Bookish Ezioma on Book Trends and Literary Culture

Bookish Ezioma shares her thoughts with Littafi on literary culture in Nigeria and the many real-world lessons in books.

Ezioma Kalu, popularly known as Bookish Ezioma within the online book community shares her thoughts with Littafi on literary culture in Nigeria and the many real-world lessons in books.

Q: You’re one of the most notable book readers and book influencers in Nigeria, with several thousand followers regularly swayed by your bookish opinions, recommendations, and literary takes. How far-reaching do you think your efforts really are, and in what ways do you wish to influence literary culture in virtual spaces?

A: Thank you so much for calling me a notable book reader and influencer in Nigeria. It’s really crazy how a single decision can change someone’s life forever. Prior to my becoming this bookish person people know on social media, I didn’t even know of this thriving book community. I just wanted to keep my social media platforms busy by posting about the books that I read. I didn’t even know anyone would be interested.

When I started in 2022, I had less than 100 followers on X. So I was just tweeting these book reviews because I wanted to track my reading for that year. However, people started getting interested. I started getting noticed. Engagements started coming. And I got my first viral post in October 2022 which took me to a thousand followers. Even then I was a newbie in the book space. But in December 2022, after trending for reading 100 books, I started realizing I was making an impact. And then I decided to buckle up in my bookish contents. I started posting more and more bookish content.

Fast forward to 2025, I think more people have come to know me as the lady who reads a lot of books. And my reach has gone even farther than I could ever imagine. One day I was in the market, and a young lady approached me and asked me if I was Bookish Ezioma on X. Surprised, I smiled and said yes. She brought out her phone and showed me she was a follower. I didn’t know how to react to that. It blew my mind because what do you mean people now recognized me in the market? Even in the streets!

After trending for reading 122 books, people would randomly tell me they saw me on social media. I get a lot of DMs daily. People tell me I inspire them, they tell me they want to get back into reading books, how do they do that? My favorite is when they tell me their children look up to me, and they love reading books. I am genuinely happy that my impacts are being felt, especially by the younger generations.

People discuss my reading achievements in different groups both online and offline, and it amazes me that my reach is that wide. However, I want to continue to influence the literary culture in virtual spaces by continuing to read and talk about books. I review books, promote books, take good pictures, and wear bookish merchandise. And I genuinely will just be doing my thing from my little corner.

Q: What things would you change about publishing in Nigeria today and why?

A: I think if I have the power to change anything, it would be to give more up-and-coming writers a chance. It’s not easy to be published by a top publisher as a newbie writer, because publishing is also business and nobody wants to embark on a losing journey.

However, most of these newbie writers are great writers. They have what it takes to become even great and prestigious storytellers. All they need is for someone to take a chance on them and bring their stories to life. So I think I would give more room to newbie writers to submit their manuscripts and take a chance on them.

Q. When you’re not reading, what can you be found doing?

A: I have a couple of other hobbies that I indulge in. So when I am not reading, I am either watching a Kdrama, listening to music, dancing, writing, or sleeping. For Kdramas, I’m actually on the obsessed side in that I love them so much, and they comprise 80% of what I consume. I love the Korean culture a lot and that is why I am even learning the Korean language.

As for music, I have my own taste. I mean, I love what I love and I just stick to it. My favorite artiste is Rihanna, and I listen to her almost every day. Since she doesn’t want to give us an album for almost a decade, I’ll manage whatever I can get. I also listen to K-pop and my favorite group is BTS. I’m loud about my love for the group and anyone who knows me knows that.

And when I’m not sleeping or dancing, or gisting with my friends, or fantasizing about Korean men and crushing on them. I also write.

Q: What real-life lessons exist in books, and how can these lessons be translated to the real world, to the benefit of the average Nigerian?

A: I would say an important real-life lesson that exists in books is a camaraderie spirit. That spirit of not being alone. You know when people tell you they read books as an escape from their problems, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are permanently getting away from their problems or that books will solve them.

No. It means that they’re getting a sense of belonging from reading books. Imagine reading a book about someone going through the exact same situation you’re currently going through. You will be amazed at how some other person is walking in your shoes. And as human beings, we don’t like the feeling of being alone.

In Igbo, there is a name called ‘Somadina’ meaning ‘Don’t let me be alone.’ No one wants to be alone, we thrive as a community. But most times, we are in our heads, thinking that no one understands us and what we are going through.

Reading a book where a character goes through the exact same thing as you gives you hope. It tells you that you are not alone. And that knowing, that someone else somewhere else is experiencing that, makes you feel hopeful. You then realize that it’s actually not the worst thing ever. And then you feel seen. When you feel seen, you feel loved.

The Igbo meaning of love is ‘Ifunanya’ which means to see in the eyes. When you feel seen, you feel important. So reading gives you hope. And the only reason why many people choose not to give up is the hope of a better tomorrow. And through books, you can also learn to avoid making certain decisions that some characters took that ruined them. You also learn to be introspective and understand yourself and the world around you better.

Through books, you learn about the world and see the many evils and goodness that exist in this world.

Q: Which author’s works have you been most inspired by over the last 5 years?

A: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.