Book-hunting  In South Africa With Nigeria’s Vice President

Gimba Kakanda

“There’s another section over there, Your Excellency,” I said, pointing towards the Western philosophy enclave within the bookstore. He wasn’t in a hurry and had paused, flipping through the pages of assorted books spanning a symphony of genres. I assumed he probably didn’t know about the other parts of the bookstore. Sometimes, he would sit in-between reads and then rise to proceed to other sections. Senator Kashim Shettima appeared to have an interest in almost all kinds, except for, by his admission, motivational books, which of course are mostly superficial philosophical projections.

“You should read this book,” he said as I tagged along behind him, and he transferred the tome into my possession. It’s Mariana Mazzucato’s enlightening opus, The Value of Everything. “She offers a caricature of capitalism and a penetrating take on the subject.” With gratitude, I accepted the book  observing his methodical traversal through the pages, volumes, and corridors of the Sandton, Johannesburg bookstore.

Currently in South Africa for the 2023 BRICS summit, where the Vice President is representing the  President in a crucial global economic alliance.

What was poised to be an evening of rest in his hotel ahead of the forthcoming day’s commitments took an unexpected turn. It became an odyssey into literature and knowledge. I had the honour of  witnessing his unquenchable thirst for books, intellectual curiosity, and insightful perspectives on writers and subjects. These topics spanned domains ranging from economics and philosophy to the intricate realm of politics. He even maintained a personal philosophy regarding acquiring books in the cities he journeyed through.

“You know the most accurate portrayal of a people or culture is found in the books you buy in their communities. Such books are the most credible reflections of their realities and experiences,” and then this turned into a caveat about the misrepresentations of ideas, people, or culture by foreign or detached curators and authors. It was a convincing argument, sparked by the time spent exploring the South African history sub-section of the African history enclave. He spent a significant amount of time analyzing the host country’s foremost thinkers, human rights activists, and politicians whom he knows so well.

But even as the collection of books grew, I had no doubt he was going to read them. I had personally observed his remarkable ability to devour substantial volumes within a day and yet retain every intricate detail.

One particularly memorable instance of this occurred in 2018, following the public presentation of former President Jonathan’s memoir My Transition Hours which distorted certain events of his tenure as Governor of Borno State. Astonishingly, merely a day after the book’s release, he had not only completed reading it but had also penned a comprehensive critique outlining the inaccuracies it contained. Such a feat would have been implausible even for me, someone whose life had been steeped in literature and who possessed more leisure time than a sitting governor.

The range of books acquired during his book hunts illuminated the reason he appeared to possess a quote for every conceivable occasion.

While tagging along, I reveled in his enthusiasm for books. To me, the bookworm remains the most well-read politician I know.

– Gimba Kakanda writes  from Johannesburg, South Africa.