On this World Book Day, TikTok celebrates the power of community and how #BookTok is bringing readers together. This symbolic day in world literature, marked on April 23, pays tribute to books and authors, encouraging everyone to access books – the most beautiful invention for sharing ideas beyond the boundaries of humanity, space and time.
As a part of this celebration, we would like to highlight the inspiring journeys of two #BookTok creators from South Africa – Yonela Ntshakaza and Rozanne Visagie, who have been using the platform to share their love of reading and connect with a growing community of book lovers.
Yonela, a book blogger and #BookTok creator from Queenstown in the Eastern Cape, shares her passion for reading through creative book reviews, recommendations, and discussions on her platform, @bookedandbeing, on TikTok. She believes that #BookTok is not just about promoting books but also about building a community of readers who can connect with each other. In Yonela’s words, “I love being a part of the #BookTok community because it’s a space where people can come together to talk about books and share their love of reading. I’ve made so many friends on the platform who share my passion for books, and I’ve discovered so many new books that I might not have found otherwise.”
Rozanne (@rozanne_visagie), a writer and #BookTok creator from Rustenburg in the North West, uses the platform to share her own writing journey and encourage others to pursue their dreams. She believes that #BookTok has the potential to change the way people perceive reading and writing in Africa and is excited to be a part of this movement. According to Rozanne, “Being a #BookTok creator has allowed me to connect with other writers and readers from all over the world. I’ve received so much encouragement and support from the community, inspiring me to keep writing and pursuing my dreams.”
Both Yonela and Rozanne are excited about the growing community of book lovers on #BookTok in Africa and believe that the platform has the potential to make a significant impact on the literary landscape in the region. #BookTok in Africa is still in its early stages, but engagement with book-related content on TikTok in the region is steadily growing. The top 3 #BookTok hashtags in Sub-Saharan Africa over the past six months were #Read with 1,628,940 video views, #Booksyoushouldread with 725,920 views, and #Bookstoread with 186,847 views. The diversity of content on #BookTok in Africa is also worth noting, with creators sharing content in different languages, covering a wide range of genres and topics, and sharing their unique perspectives on reading and books.
Yonela and Rozanne’s journeys showcase the power of #BookTok to bring readers together and inspire a love of reading and writing. As the community of book lovers on the platform continues to grow in Africa, we look forward to seeing the impact it will have on the literary landscape in the region.