When was the last time you were cosy with a book — just the two of you, sharing an intimate moment, nothing forced?

For some, reading is a daily staple. For others, books are a distant memory, recalled only during World Book Day — if they hear about it at all.

This year’s World Book Day was commemorated globally on April 23 under the theme “Books as a Gateway to Knowledge and Inclusion.” Established in 1995 by UNESCO as World Book and Copyright Day, the annual event promotes literacy and cultural diversity through the written word.

In Zimbabwe, book lovers and literary stakeholders marked the occasion through various activities and online conversations.

In Bulawayo, the Bulawayo Book Club — a growing community of readers based in the country’s second-largest city and cultural capital — commemorated the day during its monthly meeting on April 26. Members discussed Tsitsi Dangarembga’s acclaimed debut novel Nervous Conditions.

First published in 1988, Nervous Conditions is the first instalment of a trilogy exploring colonialism, culture, and feminism through the experiences of its protagonist, Tambu. A Commonwealth Writers’ Prize winner, the novel remains a cornerstone of Zimbabwean and African literature, often outshining its sequels, The Book of Not (2006) and This Mournable Body (2020).

“Nervous Conditions is as relevant today as it was 37 years ago,” noted Raisedon Baya, a Bulawayo Book Club member and celebrated author. “Patriarchy is a strong system. Destroying it will take many years. This story will remain relevant because it is well told, features compelling characters, and speaks across generations.“

In an age where the digital revolution dominates, many young people prefer scrolling through screens rather than flipping pages of actual books. While digital libraries offer convenience, they have also negatively impacted the book industry — from piracy affecting authors’ royalties to a declining culture of recreational reading and challenges to creativity posed by artificial intelligence.

In response, the Bulawayo Book Club champions a more traditional approach: supporting local authors through book sales and refusing the use of pirated soft copies. Meetings are held monthly at Alliance Française de Bulawayo, where members are encouraged to buy or borrow hard copies of the month’s chosen book.

“Our reading list is African, mostly Zimbabwean, although other languages are discussed online,” said club member Ms Y.E. Bergstrom. “No soft copies — we want to uphold copyright laws and support authors.“

Bulawayo has long been a cradle of Zimbabwe’s literary excellence, producing icons such as Yvonne Vera, Ndabezihle Sigogo, Bryony Rheams, and NoViolet Bulawayo.

It is hoped that small but intentional initiatives like those of the Bulawayo Book Club will help preserve the culture of reading — giving books another chance to thrive and nurturing future literary laureates.