In recent years, Africa's literary scene has experienced a renaissance, with homegrown publishers playing a pivotal role in amplifying African voices.
These publishers are producing world-class literature and ensuring that African stories are told by Africans, for a global audience.
Below, we explore the top 9 African publishers of literature, their contributions, and their impact on the continent's literary landscape.
As an affiliate of the international publishing powerhouse, Penguin Random House South Africa has been instrumental in bringing African literature to the world. The publisher focuses on a mix of fiction, nonfiction, and children's books, strongly emphasizing South African and African narratives.
From children's literature to literary fiction, illustrated nonfiction, narrative nonfiction, and magazines, Penguin Random House South Africa publishes through several imprints, including Umuzi, Zebra Press, Struik Travel & Heritage, Struik Kinders, Struik Lifestyle, Struik Nature, and Penguin Books South Africa.
The publisher holds the rights to works by renowned authors like Nadine Gordimer and Zakes Mda and actively promotes emerging writers through initiatives like the Penguin Literary Prize.
Founded in 1992, Jacana Media is one of South Africa's most respected independent publishers. Known for its high-quality fiction, nonfiction, and children's books, Jacana is committed to telling uniquely African stories.
Through the Jacana Literary Foundation, the publisher seeks to promote and foster excellent writing from South and southern Africa. The foundation provides the requisite support through writing calls for the Dinaane Debut Fiction Award, the Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Award, and the Gerald Kraak Anthology and Prize.
Based in Lagos, Masobe Books has quickly become one of Nigeria's biggest publishers with a strong focus on literary and contemporary African Literature. The publisher's main strategy of acquiring rights to published international works is complemented by a steady release of diverse literature by local Nigerian writers.
Catering primarily to the Nigerian market, Masobe is known for publishing bestselling authors like Akwaeke Emezi, Chika Unigwe, and Eloghosa Osunde.
Bookcraft Africa, headquartered in Ibadan, Nigeria, is a major force in African publishing, producing academic, literary, and general-interest books.
With its strong presence in educational publishing, Bookcraft African supports African scholarship and plays a key role in preserving African literary heritage. Some of its authors include JP Clark, Christopher Okigbo, Niyi Osundare, and Wole Soyinka.
As the only African publisher with its own literary award and prize, Quramo Publishing, founded by Mrs. Gbemi Shasore, names a former state governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola (S.A.N), as one of its authors.
Quramo publishes mostly works of nonfiction in genres like:
Now boasting a subdivision in Kenya, named Narrative Landscape Press East Africa, headed by literary curator and co-founder of Soma Nami Books, Wendy Njoroge, Narrative Landscape Press is home to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Lizzie Damilola Blackburn, Toni Kan, and Nikki May.
While not boasting as broad an author array as Masobe, Narrative Landscape Press nonetheless stands out for its unique selection of works emphasizing socio-political narratives.
Ouida Books, founded by Lola Shoneyin (also director of the Ake Arts & Book Festival), is a dynamic publisher that promotes fresh African narratives and feminist-oriented literature. Ouida also has a sub-imprint, Phoenix by Ouida, that caters to works in African Speculative Fiction.
Ouida owns publishing rights in Nigeria to works by Stephen Buoro, Nnedi Okorafor, and Ayobami Adebayo. It also counts Nnamdi Ehirim, Aiwanose Odafen, Bisi Adjapon, and Francesca Ekwuyasi among its authors.
Cassava Republic Press is one of Africa's most influential publishers, known for its high-quality nonfiction, crime, young adult, and contemporary fiction publications.
Cassava Republic Press supports literary talent through its Global Black Women's Nonfiction Manuscript Prize, which is dedicated to exceptional works by Black women (cis, trans, and genderqueer).
Based in Kenya, Longhorn Publishers is a major force in East African literature, producing educational and creative books across nine countries in the region.
With over 700 approved titles spanning pre-primary, primary, and secondary education, Longhorn Publishers continues to demonstrate its ability to develop customized, curriculum-aligned content tailored to each country's unique educational framework and cultural values.
Publishing in Africa continues to face several problems, from logistics and distribution to piracy and even literacy. It could be argued that the continent's publishing capacity is insufficient to cater to the needs of local talent, even as the industry continues to grow.
What recommendations do you have for these publishers? Let us know in the comments.
