CHANNEL O presenter Dineo Moeketsi was saved by the inspirational novel The Alchemist when she was down in the dumps early in her career.
The 22-year-old, who replaced Nonhle Thema as O-Access presenter, said the book picked her up and helped give her direction after a lack of funds forced her to return to South Africa from the New School of Jazz in New York.
"I needed to figure out myself, and that silence with my book helped," she said.
"After the book a lot of things started to encourage me again. Lessons may not always come from people or TV, but in those moments (of silence)."
Organisers of the second National Book Week, which begins on September 5, are counting on celebrity power this year in an effort to encourage people in the country to read more.
In the inaugural campaign last year, only Scandal actress and singer KB was on hand to back the campaign, but the number of TV and radio personalities have multiplied, and they pack considerable punch as far as the local entertainment scene goes.
Metro FM presenter Azania Ndoro, All Access presenter and former Miss SA second runner-up Bridget Masinga, singer Simphiwe Dana, rapper Slikour (real name Siyabonga Metane), fashion label Stoned Cherrie owner Nkhensani Nkosi and Moeketsi all have ambassadorship roles this year, which is themed "The Book That Changed My Life".
The South African Book Development Council (SABDC) said that only 14percent of the South African population were readers - and even worse, only 5percent of those were parents that read to their children.
A massive radio and TV campaign will be flighted nationally closer to the week, which will feature these celebrities.
SABDC chief executive Elitha van der Sandt said yesterday: "We want to look at books in a lighter and new way, and also a way that people can see that it's a valuable tool in life. That's how the theme came about.
"Many of us who are readers have been impacted by words and the way we interact in life has been shaped by books." She said the ambassadors were chosen for their "standing and influence in society".
One of the primary aims of the campaign was to encourage people to read books written by South Africans.
The goals of the campaign is to get South Africans to buy books, read books, and donate or share books.
From September 8 to 10, there will be reading tents for children, adults and the visually impaired at MuseumAfrica in Newtown, Johannesburg.
Presenter Dineo owes it all to a book
CHANNEL O presenter Dineo Moeketsi was saved by the inspirational novel The Alchemist when she was down in the dumps early in her career.
The 22-year-old, who replaced Nonhle Thema as O-Access presenter, said the book picked her up and helped give her direction after a lack of funds forced her to return to South Africa from the New School of Jazz in New York.
"I needed to figure out myself, and that silence with my book helped," she said.
"After the book a lot of things started to encourage me again. Lessons may not always come from people or TV, but in those moments (of silence)."
Organisers of the second National Book Week, which begins on September 5, are counting on celebrity power this year in an effort to encourage people in the country to read more.
In the inaugural campaign last year, only Scandal actress and singer KB was on hand to back the campaign, but the number of TV and radio personalities have multiplied, and they pack considerable punch as far as the local entertainment scene goes.
Metro FM presenter Azania Ndoro, All Access presenter and former Miss SA second runner-up Bridget Masinga, singer Simphiwe Dana, rapper Slikour (real name Siyabonga Metane), fashion label Stoned Cherrie owner Nkhensani Nkosi and Moeketsi all have ambassadorship roles this year, which is themed "The Book That Changed My Life".
The South African Book Development Council (SABDC) said that only 14percent of the South African population were readers - and even worse, only 5percent of those were parents that read to their children.
A massive radio and TV campaign will be flighted nationally closer to the week, which will feature these celebrities.
SABDC chief executive Elitha van der Sandt said yesterday: "We want to look at books in a lighter and new way, and also a way that people can see that it's a valuable tool in life. That's how the theme came about.
"Many of us who are readers have been impacted by words and the way we interact in life has been shaped by books." She said the ambassadors were chosen for their "standing and influence in society".
One of the primary aims of the campaign was to encourage people to read books written by South Africans.
The goals of the campaign is to get South Africans to buy books, read books, and donate or share books.
From September 8 to 10, there will be reading tents for children, adults and the visually impaired at MuseumAfrica in Newtown, Johannesburg.
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