World Book Day and Its Significance

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Sofonie Dala: Recognition Through Writing

World Book Day and Its Significance

World Book Day, celebrated annually on April 23, promotes reading, publishing, and copyright awareness, encouraging a love for books among children and adults alike. Established by UNESCO in 1995, the date honors the legacy of great authors such as William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes. It reminds us of the power of literature to bridge cultural gaps and foster understanding across generations.

Sofonie Dala’s Achievement

On this symbolic occasion, congratulations are in order: Sofonie Dala launches her first academic-scientific book.

Book Title: The Geological Structure of the Takula Field and Prospects for Development and Production of Oil and Gas in Angola

This book, originally written in Russian, has now been translated into multiple languages including Portuguese, English, Spanish, German, Italian, Polish, Dutch, Finnish, and French. It is available in online libraries worldwide and on online platforms such as Amazon.

Purpose of the Book

Sofonie Dala’s motivation was clear: to help thousands of international students, particularly Angolans studying abroad, who struggle to find reliable scientific and academic information about Angola. The book is especially valuable for students in Mining Geology, Petroleum and Gas Engineering, and related fields.

By publishing her thesis as a book, she sought to ease the academic journey of future generations, filling a gap in accessible, locally grounded research.


About the Author

Sofonie Dala is an Angolan mining engineer, entrepreneur, journalist, and independent scholar. She holds a Master’s degree in Geology Oil and Gas and a Postgraduate Diploma in Media Management and Leadership. Her career reflects versatility and resilience, combining technical expertise with intellectual curiosity.

Challenges in Sharing Knowledge

Writing about Angola presents unique challenges due to limited information caused by war, inaccessibility, and weak systems of knowledge-sharing. This lack of accessible data has hindered students’ ability to complete dissertations, gain admission to PhD programs, and publish research.

Sofonie Dala highlights how fear of losing power or being replaced often prevents individuals and institutions from sharing knowledge. Yet, in the information age, sharing is essential for progress. Her book stands as a testament to the importance of breaking this cycle.

Global South Representation

Sofonie also reflects on the underrepresentation of Global South researchers in academic investigations about their own regions. Too often, literature is dominated by voices from the Global North, which may not fully capture local realities. Her work seeks to rebalance this narrative, offering authentic insights from Angola.

Connection to the SDGs

Her book and mission align with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

  • SDG 4 – Quality Education: Providing accessible academic resources for students.
  • SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: Supporting knowledge for oil and gas development.
  • SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities: Amplifying voices from the Global South in academic discourse.
  • SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals: Encouraging collaboration and knowledge-sharing across borders.

Sarcastic Commentary

Of course, while many authors who publish books worldwide get rich, the same cannot be said about Sofonie. She could be a victim of fraud: she has no access to her book and has never earned anything from it. After becoming a journalist at the Soul Plaatje Institute in South Africa in 2019, she was followed by suspicious individuals who invited her to publish with Lambert Publishing. Later, she was told that if she wanted to benefit from her book, she must pay money and buy at least 1,000 copies. Meanwhile, the book is sold at very high prices—over $40 USD in some libraries and even $50 USD elsewhere.

So much for the “information age” and the promise of equitable access—apparently, knowledge-sharing is still a luxury commodity when profit comes first.



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REFERENCE

Dala, S. (2020, July). Congratulations! Sofonie Dala launches her first academic-scientific book. Sofonie Dala Blog. https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2020/07/congratulations-sofonie-dala-launches.html




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