The second National Literary Festival of Namibia concluded on a high note, celebrating Namibian literature and inspiring a culture of reading among children and the youth.

The two-day event, organised by the National Arts Council of Namibia, featured a host of activities, ranging from story reading and folktales to dialogues, exhibitions, and creative performances.

Gretta Gaspar, NACN Administrator, highlighted that the festival was designed to speak directly to the literary industry, maintaining relevance and aligning with career opportunities within literature.

"The festival was designed to address the lack of awareness about the existence of literature in Namibia. The National Arts Council, in partnership with the Directorate of Arts, the National Library and Archives, and other partners such as the Goethe Institute, is very delighted to see many Namibians coming together to embrace literature and express a desire to grow this event significantly. We hope to see more parents bringing out their children and schools getting involved."

Although much still needs to be done to develop Namibia's literary industry, significant progress has been achieved, with emerging authors taking up space and telling authentic Namibian stories.

Emerging authors played a significant role at the festival, sharing authentic Namibian stories and contributing to important progress in the country’s literary industry. Author Janny David described the festival as vital for writers to connect with one another, publishers, and distributors, providing a sense of community in what can often be a solitary profession. Similarly, author Yonda Nyathi underscored the networking opportunities the festival creates for small and emerging writers seeking market access and collaboration.

The importance of encouraging reading among children was also strongly promoted. Exhibitor Maggie Forcelledo urged parents to foster reading habits by providing children with any type of written material, from magazines to newspapers, emphasising that such engagement is crucial for literacy development. She shared observations with children with varying reading abilities, emphasising the ongoing need for encouragement.