CARAVAN OF THE BOOKS - KENYA'S MOBILE CAMEL LIBRARY
A library on four legs – the worlds only existing Camel Library is located in Northern Kenya. In the villages with their houses of mud and dung these tenacious desert ships are wishfully awaited by the people of the nomadic Muslim tribes. Under the shade of acacia trees, especially the children are excitedly turning pages of school books, novels and comics. However, 400 kilometers outside of the capital city of Nairobi the local librarians are still struggling with illiteracy, old traditions, insufficient funds, blistering sun and – stubborn camels... This is the story about the Camel Library, about inquisitive children, about the origins of a book and about a camel and an exceptional librarian in the heart of Africa within the UNESCO-world decade of alphabetization.
2009, Germany, 50.18 min.
Prod. Annette Scheurich
Script / Dir.: Herbert Ostwald
Dir. of Phot.: Roland Gockel
Music: Stefan Doring
Herbert Ostwald (b. 1960, Berlin)
Studied biology at Free University, Berlin (1979-1987). Since 1987 has worked as a free lanced radio journalist. Worked as an editor for politics / science (Neue Zeit, 1993-1994), for TV (since 1995). Lectured ("Reporting the World Cup", South Africa, SEAdocs, Thailand, etc.). Attended Wildlife Filmmaking School (Sweden, 1997). Lived and worked in Nairobi (Kenya) between 2002-2008. Author of several books (Skulls. Stones. Stars, The Rhine - River of Destiny, Kilaguni - A Journey through Africa).
Filmography
Really Wild? (1999-2000), A Tooth for a Tooth (2001), Hare Tales (2002), The Tree of the Trees (2003/04), Rosie and the Naked Mole Rats (2005), Mount Kenya – The Heart of Africa (2005), Swans - Gods in White? (2006), Eagles - Gifts of Heaven (2007), Detecting Danger – Africa's Giant Rats (2008), Elephant Shrews – Spirit of the Forest (2008), Dodo's Kick (2009), Caravan of Books - Kenya's Mobile Camel Library (2009), The Hot Elephant War (2010), The Hippos of the River Rhine (2010), Baboon Bandits – Monkey Alert in South Africa (2011).