Books give meaning to life

Having grown up in Saudi Arabia, Nothern Ireland and the US, Gloria Mangi can be described as a global citizen. She returned to Tanzania after college with a fire to make a difference, especially in the world of media.

Armed with a Communications and Intercultural Studies degree from Fresno Pacific University, Gloria has done everything from acting, to TV and radio presentations, writing, event planning and reporting.

In 2010, she produced and directed a successful TV talk show that covered social issues in Tanzania and revolutionised the Tanzanian mainstream media.

 She is part of a network known as the Smart 29ers who are currently working with the Tanzanian government to arrange a national and an international dialogue to discuss issues hindering the development of the country.

Gloria is also an avid reader and as she puts it, she has a number of books in her library.

How many books have you read so far?

I really don’t know, but the truth is that I never count. What I know is that I have read a lot and I have so many books in my library.

Any morals we could pick from such books?

Indeed there is so much to pick. We learn a lot about perseverance, the spirit of not giving up and of course knowing what you want and when to go for them.

What books would you recommend for fellow Tanzanians?

Tanzanians should read a lot of biographies as it will help them understand people’s histories.

Biographies help people in moulding their lives. It is through biographies that you become knowledgeable of people and events.

Which book are you holding now?

At the moment, I’m reading Paul Kagame’s biography. I had just finished reading Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, one of my role models on the continent.

How many books do you have in your library?

As I had said earlier, I never keep count of the books in the shelves, but there are many books, from fiction, non-fiction and plays.

What should be done to inculcate reading culture among Tanzanians?

Reading should become a mandatory thing to them and not reading for the sake of studying as it is normally done. We need to start reading right from the time we are still young. Schools need to introduce reading clubs.