In a world increasingly dominated by digital distractions, the art of storytelling fosters connection and serves to preserve our culture and shared heritage, writes Chris de Beer, director at the Qualibooks Group.
Storytelling is important for a number of reasons. When we tell stories, we build emotional connections with others because we communicate our personal experiences and perspectives. In telling stories, we also have a chance to convey complex ideas in a relatable way, which makes them easier to understand and remember. This can inspire change, enhance critical thinking and develop one’s imagination.
In addition to all this, through storytelling, people of different cultures can pass down their values, their traditions and their history. It serves as a bridge between generations, allowing people to share moral lessons, to teach others about historical events and to preserve cultural practices so that they remain alive and relevant. As Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe wrote in his 1987 novel, Anthills of the Savannah: “It is only the story that can continue beyond the war and the warrior.
It is the story that outlives the sound of war-drums and the exploits of brave fighters. It is the story . . . that saves our progeny from blundering like blind beggars into the spikes of the cactus fence. The story is our escort; without it, we are blind. Does the blind man own his escort? No, neither do we the story; rather it is the story that owns us and directs us.”
But in our fast paced, digital culture, we are often too distracted to stop and listen to stories. Or to escape into another world by reading a book. This rather sad reality got me thinking about how much society stands to lose when we don’t tell stories, when we don’t share our experiences and when we don’t educate future generations so that they don’t repeat the mistakes we made in the past.
Imagine if no one told stories about former president Nelson Mandela. Future generations wouldn’t learn about his extraordinary leadership or his commitment to ending apartheid and bringing peace and reconciliation to our country. And if no one recounts how the Springboks clawed their way to victory in the recent Rugby World Cup, aspiring professional rugby players won’t know about the grit, tenacity and passion it takes to play for our national team.
Stories like these, and so many others, serve as an inspiration to everyone – and our young people in particular – which is why it is critical that these stories are told. They also form part of our shared heritage. On the back of Heritage Day, a day intended to foster a sense of pride in our common identity as South Africans, this is so incredibly important.
Literature is the root of all culture, which is why books and reading are essential to the preservation of our heritage. In the work I do, I spend a fair amount of time in libraries, but I haven’t visited the library in my personal capacity since I was a child.
And I don’t think I’m alone in this. In the past, libraries were seen as spaces that house an infinite amount of knowledge and offer a sanctuary to the curious but in today’s digital age, where information is always at our fingertips, the role of libraries has diminished.
As people we’ve become so accustomed to picking up our phones or opening our laptops when we’re looking for information about something. This approach might be quick and easy but when we do this, we miss out on opportunities to explore the question from a different angle because Google is only going to give us answers to the questions we ask.
When we visit a library, we have an opportunity to connect with others – be it a librarian who suggests another way to look at the problem or another library user who tells you an anecdote that shifts your perspective. When children visit the library they learn about responsibility, consequences and deadlines.
They also learn about sharing and develop a sense of community by accessing shared resources. And let’s not forget one of the biggest selling points of a library – they’re free.
Libraries play a pivotal role in promoting literacy and fostering a love for reading by providing access to reading material across different genres, written by different authors and about a wide range of topics. People often say that you shouldn’t judge a book but, when you visit the library, you might spot a striking book cover that leads you to pick up a book you may never have considered reading.
In being exposed to new ideas, perspectives and cultures, we are not only deveoping a lifelong appreciation for our history and our heritage but we’re also tapping into the transformative power of storytelling.
So, I encourage you to seek out your local library and pay it a visit; you never know what you’ll find there. And then tell others about your experience. As Einstein once said, “The only thing that you absolutely have to know is the location of the library.”