EDUCATION: Reading, a timeless weapon to overcome ignorance
Far more than simply the articulation of words, reading stands as the foundation of intellectual emancipation. In Benin, book professionals, writers, and enthusiasts share their vision of this essential practice in the digital age.
For Cosme Orou Logouma, a Beninese writer, the formula is simple: « Reading is food for the mind. » A view shared by Francel Sèna Loko, director of the Center for Educational Activities of Benin (CAEB), who defines it as « the foundation of all learning and all human development. »
While for some, the desire to leaf through a book stems from pure curiosity, like that of Iradath Sama, a second-year undergraduate student in Modern Literature, who reads to « discover hidden things, » for others, it takes on a psychological dimension. Salomé Houénafa Kohougbla, Miss Literature Benin 2024 and second runner-up for Miss Literature Africa 2025, finds refuge in reading: “Reading is my therapy. I read when I’m happy, sad, or anxious.”
Each work evokes a range of emotions (joy, sadness, relief, or worry) that varies according to the plot and the reader’s sensitivity. Similarly, tastes differ: fiction allows one to “escape into an imaginary world,” according to Miss Literature, while others prefer the pragmatism of essays, religious works, or self-help books.
The current situation, however, remains alarming: the taste for the effort of reading is waning. In university lecture halls, the trend is toward the path of least resistance. As soon as a professor recommends a book, the majority of students rush to online summaries rather than reading the entire work.
Faced with this apparent disinterest, writers refuse to put down their pens. They write for posterity. When asked about his motivations, Cosme Orou Logouma philosophically confides: “Perhaps I won’t be widely read today. But I am convinced that a generation will come, open my modest works out of love or curiosity, and discover some gems, some gold mines of thought, culture, and hope.”
For Modeste Agbikossi, a Beninese writer and entrepreneur, writing is an act of resistance: “The pen must have its purpose in a society where we are distracted by social media.” He also reminds us that “one cannot aspire to success, to greatness, without books as companions,” because reading shapes character, enriches vocabulary, and sharpens critical thinking.
The advent of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) is often singled out as the main culprit behind the reading crisis. However, for the director of the CAEB, digital technology and traditional books are not adversaries, but rather allies.
Thanks to virtual libraries, e-readers, and scientific articles accessible with a single click on the web, digital technology expands the realm of possibilities. Modern documentation centers have understood this well by introducing learners to digital tools while preserving the charm and rigor of reading on paper.
For those involved in the book industry, the key message remains the same: it is urgent that young people disconnect from screens and reconnect with books, even if only for a few minutes a day. Because reading is, above all, about understanding, learning, and growing.
✍️ Alvine ALLOGOGO (Intern)
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