Hans M. Zell has published his 2025 literature review on publishing and book culture in Africa, identifying over 130 new studies published during the year. This second installment in his annual series follows the third updated edition of Publishing & Book Culture in Africa: A Repository of Selected Resources published in January 2024. However, Zell indicates this will likely be his last contribution to this bibliographic work, expressing hope that an Africa-based organization or institution will continue the research and documentation activities he has undertaken over the years. Thank you for all your hard work, Zell!
The review tracks several major developments that defined African publishing in 2025. UNESCO’s comprehensive investigation into African book industries emerged as the year’s most significant event, widely cited and reviewed throughout the literary community. The report has sparked numerous responses examining Africa’s $18.5 billion market potential, the dominance of educational publishing (comprising approximately 70% of the market), and urgent needs for national book policies and cross-border collaboration. Book piracy has emerged as a growing menace, particularly in Nigeria and Kenya, driven by factors including poverty, high costs, and lack of access to legitimate digital distribution channels. The review also notes increased attention to artificial intelligence in African publishing, though it remains a contentious topic with concerns about academic rigor balanced against potential benefits as a publishing tool.
The literature review covers journal articles, books, chapters in edited collections, interviews, opinion pieces, publisher profiles, and significant blog postings across general and regional studies, topic-specific analyses (including new sections on AI and African publishing), and country-specific examinations. Records are organized under general, topic/subject specific, and country headings, with multiple papers by authors listed in date of publication order. The document uses symbols to indicate paywalled content and previously unreported records, and can be searched using the Ctrl+F function for author names, subjects, or countries.
The review features a special Africa Bibliography issue honoring Zell’s sixty years of service to African scholarship, with contributions examining his work as a bibliographer, his relationship with the Jesuit Historical Institute in Africa, and his influence on African studies publishers, librarians, and authors. It includes extensive reviews of major publications such as the Logos special issue on African publishing featuring interviews with twelve independent publishers across the continent, and UNESCO’s major report mapping the book industry across all 54 African countries. The review also documents obituaries for publishing pioneers including Joop Berkhout (Nigerian publishing legend), Elisabeth Anderson (South African book advocate), and Henry Chakava (father of Kenyan publishing).
The complete 2025 literature review is freely accessible online at hanszell.co.uk. Zell welcomes any expressions of interest from Africa-based bodies willing to continue this vital bibliographic work, and can be contacted at [email protected] regarding omissions or future contributions.
maryliu April 10, 2026 01:38
This sounds like a fascinating and important review. The African publishing industry faces unique challenges—book piracy, infrastructure gaps, and now the rise of AI—but also enormous opportunities. An $18.5 billion market is nothing to ignore. AI tools like crevid.ai could play a constructive role in African publishing, for example by helping authors and publishers create video content to promote books, or by making educational materials more engaging. The key is to ensure AI serves the needs of local creators rather than undermining their work. Looking forward to reading the full analysis when the page loads properly. https://crevid.ai/