The world of African publishing has been shaped by the work of women, and a new book, Imprint Africa: Conversations with African Women Publishers, examines their transformative role over the past two decades. Recently published by Modjaji Books, Imprint Africa is a collection of interviews with nine influential women in the industry, including Brittle Paper‘s editor-in-chief Ainehi Edoro-Glines.

Imprint Africa highlights the groundbreaking contributions of women-led initiatives that are redefining literary publishing on the African continent and beyond. Ainehi Edoro-Glines’ interview emphasizes the work of these initiatives in allowing Africans to tell their own stories:

For me, publishing exists within that world where I am concerned with circulation — simply getting people to see things. I am concerned about the way in which what type of circulation allows you to constitute communities, but also to create discourses: to essentially have this space where you can change the narrative.

In addition to Professor Edoro, the collection features interviews with Ellah Wakatama (Caine Prize), Bibi Bakare-Yusuf (Cassava Republic Press), Zukiswa Wanner (Paivapo), Louise Umutoni (Huza Press), Lola Shoneyin (Ake Arts and Book Festival), Colleen Higgs (Modjaji Books), Goretti Kyomuhendo (African Writers’ Trust), and Thabiso Mahlape (Blackbird Books).

These conversations offer a window into the successes, challenges, and ongoing transformation of African publishing in the twenty-first century.

Margaret Busby, a Ghanian publisher and editor of the landmark anthologies Daughters of Africa (1992) and New Daughters of Africa (2019), reflects on this project in the foreword to this book:

Volumes like this have a critical role to perform in ensuring that the good news, and best practice, is always passed on and remains foundational.

With an introduction by Joel Cabrita of Stanford University and an afterword by Kadija George Sesay, editor of Sable Literary Magazine, Imprint Africa is not only a celebration of African women publishers but also a crucial resource for anyone interested in understanding the dynamic and evolving nature of the African literary space.

You can buy a copy of Imprint Africa: Conversations with African Women Publishers here!