By Maisie George and Amy Joan Sayner
Being Black in Publishing, an initiative launched by Cassava Republic Press, returns for a second year following its great success in 2023. The programme was created to increase the African and Afro-diasporic representation within the publishing industry worldwide by offering greater resources, networking events, and increasing access to information about the industry. In 2024, the initiative will include networking with and getting insights from a range of industry experts, panel discussions, and an internship programme which offers opportunities across Southern and Eastern Africa.
Cassava Republic Press is renowned for being an outstanding publisher of fiction, non-fiction, and children’s books from Africa and its Diasporas. Over seventeen years, they have sold more than six million books, and they continue to play a significant role within the industry as a publishing house which is dedicated to giving a voice to the Global Black World.
More than 500 participants got involved with the scheme in 2023, and they were joined by a panel of fifteen distinguished experts who shared their knowledge and experiences. This year, the initiative will take place virtually throughout November 2024. It will offer those who sign up the chance to interact with publishing professionals who have an array of different backgrounds, from editorial and design to literary agenting and marketing. Some of these panellists include Charlotte Abrams-Simpson, Art Director at Orion Fiction; Nkanyezi Tshabalala, Head of Communications at Pan Macmillan South Africa; Nancy Adimora, Founder of Afreada; Bunmi Ishola, Editor at Penguin Random House; and Zakia Henderson, Senior Editor at The New Press, alongside other experts.
This scheme is free to join and open to Black individuals globally. It will offer the opportunity to network with like-minded individuals and professionals in the industry, and to engage in discussions on how to expand the inclusivity of publishing.
The internship programme is a key part of the initiative and has recently been expanded to now include Southern and Eastern Africa. This gives lucky individuals the chance to gain invaluable experience within well-known publishing houses, which will aid them immensely when trying to break into the industry. Some prominent names include Jonathan Ball Publishers and Jacana Media in South Africa, Masobe Books and Narrative Landscape in Nigeria, and Jahazi Press in Kenya.
Assistant Editor and creator of the initiative, Boluwatito Sanusi at Cassava Republic, commented, “The impact of last year’s Being Black in Publishing forum was transformative, both in the level of engagement and the meaningful connections it created. Expanding the internship programme to Southern and Eastern Africa is a critical step forward. We believe this will create more pathways for young African professionals to gain industry experience, network with peers and experts, and ultimately help shape a more inclusive future for publishing.”
If you are interested in being part of this initiative, click here to register.
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