Webinar: Private Sector Book Publishing in Africa
Join the Global Book Alliance and the African Publishers Network on June 8th at 9 AM ET/4 PM EAT for the next Open Book Series webinar: Private Sector Book Publishing in Africa.
Publishing in Africa has come a long way. From the 1940s through the 1970s, Africa was primarily a net importer of books. Over the past few decades, the terrain has gradually evolved so that most books consumed in Africa are developed and produced within the continent.
However, many publishers in Africa are still cautious in their publishing. Publishers prioritize immediate gains, which often lie in the publishing of school textbooks rather than general reading materials, creating an imbalance as learners have access to subject-specific textbooks, but little in terms of early grade reading materials. In turn, the lack of reading materials hampers the development of lifelong learning, which should be the bedrock of the knowledge economy.
Panelists will discuss challenges and opportunities in private sector publishing in Africa, and key themes such as access to books, language, copyright issues, book distribution, and the capacity-building of publishers.
Speaker(s)
Samuel Kolawole
Mr. Kolawole currently serves as Chairman, African Publishers Network (APNET) and National Vice President (West), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria. He is the immediate past President and current, Board of Trustees, Ijeshatedo Grammar School Old Students Association; past Chairman Oyo/Osun/Ondo/Ekiti States’ Branch of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria; past President, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN); past Chairman, Nigeria Book Fair Trust; past President and also past Chairman, Nigerian Publishers Association. An accomplished professional in both the legal and administrative fields, Mr. Kolawole holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the Ogun State University, a Master’s in Business Administration with distinction from University of Liverpool and a Master of Research from the same university.
Brian Wafawarowa
Brian is the chief content and product executive at Juta and Company and current president of the Publishers Association of South Africa (PASA). He founded New Africa Books in 2000 and was its managing director till 2009. He is former Learning Services exec at Pearson South Africa. Brian is a former member of the IPA exec where he also chaired the Inclusive Publishing and Literacy Committee (IPLC). He is also former president of the African Publishers Network (APNET). Brian is interested in training and development in the book sector and is a trustee on the Nick Perren Foundation, which provides scholarships for postgraduate studies in publishing and is a member of the IPA’s Africa Innovation Publishing Fund (AIPF). He studied film and literature at the University of Zimbabwe, MA literature at Wits University and an executive MBA at the university of Cape Town.
Elieshi Lema
Elieshi Lema is a writer and publisher. She started her professional career as a Librarian before going into writing and publishing. She has served in the Board of CODE and later worked as CODE Regional Director for East Africa. Together with CODE and four others, she initiated the startup of the CODE funded Children’s Book Project for Tanzania, and with Co-owner of E & D Vision Publishing, researched, started and became the Technical Adviser for Tusome Vitabu Project, Funded by Royal Netherlands Embassy and managed by Plan International Tanzania. She has served as Board Member of African Publishers Network (APNET) and Executive Committee of Publishers Association of Tanzania (PATA) and currently on the Board Children’s Book Organization.
Aliou Sow
As a teacher by training, Aliou Sow started educational publishing by dealing with children books, textbooks and supplementary reading materials, both in French and in Guinean local languages with the creation of his publishing company “Editions Ganndal”. Aliou served as Chairman of the African Publishers Network (APNET) for years and is currently the chairman of the National Publishers Association of Guinea (ASSEGUI). He also is a member of the UNESCO textbooks experts committee and a leading member of the ADEA Section on Books and Learning Materials (Francophone Africa). Aliou provides technical support to the World Bank, ADEA, UNESCO, Institut français, The Global Book Alliance, and other international Organizations as Consultant in education, especially as textbooks specialist.
Facilitator(s)
Henry Chakava
Dr. Chakava is a dedicated and renowned publisher who is considered “the father of Kenyan publishing.” With nearly 50 years of experience in the publishing industry, Dr. Chakva has vast experience editing and publishing educational books for both public and private schools and universities in Eastern Africa and beyond. For more than 20 years Dr. Chakava has been the Chairman of East African Education Publishers Ltd. Dr. Chakava began his career with Heinemann Educational Books Ltd., an international publishing house, where he became the organization’s first African editor. Through his trailblazing work, Dr. Chakava has nurtured and promoted African writers, furthered indigenization of the publishing industry, promoted observance of international standards, and ensured greater access to books and other forms of written material for African children.