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Abstract
This conversation brings together Mary Jay, Stephanie Kitchen, and Anshita Ail to discuss the past, present, and future of the African Books Collective (ABC), an organization representing and distributing African publishers. With their different backgrounds and biographies, these three women have provided continuity as the backbone of the organization for almost 40 years. They discuss the foundation of the company with donor funding and grants from the 1990s to the early 2000s; digitization of publishing operations from the early 2000s; the commercial models and strategies subsequently developed by the organization; and the ABC’s current work in ebooks, audio books, marketing, and social media.
Abstract
Elma Shaw founded Cotton Tree Press in 2008 to fill the void left by the absence of publishers in Liberia. Here she shares her journey from being a teenage fan of the Heinemann African Writers Series to establishing her own publishing company. Passionate about amplifying diverse voices, both established and emerging, Cotton Tree Press has a Legacy imprint spotlighting the non-fiction narratives of Africa’s change-makers, while the Leroi Books imprint is aimed at young readers. Elma discusses the challenges and opportunities in the African publishing market, the impact of digital technology, the role of bookshops and libraries, and the critical issue of book affordability. She has a vision for a unified, collaborative publishing community in Liberia. The name of the press is an homage to the towering cotton trees that stand as symbols of community and tradition in tropical rainforests and reflects a commitment to fostering connections and nurturing creativity.
Abstract
Marc-André Ledoux of Nouvelles Editions Numériques Africaines (NENA), a Senegal-based ebook platform, describes how the platform has made over 4000 ebooks available in Africa. Over 50 per cent of the publishers represented are francophone, and NENA co-publishes ebooks with these publishers. While advocating a print and digital publishing strategy, NENA hopes to reach younger readers via mobile phone access. Ledoux sets out a manifesto for a digital library as the future of African publishing.
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Editora Trinta Zero Nove is a leading literary publisher in Mozambique, publishing works in and from multiple languages, for and from across the world. In this interview, Sandra Tamele, founder of the press, discusses how it prioritizes activism, African languages, and making books available affordably in Mozambique.
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Gianis Publishers came into being in 2022 in Canada, sparked by the personal ambition of its founder, Charlotte Anyango Ong’ang’a, to venture into the realm of book writing. Gianis Publishers is committed to providing guidance and assistance to individuals eager to share their stories, offering insights and expertise and also offering ghostwriting services. The company focuses on delivering both region-specific and educational content and fostering cultural exchange through initiatives promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Despite facing challenges, Gianis Publishers has made significant strides in distributing books and engaging authors, harnessing the power of technology and social media to reach diverse audiences effectively.
Abstract
What does the future hold for Africa’s independent publishing sector? This Logos special issue brings together book publishers from across the continent and beyond to talk about their publishing passions. Through interviews with more than a dozen African publishers – many of whom are women – we hear about the challenges of running a dynamic publishing business on a shoestring. We explore generational changes in publishing practices, ask if small is always beautiful, and offer a vision of hope for the future.
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Joyce Jenje Makwenda discusses, in the Zimbabwean context, the challenges of publishing in Shona and Ndebele (Zulu), self-publishing, publishing and reading beyond education, participation in book fairs and events, publishing for children, publishing women, (self-)censorship, and publishing on ‘taboo’ or sensitive topics, including sex.
Abstract
Luviri Press, based in Malawi, is the third publishing house established by Klaus Fielder in Malawi. In this interview, Fiedler talks about his vision to make academic publications accessible and affordable. Seeking to complement university-based journals, Luviri has sought to position itself as a publisher of international standing and reputation while at the same time supporting a culture of local monograph publishing. Fiedler also highlights the importance of professional marketing, and the need to shift the emphasis from journal articles back to books.
Abstract
Modjaji Books publishes work by women writers in Southern Africa. It grew in the post-apartheid era and is over 16 years old. Modjaji has had considerable success in publishing and promoting new literary voices globally (including in the US and Brazil) in fiction and poetry. Here Colleen Higgs, the founder and publisher, shares her experiences of publishing women writers in the digital age and anticipates new trends in Southern African literature.