news and views on African publishing and books

Publishers

31 Jan 2024

Stephanie Kitchen

Stephanie Kitchen, African Books Collective Director, speaks to the Independent Publishers Guild podcast about all things ABC.

29 Jan 2024

David Mills

Interview with David Mills, University of Oxford academic and now African Books Collective Director!

17 Mar 2023

Nii Ayikwei Parkes

Interview with Nii Ayikwei Parkes, British-Ghanaian writer, editor, publisher, and now African Books Collective Director.

10 Oct 2022

Kelwyn Sole

Jacques Coetzee interviews South African poet, Kelwyn Sole. Sole is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Cape Town and has won multiple awards for his poetry and critical articles, including the South African Literary Award (SALA), the Olive Schreiner Prize, a DALRO Award, and two Thomas Pringle Awards. His poetry and critical work have been widely anthologised.

24 Aug 2021

Henry Chakava

After graduating from the University of Nairobi in 1972, Henry Chakava was looking at postgraduate scholarship offers from local and international universities. While thinking through his options, his lecturer at the Department of Literature, Professor Andrew Gurr, arranged a temporary job at the Nairobi office of Heinemann Educational Books Limited (HEB). This temporary job instead became a life dedicated to books as he fell in love with publishing.

6 May 2021

Editora Trinta Zero Nove: literature in translation in Mozambique

In Mozambique, women are underrepresented in print and male publishers tend to be biased toward publishing men, claiming that female voices lack quality, substance, and creativity. I try to counteract this by publishing feminist voices that might inspire a new generation of female writers and translators through creative writing and through translation workshops

6 Mar 2021

African Books Collective – Timeline

African Books Collective is 30 years old! It’s been an eventful few decades, and so we felt it was time to share a flavour of how the vision of a few passionate publishers, on the continent and beyond, led to the phenomenon that is African Books Collective. Click through to in-depth articles and photos from some of the Collective’s members. Enjoy – and please do share your thoughts and memories through our social media.

12 Oct 2020

Botsotso

Botsotso, as a publishing house and platform for performance, was formed in 1996 by members of the Botsotso Jesters poetry performance group.“BOTSOTSO is independent and follows no specific political or aesthetic doctrine. The main criterion for publication of work is that it has integrity and worth as an expression of individual experience and of our society.”

7 Aug 2020

Mdahalo Bridging Divides

Alice Wairimū Nderitū at Mdahalo Bridging Divides, Kenya talks with Stephanie Kitchen of the International African Institute, London about scholarly publishing in Kenya, women in publishing and about her path into the industry.

28 Jul 2020

Tanaka Chidora

Tanaka Chidora is a Zimbabwean poet, literary critic, and academic who teaches Creative Writing and Theories of Literature at the Department of English at the University of Zimbabwe. His poetry collection Because Sadness is Beautiful? is out now. Tendai Rinos Mwanaka, from Mwanaka Media and Publishing, interviews him on his life and writing.

19 Jun 2020

University of Namibia Press

UNAM Press publishes works on topics related to Namibia and the Southern African region, reflecting the strengths of the University and the best scholarship in and on Namibia and the region. Published and forthcoming titles include studies of culture and languages; nation building and democracy; education; law; social and political history; autobiographies; the environment and sustainable development.

5 Apr 2020

Robert Berold, Deep South, South Africa

Deep South was started in 1996 by Paul Wessels and Robert Berold [who took over as sole owner/publisher from 2004]. Our aim was to publish what we considered to be innovative and risk-taking South African poetry, regardless of market limitations. Innovation and depth continue to be the main criteria in the decisions to publish.

5 Apr 2020

Shiraz Durrani and Kimani Waweru, Vita Books, Kenya

Vita Books was established in London, UK in 1986 to “publish progressive books on issues related with anti-imperialist struggles and with the establishment of just and democratic societies”. This remains its vision today. Over the years, Vita Books has worked with many progressive individuals and organisations.

4 Apr 2020

Francis Nyamnjoh, Langaa Research and Publishing Common Initiative Group, Cameroon

The mission of Langaa Research and Publishing Common Initiative Group (Langaa RPCIG) is to contribute to the cultural development and renaissance of Africa. This is achieved by conducting research, providing training in research and writing, and publishing and promoting African scholarship and creative writing.

4 Apr 2020

Abdul Kabir Hussain Solihu, Kwara State University Press, Nigeria

Who the Africans are and what they stand for must not be left for outsiders to tell. We want the African authors to tell their own narratives and interpret their own history in a way that would be appreciated by non-Africans. While doing so, they would be able to identify the Africans’ collective intelligence, creative ideas and aspirations.

- Professor Abdul Kabir Hussain Solihu, Kwara State University Press.

4 Apr 2020

vangile gantsho, impepho press, South Africa

vangile gantsho is a poet, healer, and co-founder of impepho press . Unapologetically a black woman, she has travelled the continent and the globe participating in literary events and festivals. gantsho is the author of two poetry collections: Undressing in Front of the Window (2015) and red cotton (2018). She holds an MA from the University Currently Known as Rhodes (2016) and was recently named one of Mail & Guardian’s Top Young 200 South Africans of 2018.

4 Apr 2020

Nick Mulgrew, uHlanga, South Africa

uHlanga is South Africa's progressive poetry press. Founded in 2014 as an annual magazine of poetry from KwaZulu-Natal, uHlanga now focuses on publishing debut anthologies from the country's most promising young poets.

4 Apr 2020

Michèle Betty and Joan Hambidge Dryad Press, South Africa

Recently, African Books Collective has grown, adding a wealth of poetry presses from South Africa. Founded in 2016, Dryad Press is one such press. Jatinder Padda speaks to founders and poets in their own right, Michèle Betty and Joan Hambidge.

4 Apr 2020

Colleen Higgs, Modjaji Books, South Africa

Modjaji Books was started in 2007 by Colleen Higgs, it is an independent press that publishes the writings of Southern African women. Colleen talks to Stephanie Kitchen about running an independent feminist press in South Africa.

22 Feb 2020

Ernest Oppong

The African Publishers Network (APNET) was established in 1992, bringing together national publishers associations and publishing communities in the African continent to strengthen indigenous or independent publishing. After some years of dormancy APNET has recently started a rejuvenation process with Ernest Oppong currently acting as Executive Director. Stephanie Kitchen has had a talk with Ernest about APNETs plans for the future.

22 Feb 2020

Francois van Schalkwyk

Stephanie Kitchen talks with Francois van Schalkwyk, of African Minds, South Africa and a co-author of the report ‘The African University Press’.

22 Feb 2020

Brian Wafawarowa

Brian Wafawarowa has a long history in publishing in South Africa. He was managing director at New Africa Books and has served as Chairperson of the Publishers Association of South Africa (PASA), the African Publishers Network (APNET) and is currently on the board of the International Publishers Association (IPA). He is active in publishing and has a new press, Lefa Publishing and Research Services. Brian talks here to Stephanie Kitchen of the International Africa Institute.

16 Dec 2019

Akoss Ofori-mensah

Akoss Ofori-Mensah is a Ghanian publisher and the founder of Sub Saharan Publishers, Accra. Akoss has served on the Ghana Book Publishers Association as the Honorary Secretary and Vice President. She was elected President of the Association from 2003-2005. She has been a member of the African Publishers Network (APNET), the IBBY Executive Committee, and sits on African Books Collective's Council of Management.