Poetess Saranda Urges Parents to Prioritize Book-Reading With their Children Over Digital Distractions

KIGALI, Rwanda– Mutoni Saranda Oliva, widely known as Saranda Poetess, has called upon parents to reclaim the culture of co-reading books with their children, emphasizing that assisting children with physical books is essential for their growth and cognitive development in an increasingly digital world.

Speaking during the official launch of the children’s book “A Boy Who Painted The Moon”, an event organized by Akitabu Publishers to celebrate the new work by author Rosine Uwamahoro, Saranda, who headlined this event, highlighted the widening gap between screen time and meaningful learning, noting that while children’s access to digital devices is increasing, parents should not ignore the critical role books-reading can play.

“There are three benefits of co-reading with children.” Saranda said. “First of all, when you read a book or a story for a child, it triggers love between a parent and a child. Secondly, you are bolstering your bond and connection, and lastly it will fuel children’s curiosity to learn more from the story you are reading.”

The event centered on Uwamahoro’s new book, an imaginary tale that tells the story of a young Rwandan boy called Kwezi pursuing a seemingly impossible task of painting the moon. The author explained that the book serves as a tool for empowerment, designed to teach children that their aspirations are valid regardless of the obstacles they might be facing.

“I wanted to create a story that tells every child that no dream is too high or too ‘imaginary’ to pursue,” said Rosine Uwamahoro. “The boy in the story attempts the impossible, and that is the spirit we want our children to carry—to keep following their dreams regardless of how hard they are to achieve.”

The journey to publishing this book, from preparation to the shelves, was supported by Akitabu Publishers, as part of its mission to nurture local talent while also promoting a reading culture.

Representing Akitabu, Mukamuhire Ernestine said that “Our mission is to provide the platform and the professional support authors need to bring their visions to life. Supporting Rosine’s work was a natural fit for us because we want Rwandans of different age range to access and read books as a way to learning new things especially for children.”

This call to action comes at a critical time for Rwanda’s literary landscape as recent data shared by the Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy during discussions with the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Technology, Culture, Sports, and Youth on Monday 02^nd March 2026, Rwandans read books at a rate of 68%, while children are taught to read within families at a rate of 69.6%. Despite these encouraging figures, the Academy informed Parliamentarians that the culture of writing remains low, with only 1,260 books written in the past five years, a gap that authors like Rosine Uwamahoro are working to bridge.

Saranda is a prominent Rwandan actress, poet, and mental health advocate. She has gained significant recognition for her artistic contributions to Rwanda’s literature scenes and film series such as INDOTO that is aired on Rwanda Broadcasting Agency.