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> **Original source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Books_Collective?utm_source=openai

African Books Collective

Founded

1989; 37 years ago

Founder

[Walter Bgoya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Bgoya "Walter Bgoya"), [Henry Chakava](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Chakava "Henry Chakava") and other African publishers

Headquarters location

Oxford, UK

Publication types

African fiction and nonfiction, books for children and young readers

Nonfiction topics

African cultures and societies, politics, economics, gender studies, development studies

[Fiction genres](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genre "Genre")

creative writing, academic studies

Official website

[africanbookscollective.com](https://africanbookscollective.com/)

The **African Books Collective** (**ABC**) is a [nonprofit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonprofit_organization "Nonprofit organization") distribution and marketing collective owned by African publishers. Founded in 1989 and based in [Oxford](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford "Oxford"), United Kingdom, it enables publishers from across the African continent to reach international markets with their scholarly, literary, and children's books. Different from books by foreign authors, indigenous publishing reflects the history and culture of a people through language, writing, and the arts.

In the 21st century, more than 150 African publishers participate in ABC as a self-sufficient [social enterprise](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_enterprise "Social enterprise") to solve the problem of invisibility and dependence on outside distributors. Among ABC's major goals are support for [African writers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_African_writers_by_country "List of African writers by country") and scholars who are publishing with indigenous African publishers and, in turn, to give African publishing a noticeable, independent presence in the global book world.

Before independence, most books in African countries were imported from abroad, which meant from publishers in colonial empires including France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Germany and Portugal, and written in European languages.[\[1\]](#cite_note-1) These books and [Eurocentric](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurocentrism "Eurocentrism") education were used in [missionary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_school "Mission school") or government schools to spread western culture and led to a disregard of African languages and identities.[\[2\]](#cite_note-2)[\[3\]](#cite_note-3) Domestic African [publishing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Publishing "Publishing") companies mainly produced newspapers or commercial printing products.[\[4\]](#cite_note-4)[\[5\]](#cite_note-Allen_2025-5) Looking back on publishing in Africa after independence, [Philip G. Altbach](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Altbach "Philip Altbach") and Damtew Teffera wrote in their 1998 book _Publishing and Development. A Book of Readings:_[\[6\]](#cite_note-6)

> Publishing, because it is absolutely essential to the cultural, scientific, and educational life of nations, has an importance beyond its limited economic role. While it may be appropriate to import textiles or even computers, the production of books that directly reflect the culture, history of a nation or people is something that cannot be left to others, \[...\] It is a vital part of culture and deserves special consideration.

— Philip G. Altbach and Damtew Teffera, Publishing and Development. A Book of Readings.[\[7\]](#cite_note-7)

After independence, most African governments adopted a dual strategy for [public education](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_school "State school"): While primary schools are mainly teaching [vernacular](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernacular "Vernacular") langages such as [Kiswahili](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swahili_language "Swahili language") in Tanzania, secondary schools and colleges often use English or French. The [textbooks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textbook "Textbook"), however, have still been mainly produced by international companies, such as [Oxford University Press](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_University_Press "Oxford University Press") or [Macmillan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macmillan_Publishers "Macmillan Publishers") and their local subsidiaries.[\[8\]](#cite_note-8) To produce the large numbers of schoolbooks for African students, international aid was often requested by governments. International aid policies in Africa—especially during the 1980s and 1990s—focused on supplying books to schools without considering their origin, cultural relevance, or developmental impact. These policies, shaped by mechanisms such as international [competitive bidding](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procurement "Procurement"), overwhelmingly favoured foreign publishers. As a result, African publishing houses were sidelined, creating an environment where many indigenous publishers struggled to stay afloat or were forced to shut down altogether.[\[9\]](#cite_note-ABC-9)

Other structural challenges for publishers in Africa are [copyright infringements](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_infringement "Copyright infringement") and inadequate enforcement of copyright law, as well as few and underfunded public libraries. As books are often too expensive relative to their income, few Africans are reading for pleasure as opposed to practical books, such as dictionaries or required reading for education. Further, bookshops and stationery shops are rare, especially in rural areas, where school libraries are often the only places offering children suitable material for educational reading.[\[9\]](#cite_note-ABC-9)

Despite this, African publishers have been able to produce books locally, but international distribution has been challenging, as books rarely reached readers outside their country. As part of a country's sovereign cultural policy, however, its ability to protect, develop and share its identity, culture and knowledge through books and other media is fundamental.[\[10\]](#cite_note-10)[\[11\]](#cite_note-11)

During the early 1980s, books published in Africa could not be distributed internationally in any standardised way. They either had to be bought locally by interested buyers or shipped from the individual publisher to their customers. In 1985 a meeting of 17 African publishers addressed their shared difficulties in marketing, distributing, and receiving foreign exchange from international sales. To overcome this, African publishers in 1989 created the African Books Collective (ABC) as a shared solution. Instead of each publisher working alone, they pooled efforts into one collective.[\[12\]](#cite_note-Oxford_Reference-12) They chose to base ABC in Oxford, UK, to make access to global markets, bookstores, and libraries easier than before. With initial support from Northern funding agencies and an initial payment of £1000 by the core group of founder publishers, ABC set out in 1990 to strengthen its members’ economic base and serve the needs of libraries and other buyers.[\[13\]](#cite_note-Jay_2012-13)[\[14\]](#cite_note-14)[\[15\]](#cite_note-15)

One of the founders was Kenyan publisher and Chairman of the Kenya Publishers Association [Henry Chakava](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Chakava "Henry Chakava"). After ABC started, he held a permanent position at the Council of Management of ABC.[\[16\]](#cite_note-16) Another co‑founder and leading member of ABC has been Tanzanian publisher [Walter Bgoya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Bgoya "Walter Bgoya"). As an example of ABC's role, Bgoya's publishing house [Mkuki na Nyota](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mkuki_na_Nyota "Mkuki na Nyota") has been able to produce as many as 30–60 titles per year, further strengthening its role in promoting [Kiswahili literature](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swahili_literature "Swahili literature") on the international level.[\[17\]](#cite_note-17)[\[18\]](#cite_note-18) By 2007s, ABC represented books by more than 130 African publishers and had become self-financing.[\[19\]](#cite_note-Ail_2024-19)

### Ownership and governance

\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=African_Books_Collective&action=edit&section=4 "Edit section: Ownership and governance")\]

ABC is registered in the UK as a company limited by guarantee and governed by a five-member Council of Management elected by its publisher-owners. It also maintains three UK directors who are legally responsible for the entity.[\[19\]](#cite_note-Ail_2024-19) In the 2020s, the six members of ABC's Council of Management are Ibrahim Oanda (CODESRIA, Senegal), Kiarie Kamau, (East African Educational Publishers, Kenya), Tapiwa Muchechemera, (Mkuki na Nyota Publishers, Tanzania), Akoss Ofori-Mensah (Sub-Saharan Publishers, Ghana) and Francois van Schalkwyk (African Minds Publishers, South Africa).[\[20\]](#cite_note-ABC_2023-20)

### Distribution and marketing

\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=African_Books_Collective&action=edit&section=5 "Edit section: Distribution and marketing")\]

ABC operates a warehouse in the UK to ship print books worldwide. It distributes over 3,000 African-published titles via [print-on-demand](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Print_on_demand "Print on demand") (POD) both in the UK and the US, and [e-book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebook "Ebook") formats to the [global market](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_marketing "Global marketing"). Through their participation in book fairs and conferences, periodic catalogues, newsletters, social media and their blog _readafricanbooks.com,_ ABC further promotes African books directly to authors, publishers and readers_._[\[21\]](#cite_note-Africa_in_Words_2020-21)

A bespoke digital library launched in November 2022 contains over 2,000 digitized titles from approximately 75 independent African publishers, making it one of the largest available digital resources of African-published books. The platform includes multilingual content, mainly in English, but also including French, Portuguese, [Yoruba](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoruba_language "Yoruba language") and Kiswahili, and employs [MARC standard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MARC_standards "MARC standards") records discoverable via [OCLC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OCLC "OCLC") and [WorldCat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WorldCat "WorldCat"). Further, it allows institutions to purchase the full library or curated collections. Through the Baobab eBook Service,[\[22\]](#cite_note-22) ABC supplies libraries and consortia directly.[\[23\]](#cite_note-Rodriguez_2024-23)

### Publisher returns and sustainability

\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=African_Books_Collective&action=edit&section=6 "Edit section: Publisher returns and sustainability")\]

ABC seeks to maximize income remittances to African publishers. It raised the remittance share from 35% during the 2007 self-financing transition to approximately 50% in the 2020s.[\[24\]](#cite_note-24) During the COVID-19 pandemic, sales of both digital and print titles grew, particularly from libraries seeking to diversify collections, helping ABC and publishing members withstand industry pressures.[\[21\]](#cite_note-Africa_in_Words_2020-21)

In the 2020s, ABC's collection spans books from more than 150 publishers from over 20 nations, with a strong presence in [sub-Saharan Africa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sub-Saharan_Africa "Sub-Saharan Africa").[\[25\]](#cite_note-Nyamnjoh_2025-25): 82  South Africa and Nigeria contribute a particularly large share of the titles. They come from a diverse range of sources, including academic and university presses, research centers, commercial publishing houses, NGOs, and publishers specializing in [literature for children](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children's_literature "Children's literature") and young readers.[\[23\]](#cite_note-Rodriguez_2024-23)

According to a 2020 interview with CEO Justin Cox, ABC had become independent of donor funding in 2007 after 15 years. It has since become a self-supporting social enterprise. Since 2002, ABC had started to produce books by print on demand (POD) and later also e-books, developing the digital tools for production and marketing along the way. Through this, the numbers of publishers and books sold have increased and ABC has been able to focus on additional marketing tasks, such as sending complimentary copies to reviewers or authors. ABC’s biggest market is in the United States, with [Michigan State University Press](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan_State_University_Press "Michigan State University Press") as ABC's distributing partner.[\[12\]](#cite_note-Oxford_Reference-12)[\[13\]](#cite_note-Jay_2012-13) Other important markets are in China, Hong Kong, the UK, Germany, Canada, Japan, India, the Netherlands, France, and to a lesser degree, South Africa – particularly in digital sales.[\[21\]](#cite_note-Africa_in_Words_2020-21)

Even though ABC is self-supporting, they announced receiving project-related grants in 2024 from the Hawthornden Foundation to support African publishers in countries with less developed literary production such as Mozambique.[\[26\]](#cite_note-26) Another fund was awarded ABC by the US organization [Lyrasis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyrasis "Lyrasis") to publish some African books [openly accessible](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_access "Open access").[\[19\]](#cite_note-Ail_2024-19)

## Support for African creative writing

\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=African_Books_Collective&action=edit&section=8 "Edit section: Support for African creative writing")\]

To support aspiring African literary writers, ABC and the [Dag Hammarskjold Foundation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dag_Hammarskj%C3%B6ld_Foundation "Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation") organised the African-Writers Publishers Seminar in Tanzania in 1998. Based on this, writers James Gibbs and [Jack Mapanje](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Mapanje "Jack Mapanje") published _The African Writers’ Handbook_, providing practical information and resource materials about writing and finding a publisher, literary prizes, writers’ organisations, magazines, [vanity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanity_press "Vanity press") and [self-publishing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-publishing "Self-publishing"), literary agents, censorship, book fairs, resources for writers on the Internet and more.[\[27\]](#cite_note-27) Another manual for this kind of readership is the 2022 publication _Become a Better Writer_ from South Africa.[\[28\]](#cite_note-28) Further, ABC periodically publishes catalogue lists of new literary titles.[\[20\]](#cite_note-ABC_2023-20)

Notable African literary authors and their publishers, including African women writers,[\[29\]](#cite_note-29) whose books are distributed by ABC, include among others:

Name

Country

Works

Notable as

[Mariama Bâ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariama_B%C3%A2 "Mariama Bâ")

Senegal

_Barua Ndefu Kama Hii_, Kiswahili translation of _[So Long a Letter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/So_Long_a_Letter "So Long a Letter")_

Novelist

[Ellen Banda-Aaku](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_Banda-Aaku "Ellen Banda-Aaku")

Zambia

_Wandi’s Little Voice_, _Patchwork_

Prize-winning novelist and children’s author

[Edwige-Renée Dro](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwige-Ren%C3%A9e_Dro "Edwige-Renée Dro")

Côte d’Ivoire

Contributions to _[Africa39](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa39 "Africa39")_, _[New Daughters of Africa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daughters_of_Africa "Daughters of Africa")_

Literary activist, translator

[Abdulrazak Gurnah](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdulrazak_Gurnah "Abdulrazak Gurnah")

UK/Tanzania

_Peponi_ (Original title:_Paradise_)

Writer, Nobel Prize Laureate

[Aniceti Kitereza](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aniceti_Kitereza "Aniceti Kitereza")

Tanzania

_[Mr. Myombekere and His Wife Bugonoka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Myombekere_and_His_Wife_Bugonoka,_Their_Son_Ntulanalwo_and_Daughter_Bulihwali "Mr. Myombekere and His Wife Bugonoka, Their Son Ntulanalwo and Daughter Bulihwali")_

Novelist

[Goretti Kyomuhendo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goretti_Kyomuhendo "Goretti Kyomuhendo")

Uganda

_The First Daughter_, _Promises_

Writer, [Femrite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Femrite "Femrite") & [African Writers Trust](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Writers_Trust "African Writers Trust") founder

[Taban Lo Liyong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taban_Lo_Liyong "Taban Lo Liyong")

South Sudan/Uganda

Three Poems from _The Cows from Shambat_

Scholar-author

[Azanwi Nchami](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azanwi_Nchami "Azanwi Nchami")

Cameroon

_Foot Prints of Destiny_

Historically-themed novelist

[Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ng%C5%A9g%C4%A9_wa_Thiong'o "Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o")

Kenya

_Mtawa Mweusi_, Kiswahili translation of _[The Black Hermit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_Hermit "The Black Hermit")_, _Shetani Msalabani_ (_[Devil on the Cross](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil_on_the_Cross "Devil on the Cross")_)

Writer and academic

[Francis B. Nyamnjoh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_B._Nyamnjoh "Francis B. Nyamnjoh")

Cameroon/South Africa

_A Sweet-Footed African_

Scholar-author

[Okot p'Bitek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okot_p'Bitek "Okot p'Bitek")

Uganda

_[The Defence of Lawino](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Song_of_Lawino "Song of Lawino")_, _Song of Ocol_, _White Teeth_

Poet and novelist

[Hilda Twongyeirwe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilda_Twongyeirwe "Hilda Twongyeirwe")

Uganda

_Fina the Dancer_ and other works

Literary activist, editor, FEMRITE coordinator

[Ayeta Anne Wangusa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayeta_Anne_Wangusa "Ayeta Anne Wangusa")

Uganda

_Memoirs of a Mother_, _Tears of Hope_

FEMRITE founder, contributor to _[New Daughters of Africa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daughters_of_Africa "Daughters of Africa")_

## Partnerships and cooperations

\[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=African_Books_Collective&action=edit&section=9 "Edit section: Partnerships and cooperations")\]

ABC has cooperated in partnerships with the [African Publishers' Network](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Publishers_Network "African Publishers Network") (APNET), the [Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_for_the_Development_of_Social_Science_Research_in_Africa "Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa") (CODESRIA), which was also a founding member, the [Zimbabwe International Book Fair](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimbabwe_International_Book_Fair "Zimbabwe International Book Fair") (ZIBF), [African Minds](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Minds "African Minds") and others.[\[9\]](#cite_note-ABC-9)[\[30\]](#cite_note-30) In collaboration with the Pluto Educational Trust, ABC supports the African Journals Initiative for the benefit of no-fee [diamond open-access](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_open_access "Diamond open access") African journals in social science and humanities, strengthening their discoverability through platforms like [ScienceOpen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ScienceOpen "ScienceOpen") and [JSTOR](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JSTOR "JSTOR").[\[31\]](#cite_note-31) Further ABC maintains relations with NGO's, including the [Association for the Development of Education in Africa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_for_the_Development_of_Education_in_Africa "Association for the Development of Education in Africa") (ADEA), [Book Aid International](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_Aid_International "Book Aid International"), and the International Network for Advancing Science and Policy (INASP).[\[32\]](#cite_note-32)

In an initiative for ethical co-publishing between Northern and African publishers, ABC established co-publishing for scholarly publications from Northern countries to become accessible to African scholars and researchers. Such academic publishing houses in the US and Europe include Michigan State University Press, [Ohio University Press](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_University_Press "Ohio University Press"), [Indiana University Press](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_University_Press "Indiana University Press"), [Brill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brill_Publishers "Brill Publishers"), [James Currey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Currey "James Currey"), [Pluto Press](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluto_Press "Pluto Press"), and [Cambridge University Press](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambridge_University_Press "Cambridge University Press"). In cooperation with the [International African Institute](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_African_Institute "International African Institute") (IAI) and the [African Studies Associations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Studies_Association "African Studies Association") (UK and US), ABC has found ways to allow African scholars to make use of these academic publications from the North. The goal of such co-publishing or licencing is to reduce the price of books for libraries or for licencing fees in Africa.[\[33\]](#cite_note-33)[\[34\]](#cite_note-Jay_2020-34)

Referring to other types of cooperation by African publishers, ABC remarked that successful African authors are often signed by international publishers. These global enterprises usually do not allow publishers in their African authors' country of origin to publish their books for the local market.[\[9\]](#cite_note-ABC-9) Such co-publications avoiding the costs of importation and allowing for lower prices have rarely been granted. An exception to this rule are books by [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimamanda_Ngozi_Adichie "Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie"), that have been republished in Nigeria.[\[35\]](#cite_note-35)[\[5\]](#cite_note-Allen_2025-5) Another type of granting rights from international publishers to local editions are translations into African languages. By this, [Mkuki na Nyota](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mkuki_na_Nyota "Mkuki na Nyota") in Dar es Salaam was able to secure the rights for Kiswahili translations of novels by Zanzibari-born British Nobel Prize winner [Abdulrazak Gurnah](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdulrazak_Gurnah "Abdulrazak Gurnah").[\[36\]](#cite_note-36)[\[37\]](#cite_note-37)

ABC has been regarded as a successful and unique distribution model for African publishing. In reviews and commentary, its role has been noted for enabling global access to African perspectives and supporting [sustainable development](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_development "Sustainable development") in the African publishing industry. One source noted ABC for the "shared ethos of publishing" as well as for its effective marketing and distribution of hundreds of African titles.[\[25\]](#cite_note-Nyamnjoh_2025-25): 24, 65, 82, 87, 102 

Researchers and librarians value ABC’s contribution to increasing the availability of African-published content in libraries of the global North.[\[38\]](#cite_note-38)[\[34\]](#cite_note-Jay_2020-34) Thus, a 2024 article in _[Library Journal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_Journal "Library Journal")_ wrote "Libraries seeking to decolonize collections and foster bibliodiversity by supporting small and independent publishers in the [Global South](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_South "Global South") may find African Books Collective a worthwhile investment."[\[23\]](#cite_note-Rodriguez_2024-23)[\[39\]](#cite_note-Cox_2019-39) In 2017, [University World News](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_World_News "University World News") featured the goals, history and present of ABC.[\[40\]](#cite_note-40) This was followed in by a similar article in 2019 by the [International Alliance of Independent Publishers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_International_Alliance_of_Independent_Publishers "The International Alliance of Independent Publishers"), highlighting the trend to digital publishing.[\[41\]](#cite_note-41)

A paper presented at a conference on "Decolonizing African Studies" at the University of Edinburgh in 2019 described how ABC distributed academic work by many African [university presses](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_press "University press") up to the 1990s. Since then, this kind of publishing has been taken over by private independent publishers and specialized research institutes such as the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa, the Institute of Southern African Studies and others.[\[39\]](#cite_note-Cox_2019-39) As an example for this trend, the [African Journals OnLine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Journals_OnLine "African Journals OnLine") (AJOL) in South Africa assists African researchers, authors, editors and journals by making African academic resources freely available.[\[42\]](#cite_note-42)

Assessing recent trends and future developments, a 2025 article in the _[African Business](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Business "African Business")_ magazine reported ABC's currently available 4,000 print titles and 2,500 ebooks, and a continuing trend towards digital publishing. The spread of mobile phones and digital platforms enable publishers to engage with readers, particularly the large and growing number of young people in Africa, in new and creative ways. Nevertheless, the potential of digital literature remains limited by disparities, such as [sporadic internet connectivity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_in_Africa "Internet in Africa"), the cost of mobile data, and inadequate digital frameworks. This means that online availability does not necessarily imply accessibility for everyone.[\[5\]](#cite_note-Allen_2025-5)

-   [African literature](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_literature "African literature")
-   [List of African writers by country](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_African_writers_by_country "List of African writers by country")
-   [Languages of Africa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Africa "Languages of Africa")
-   [Economy of Africa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Africa "Economy of Africa")

1.  [↑](#cite_ref-1) Referring to [German East Africa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_East_Africa "German East Africa"), the Tanzanian author C. S. L. Chachage mentioned that textbooks for missionary schools had to be imported from Germany. Chachage, C. S. L. (March 1991). ["Publishing in Tanzania"](https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0266673100005365/type/journal_article). _Africa Bibliography_. **1990**: vi–xviii. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10.1017/S0266673100005365](https://doi.org/10.1017%2FS0266673100005365). [ISSN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISSN_\(identifier\) "ISSN (identifier)") [0266-6731](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0266-6731).
2.  [↑](#cite_ref-2) Heugh, K. (2006), ["Language Education Policies in Africa"](https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/B0080448542006647), _Encyclopedia of Language & Linguistics_, Elsevier, pp. 414–422, [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10.1016/b0-08-044854-2/00664-7](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fb0-08-044854-2%2F00664-7), [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-0-08-044854-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-08-044854-1 "Special:BookSources/978-0-08-044854-1"), retrieved 6 September 2025
3.  [↑](#cite_ref-3) Ahmed, Hassan (2022). ["The Introduction of Colonial Languages in the Educational Systems of Sub Saharan Africa and the Effects on Economic Development. A Literature Review"](https://www.slideshare.net/ijtsrd/the-introduction-of-colonial-languages-in-the-educational-systems-of-sub-saharan-africa-and-the-effects-on-economic-development-a-literature-review). _SlideShare_. International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
4.  [↑](#cite_ref-4) Ojaide, Tanure (2018), ["Literature in Colonial Africa"](https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-59426-6_17), in Shanguhyia, Martin S.; Falola, Toyin (eds.), _The Palgrave Handbook of African Colonial and Postcolonial History_, New York: Palgrave Macmillan US, pp. 413–428, [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10.1057/978-1-137-59426-6\_17](https://doi.org/10.1057%2F978-1-137-59426-6_17), [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-1-137-59426-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-137-59426-6 "Special:BookSources/978-1-137-59426-6"), retrieved 4 September 2025
5.  [1](#cite_ref-Allen_2025_5-0) [2](#cite_ref-Allen_2025_5-1) [3](#cite_ref-Allen_2025_5-2) Allen, Emily (4 June 2025). ["Africa's publishing industry turns page as authors make their mark"](https://african.business/2025/06/arts-culture/africas-publishing-industry-turns-page-as-authors-make-their-mark). _African Business_. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
6.  [↑](#cite_ref-6) Altbach, Philip G.; Teferra, Damtew, eds. (1998). _Publishing and development. A book of readings_. Bellagio studies in publishing. Chestnut Hill, MA: Bellagio Pub. Network Research and Information Center UK in association with the Boston College Center for International Higher Education. p. 14\. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-0-9646078-4-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-9646078-4-2 "Special:BookSources/978-0-9646078-4-2").
7.  [↑](#cite_ref-7) ["Publishing in Africa: From independence to the present day"](https://africanbookscollective.com/https-readafricanbooks-nomadit-net-opinion-publishing-in-africa-from-independence-to-the-present-day/). _African books collective_. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
8.  [↑](#cite_ref-8) In the 2010s two British publishing houses were subject of a [World Bank](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Bank_Group "World Bank Group") investigation. Similar to [Macmillan Ltd](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macmillan_Education "Macmillan Education")., who were fined for illegal payments to officials in [South Sudan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Sudan "South Sudan"), [Oxford University Press](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_University_Press "Oxford University Press") (OUP) East Africa and OUP Tanzania were found guilty of having bribed officials. Both were fined millions of British pounds by the UK Serious Fraud Office and barred from World Bank-funded orders for three years.["Publishing in Africa: From independence to the present day"](https://africanbookscollective.com/https-readafricanbooks-nomadit-net-opinion-publishing-in-africa-from-independence-to-the-present-day/). _African books collective_. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
9.  [1](#cite_ref-ABC_9-0) [2](#cite_ref-ABC_9-1) [3](#cite_ref-ABC_9-2) [4](#cite_ref-ABC_9-3) ["Publishing in Africa: From independence to the present day"](https://africanbookscollective.com/https-readafricanbooks-nomadit-net-opinion-publishing-in-africa-from-independence-to-the-present-day/). _African books collective_. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
10.  [↑](#cite_ref-10) Jay, Mary (1994). ["African Books Collective Its Contribution to African Publishing"](https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0266673100005699/type/journal_article). _Africa Bibliography_. **1992**: vi–xviii. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10.1017/S0266673100005699](https://doi.org/10.1017%2FS0266673100005699). [ISSN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISSN_\(identifier\) "ISSN (identifier)") [0266-6731](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0266-6731).
11.  [↑](#cite_ref-11) Jay, Mary (2016). ["African publishing in a globalised world"](https://africanbookscollective.com/https-readafricanbooks-nomadit-net-conferences-african-publishing-in-a-globalised-world/). _African books collective_. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
12.  [1](#cite_ref-Oxford_Reference_12-0) [2](#cite_ref-Oxford_Reference_12-1) ["African Books Collective"](https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095354794). _Oxford Reference_. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
13.  [1](#cite_ref-Jay_2012_13-0) [2](#cite_ref-Jay_2012_13-1) Jay, Mary (1 January 2012). ["African Books Collective"](https://brill.com/view/journals/logo/23/4/article-p21_3.xml). _Logos_. **23** (4): 21–29\. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10.1163/1878-4712-11112002](https://doi.org/10.1163%2F1878-4712-11112002). [ISSN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISSN_\(identifier\) "ISSN (identifier)") [0957-9656](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0957-9656).
14.  [↑](#cite_ref-14) Suarez, Michael F.; Woudhuysen, H. R. (2010). "African Books Collective". [_The Oxford Companion to the Book: Essays ; A-C_](https://books.google.com/books?id=fQxIAQAAIAAJ&q=african+Books+Collective). Oxford University Press. p. 452\. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-0-19-860653-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-860653-6 "Special:BookSources/978-0-19-860653-6").
15.  [↑](#cite_ref-15) ["African Books Collective – Timeline"](https://africanbookscollective.com/https-readafricanbooks-nomadit-net-publishers-african-books-collective-timeline/). _African books collective_. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
16.  [↑](#cite_ref-16) Bgoya, Walter (8 April 2024). ["Henry Chakava (1946–2024): The publisher who pricked the people into consciousness"](https://africanarguments.org/2024/04/henry-chakava-the-publisher-who-pricked-the-people-into-consciousness/). _African Arguments_. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
17.  [↑](#cite_ref-17) ["Walter Bgoya"](https://africanbookscollective.com/contributor/walter-bgoya/). _African books collective_. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
18.  [↑](#cite_ref-18) ["Tanzanian Publisher Mkuki na Nyota Is Championing Kiswahili Literature on the Global Stage"](https://brittlepaper.com/2024/12/tanzanian-publisher-mkuki-na-nyota-is-championing-kiswahili-literature-on-the-global-stage/). _Brittle Paper_. 18 December 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
19.  [1](#cite_ref-Ail_2024_19-0) [2](#cite_ref-Ail_2024_19-1) [3](#cite_ref-Ail_2024_19-2) Ail, Anshita; Jay, Mary; Kitchen, Stephanie (28 November 2024). ["The African Books Collective: A conversation across three generations"](https://brill.com/view/journals/logo/35/2-3/article-p83_16.xml). _Logos_. **35** (2–3): 83–90\. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10.1163/18784712-20240027](https://doi.org/10.1163%2F18784712-20240027) (inactive 14 September 2025). [ISSN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISSN_\(identifier\) "ISSN (identifier)") [0957-9656](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0957-9656).`{{[cite journal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_journal "Template:Cite journal")}}`: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of September 2025 ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_DOI_inactive_as_of_September_2025 "Category:CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of September 2025"))
20.  [1](#cite_ref-ABC_2023_20-0) [2](#cite_ref-ABC_2023_20-1) ["ABC Literature Catalogue 2023"](https://africanbookscollective.com/https-readafricanbooks-nomadit-net-catalogues-abc-literature-catalogue-2023/). _African books collective_. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
21.  [1](#cite_ref-Africa_in_Words_2020_21-0) [2](#cite_ref-Africa_in_Words_2020_21-1) [3](#cite_ref-Africa_in_Words_2020_21-2) ["Q&A: "We are happiest when we are representing publishers who want their books to be read" in conversation with Justin Cox, African Books Collective"](https://africainwords.com/2020/11/17/qa-we-are-happiest-when-we-are-representing-publishers-who-want-their-books-to-be-read-in-conversation-with-justin-cox-african-books-collective/). Africa in Words. 17 November 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
22.  [↑](#cite_ref-22) ["Baobab Ebooks"](https://www.malloryint.net/mallory/about2/baobab-ebooks). _malloryint.net_. Mallory International – worldwide bookselling services. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
23.  [1](#cite_ref-Rodriguez_2024_23-0) [2](#cite_ref-Rodriguez_2024_23-1) [3](#cite_ref-Rodriguez_2024_23-2) Rodriguez, Michael (2 November 2024). ["Distributing Directly to Libraries"](https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lkh&AN=180616251&lang=en-gb&site=eds-live&scope=site). _Library Journal_. **149** (11): 6–9.
24.  [↑](#cite_ref-24) ["FAQs"](https://africanbookscollective.com/faqs/). _African books collective_. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
25.  [1](#cite_ref-Nyamnjoh_2025_25-0) [2](#cite_ref-Nyamnjoh_2025_25-1) Nyamnjoh, Francis B. (21 April 2025). [_Reimagining African Scholarship: A Convivial Approach Beyond the Single Story_](https://books.google.com/books?id=-I9YEQAAQBAJ&q=%22African+Books+Collective%22&pg=PP1). African Books Collective. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-9956-0-0363-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-9956-0-0363-1 "Special:BookSources/978-9956-0-0363-1").
26.  [↑](#cite_ref-26) ["Hawthornden Foundation and ABC"](https://africanbookscollective.com/https-readafricanbooks-nomadit-net-featured-hawthornden-foundation-and-abc/). _African books collective_. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
27.  [↑](#cite_ref-27) ["The African Writers' Handbook"](https://africanbookscollective.com/books/the-african-writers-handbook/). _African books collective_. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
28.  [↑](#cite_ref-28) Powell, Donald; Rosenberg, Greg (2022). ["Become a Better Writer"](https://africanbookscollective.com/books/become-a-better-writer/). _African books collective_. Cover2Cover Books, South Africa. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
29.  [↑](#cite_ref-29) ["Imprint Africa: Conversations with African Women Publishers"](https://africanbookscollective.com/imprint-africa-conversations-with-african-women-publishers/). _African books collective_. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
30.  [↑](#cite_ref-30) ["Distribution network – African Minds"](https://www.africanminds.co.za/about/distribution-network/). Retrieved 9 September 2025.
31.  [↑](#cite_ref-31) ["African Journals Initiative"](https://www.plutojournals.com/african-journals-initiative/). _Pluto Journals_. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
32.  [↑](#cite_ref-32) ["African Books Collective | UIA Yearbook Profile | Union of International Associations"](https://uia.org/s/or/en/1100004053). _uia.org_. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
33.  [↑](#cite_ref-33) ["Co-publishing with Africa North–South–North"](https://africanbookscollective.com/https-readafricanbooks-nomadit-net-opinion-co-publishing-with-africa-north-south-north/). _African books collective_. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
34.  [1](#cite_ref-Jay_2020_34-0) [2](#cite_ref-Jay_2020_34-1) Jay, Mary (4 September 2020). ["Co-publishing with Africa North–South–North: A new initiative of African Books Collective and the International African Institute"](https://brill.com/view/journals/logo/31/2/article-p19_19.xml). _Logos_. **31** (2): 19–27\. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10.1163/18784712-03102003](https://doi.org/10.1163%2F18784712-03102003). [ISSN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISSN_\(identifier\) "ISSN (identifier)") [0957-9656](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0957-9656).
35.  [↑](#cite_ref-35) Otosirieze (20 September 2021). ["Cover Story: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie on Half of a Yellow Sun at 15, Her Private Losses, and Public Evolution"](https://opencountrymag.com/cover-story-sept-chimamanda-ngozi-adichie-is-in-a-different-place-now/). _Open Country Mag_. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
36.  [↑](#cite_ref-36) Gurnah, Abdulrazak. ["Dhulma"](https://mkukinanyota.com/product/dhulma/). _mkukinanyota.com_. Mkuki Na Nyota Publishers. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
37.  [↑](#cite_ref-37) ["Peponi"](https://africanbookscollective.com/books/peponi/). _African books collective_. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
38.  [↑](#cite_ref-38) Damen, Jos (4 October 2019). ["How to Decolonise the Library – Impact of Social Sciences"](https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2019/10/04/how-to-decolonise-the-library/). _London School of Economics Impact blog_.
39.  [1](#cite_ref-Cox_2019_39-0) [2](#cite_ref-Cox_2019_39-1) Cox, Justin; Kitchen, Stephanie (2019). ["African Books Collective: African Published Books in the North"](https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0305862X00022056/type/journal_article). _African Research & Documentation_. **136**: 4–9\. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10.1017/S0305862X00022056](https://doi.org/10.1017%2FS0305862X00022056). [ISSN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISSN_\(identifier\) "ISSN (identifier)") [0305-862X](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0305-862X).
40.  [↑](#cite_ref-40) ["ABC – Taking African scholarly books to the world"](https://web.archive.org/web/20231208224229/https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20170919142042644). _University World News_. Archived from [the original](https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20170919142042644) on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
41.  [↑](#cite_ref-41) ["African publishing in the digital age: interview with Justin Cox, CEO at African Books Collective"](https://alliance-lab.org/african-publishing-in-the-digital-age-interview-with-justin-cox-ceo-at-african-books-collective/). _alliance-lab.org_. International Alliance of independent publishers. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
42.  [↑](#cite_ref-42) ["Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA)"](https://doi.org/10.1163/1872-9037_afco_asc_2508). _African Studies Companion Online_. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10.1163/1872-9037\_afco\_asc\_2508](https://doi.org/10.1163%2F1872-9037_afco_asc_2508). Retrieved 14 September 2025.

-   Altbach, P. G. (ed.), 1992. _Publishing and Development in the Third Word,_ Oxford: Hans Zell.
-   Altbach, Philip G.; Teffera, Damtew, eds. (1999). [_Publishing in African Languages_](https://africanbookscollective.com/books/publishing-in-african-languages/). Bellagio Publishing Network, UK. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-0-9646078-5-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-9646078-5-9 "Special:BookSources/978-0-9646078-5-9").
-   Gibbs, J. and Mapanje, J. (eds.), 1999. _The African Writers’ Handbook_, Oxford: ABC.
-   Jay, Mary; Kelly, Susan; African Books Collective, eds. (2002). [_Courage and consequence: women publishing in Africa_](https://africanbookscollective.com/books/courage-and-consequence/). Oxford: African Books Collective. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-0-9521269-7-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-9521269-7-3 "Special:BookSources/978-0-9521269-7-3").
-   Lomer, C. (ed.), 2006. _African Books in Print/Livres Africains Disponibles: An index by subject, author and title_, 6th edn. Munich: K. G. Saur.
-   Miner, Edward. ["Research Guides: African Children's Literature: An Introduction to the CODE Collection at the Library of Congress: Swahili"](https://guides.loc.gov/african-childrens-literature/swahili-books). _guides.loc.gov_.
-   Zell, Hans M. (20 January 2020). ["Publishing in Africa: Where are we now? An update for 2019 Part 1"](https://brill.com/view/journals/logo/30/3/article-p7_7.xml). _Logos_. **30** (3): 7–25\. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10.1163/18784712-03003004](https://doi.org/10.1163%2F18784712-03003004). [ISSN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISSN_\(identifier\) "ISSN (identifier)") [0957-9656](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0957-9656).
-   ["The African book industry: trends, challenges & opportunities for growth"](https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000394048.locale=en). UNESCO. 2025.

-   [Official website](https://africanbookscollective.com/)
-   [ABC digital library portal](https://www.readafricanbooks.com/)
-   ABC's website _[readafricanbooks.com](https://africanbookscollective.com/blog/)_
-   [ABC timeline – an overview on its history](https://africanbookscollective.com/https-readafricanbooks-nomadit-net-publishers-african-books-collective-timeline/)
-   [Global Book Alliance official webpage](https://www.globalbookalliance.org/)