted to give them something that would resonate with them, we are also in a fast-paced digital world, therefore, I believe 21st century writers/artists should embrace technology,” Nunu said.
She added: “I realised that nowadays, the reading culture is slowly dying, so I decided to do something interesting. People prefer to watch movies and listen to music to reading, so why not give them a book that will allow them to read, watch and listen?”
Nunu showed her determination to making a difference for content creators so that they can survive despite escalating piracy.
“My goal is to create a new paradigm where content creators/writers can earn a living through various channels including digital sales, book screenings and licensing. I believe this approach will not only help writers to survive but also revitalise our reading culture,” she said.
Meanwhile, Nunu has successfully completed making one of the folktales in the anthology, Igola leli, a multimedia format, aiming at transforming the 12th set-book by the end of the year.