“Everyone was scrambling, asking ‘where can we get this book?’ Because all our leaders and elders from the Upper Nile, including my great grandfather who died in 1932, they were all mentioned there.”Traditionally, the 64 different tribes of South Sudan have been largely oral cultures, passing on history and knowledge through stories and song.
“They can, through digital technology, be printed in individual copies around the world, and through online retail can be sold to anybody.”With the right motivation and tutelage from Dr Johnson, Peter founded his own book publishing company. The company’s speciality is publishing material to help South Sudanese families teach traditional languages to their children.
“That is the difference with Africa World Books and the other companies. Who else could publish those small booklets? We did it as a community service and to encourage this oral society.”Since starting Africa World Books, Peter has had to innovate to ensure production costs are kept low. “Eventually, a scholar at Oxford reached out to me and said, ‘there’s a guy in Australia. His name is Peter Deng”.Now, Peter’s focus is on capturing the stories of older generations of South Sudanese-Australians.
“I looked for resettlement in a place where my children could get an education. We were deprived for almost 21 years without education.”
Wait what?
Hold on, I thought it was impossible to get ahead in a Western country without the correct amount of melanin.
And your point is ? Cant you purchase African literature in Africa ?
How lovely he has embraced Australian culture. No wait it’s African literature.
What's the point of this 'story'? That immigrants and refugees can succeed? No-one denies that. But if you weren't a shameless propaganda outlet, you'd tell both sides of that story:
Nicely done.
DrSaraMaher
This is a wonderful success story, well done 👍👍👍