Nigerian publisher Kolade Mosuro said he was impressed by the ‘vibrancy’ felt everywhere in Tehran Book Fair. He believes that Iranian books are locked up in their local language and in order to be globalzied, they should be delivered in an international language.

IBNA: In an interview with IBNA correspondent at 24th TIBF, Nigerian publisher Kolade Mosuro who has attended the book in response to International NAHL Publication’s invitation said he was impressed by the ‘vibrancy’ felt everywhere in Tehran Book Fair. “By vibrancy,” he continued, “I mean the enthusiasm of the people attending the book fair. The following lines include the main ideas discussed by Kolade Mosuro on Thursday evening at the pavilion of NAHL International Publications:
 
IBNA. As for the first question, how do you interpret this ‘vibrancy’, as you call it? Do you find them as professional readers? 

K.M. There is no way I can measure they are professional readers. But all I can measure is that they are showing very keen interest. There are grandparents, parents, school children, and kindergarten… all coming; It’s like a carnival, and all towards one goal in such a courage… and this is very impressive. 

IBNA. How do you compare this book fair with your homeland or Africa in general? 

K.M. I think that I shouldn’t speak for the whole of African continent, as a whole… because but as far as Nigera goes, more people attend this book fair in one day than attend Nigerian Book Fair in one week. So, you have - it’s a much bigger operation. 

IBNA. What is the current state of book and publishing in Nigeria? What potentials do you find here – any plans, any programs, any ideas for more interactions with Iran, as a publisher? 

K.M. Well, there were previous activities… and we find areas of exchange between the two countries, and in an event when you are dealing with books, there is a potential and it would be up to us in Nigeria, and up to you in Iran to find rooms of cooperation. 

IBNA. So, could we be hopeful that you’ll get back to Nigeria handful – with results? 

K.M. I have recorded a number of things: observations, which I will take home, and I’ve met a lot of good couple of people, to that extent, I think I will go back home with lessons that I will share with my colleagues. 

IBNA. Any agreement made with NAHL or any other organization you can mention? 

K.M. Agreement, no, understanding, yes. 

IBNA. What about Nigerian people? Do they have any idea of Iranian publishing industry? 

K.M. I think Nigeria would imagine that any nation would publish books. But what I find here is that a lot of your books have been locked up in your language, so for me I order to access to it, I would either have to learn the language Farsi, or have it translated in French or English or any other language. 

IBNA. Did you find any English book in the Iranian book market that could attract your attention? 

K.M. No, I haven’t seen Iranian books, ok, but given the size of the fair potentially, there might be many. 

IBNA. But I think Iranians can learn a lot from the Nigerians as people thinking and speaking in two languages, people who are successful in communicating in their local language and the international. 

K.M. Very well, I think it is important to first of all to be able to communicate very well in your mother tongue, and then it is up to publishers to take it beyond your mother tongue, and globalize it. And globalization in whatever language they choose, that’s what they can do to improve it. 

IBNA. So English has not been a barrier for your local Hausa language, right? 

K.M. Well, in the case of Nigeria, you know that the official language is English. So a number of books are written in English, and of course a number of books too are written in our mother tongue. And for those written in English the goal is to be able to reach other parts of the world. 

IBNA. What about the global market for Nigerian books? 

K.M. Well, yea. I can mention some Nigerian authors that have global fame: Wole Soyinka for one, who is a Nobel Laureate, Chinua Achebe, who is the most widely read Nigerian novelist – 

IBNA. – actually taught in global universities, 

K.M. Yeah, so with this I can go on with a list of Nigerian great writers… and I can go on naming many, ok, and I suppose you want to get a good picture of Nigeria, you should read books by Nigerian writers. 

IBNA. How do you find Iran in general? 

K.M. I think it is a good land, the people are very hospitable and I have thoroughly enjoyed totally enjoyed it. 

IBNA. And may I ask about your experiences as a publisher and university professor? 

K.M. Well, I used to teach Public Health, but I have been in the publishing industry for a whole of 35 years at both local and international levels. 

IBNA. Ok, thanks a lot for sharing your time with us. 

K.M. That’s ok, I enjoyed it, too.

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