“Yoga (greetings) Norah, I am delighted to come across your blog. I have been enjoying your work on Radio One’s Spectrum Extra and now I am more than happy to continue loving your wonderful work. Eyalama noi (thank you very much).”

Ilemut L’Okwii Emorukalet L’Omagoro, Ateker (clan) – Ibwongo Ikaribwok, Etale (totem) – Eswei (mushrooms), Katakwi District.

Eyalama Ilemut. The power of the recorded word, in audio and in writing, can never be underestimated. It is our legacy that we bequeath to the next generations. Since, Ilemut wrote his comment in reaction to my blog post: “Papa rested, a library burnt”, I reiterate my advocacy.

When the time for mourning is over, may we find the wisdom to demand and to ensure that our nations spend on libraries, reading rooms, storytelling and listening rooms, equally or more than we spend on funerals. May we emulate the legacy of the late Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere in establishing libraries within our homes.

“The modest house built for Mwalimu (by the Government of Tanzania) at Mwitongo contains his library with a personal collection of more than 8,000 books on various subjects including history, philosophy, agriculture, botany, literature, politics, and economics, as well as the original manuscripts of some of the books authored by Nyerere.”

The book: “JULIUS NYERERE Asante sana, Thank you, Mwalimu”

As a start, may libraries in memory of the late Papa Emorimor Osuban and of my late father be established in my lifetime, I pray.