Can You “Bring Back the Book” to a Country That Can’t Afford to Read?
Nigeria’s President launched a campaign to inspire reading that was part-election, part-Facebook festival and part-magical thinking. Editorial by Tolu Ogunlesi LAGOS: Nigeria has no national ...
View ArticleDISCUSS: How Can E-Books Revolutionize Literacy and Publishing in Africa?
E-books can reach people in Africa who might otherwise never get books. Some even say the Internet represents “Africa’s Gutenberg Moment.” By Edward Nawotka Today’s ...
View ArticleBook Review: Open City by Teju Cole (Nigeria)
By Gwendolyn Dawson From the very first paragraph, Teju Cole’s debut novel announces itself as the tale of a wanderer: “And so when I began ...
View ArticleDigital Publishing in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Good News, The Bad News
Sub-Saharan Africa’s dearth of cash, political will and a reliable supply of electricity are preventing the “digital revolution” from making large-scale changes in the way ...
View ArticleDigital Publishing in West Africa: What Works, What Doesn’t, and Why
Though enthusiasm for digital publishing is widespread in West Africa, brownouts, piracy, and high expenses are among the factors slowing development.
View ArticleLantern Books: Children’s Publishing Success in Nigeria
Lantern Books is a household name in Nigeria for publishing children's textbooks and story books for young readers.
View ArticleNational Reading Programs: Idealism or Agitprop?
Russia is following in the footsteps of Venezuela and Nigeria in promoting national reading programs, but what might seem like idealism is often something more.
View ArticleWhat Role Should Publishers Play in Political Activism?
Pamphleteering, propaganda and agit-prop have long been a part of the publishing process. It's here to stay. But how far should publishers go in their activism?
View ArticleBribery and the Ethics of Publishing in the Developing World
When working in Nigeria, for example, bribes can expedite customs and secure contracts. Do the ends justify the means, or might you threaten your whole brand?
View ArticleAfrican Books for African Readers
Dakar, Senegal's Amalion Publishing is an up-and-coming house that only publishes books by African authors and does so simultaneously in English and French.
View ArticlePEN and UNESCO to Bolster Minority Language Publishing
PEN International and Unesco have launched new research and training programs in Kenya, Haiti, Serbia and Nigeria to bolster local book publishing industries.
View ArticleWhen a Book is a Stone: The Role of Publishing in Areas of Conflict
At the Frankfurt Book Fair's Weltempfang stage, publishers from Nigeria, Syria, and the Ukraine discussed their experiences publishing in the midst of conflict. The post When a Book is a Stone: The...
View Article“The West is Running Out of Stories,” say Africans
With Port Harcourt, Nigeria serving as UNESCO World Book Capital 2014, African book publishers consider the future for Africa's writers. The post “The West is Running Out of Stories,” say Africans...
View ArticleNigeria’s Ankara Press Offers a New Kind of African Romance
Ankara Press, a new digital imprint of Nigeria's Cassava Republic, has aims to deliver "romances that reflect the complexity" of modern African lives. The post Nigeria’s Ankara Press Offers a New Kind...
View ArticleDigital Love Stories for Valentine’s Day from Africa
Nigerian romance publisher Ankara Press has produced a free digital Valentine’s Day Story Anthology featuring several of Africa's top writers. The post Digital Love Stories for Valentine’s Day from...
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The Possibilities and Challenges of Digital African Publishing
Ankara Press’s new digital anthology of African romance writing posed unique challenges. Emma Shercliff looks into the creative process behind publishing and distributing an anthology of digital...
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Is a Lack of Blockbusters Crippling African Publishing?
Kachifo, the parent company of Farafina, is one of the top publishers in Nigeria and Africa, yet has been unable to produce a popular writer on the level of a James Patterson or JK Rowling. Nigeria’s...
View ArticleCassava Republic’s Emma Shercliff Looks at Nigerian Literature
Emma Shercliff, Director of Cassava Republic Press in the UK, looks at the changing face of Nigerian literature, both in its writing and publishing. The post Cassava Republic’s Emma Shercliff Looks at...
View ArticleValentine’s Play: Nigeria’s Ankara Press Releases First Romances in Print
'A new kind of romance' is the goal of Abuja's Ankara Press, which focuses on romantic fiction written by African authors. The post Valentine’s Play: Nigeria’s Ankara Press Releases First Romances in...
View ArticleNigeria’s Balaraba Ramat Yakubu: Translating Injustice Into Inspiration
Turning her own story into women's rights advocacy, Nigeria's Balaraba Ramat Yakubu is the first female Hausa-language writer to be translated into English. The post Nigeria’s Balaraba Ramat Yakubu:...
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