Hans M. Zell's Series of Profiles of Women in African Publishing

from: https://brittlepaper.com/2022/05/check-out-this-database-on-women-publishing-book-trade-in-africa/

Women in African Publishing & the Book Trade: A Series of Profiles is a listing of women working in the publishing industry across the African continent.

The list is curated by the Swiss publisher Hans M. Zell and aims “to showcase…the variety, richness and energy of women involved in book publishing and the book trade in Africa today, as well as some of the women who have made significant contributions to the African book sector in the past.”

In the first edition of the list published inThe African Book Publishing Record, 24 women were profiled. Ghana’s Deborah Ahenkorah, to Nigeria’s Bibi Bakare-Yusuf, to Rwanda’s Louise Umutoni, and South Africa’s Colleen Higgs are some of the profiles featured.

The new edition is an additional 28 names from across 8 countries. It includes established names like Kenya’s Muthoni Garland, founder of Storymoja, the Nigerian editor Enajite Efemuaye, Managing Editor of Farafina Books and co-founder of Society of Book and Magazine Editors of Nigeria (SBMEN), Uganda’s Hilda Twongyeirwe, Executive Director of FEMRITE, and Trish Mbanga, former Director, Zimbabwe International Book Fair.

The kind of information included in the listings are wide-ranging, from basics about the women and their work including positions held, company/organization’s name, contact address, website, publication etc. to social media handles and links to interviews and press coverage.

The list is a great networking tool, making it easier to connect with African women in the publishing industry. It is also a storytelling project of sorts, in the ways it shines a light on the increasing influence of African women in publishing, showing the changes taking place in an industry that has not always championed gender equality.

The scope of the second edition has been extended to include academics involved in publishing education and training, and who have written extensively, and eloquently, about many aspects of publishing and book history in Africa.

The directory does not, however, currently include women who are literary agents, or editors and publishers of journals or literary magazines.

Click on the link below to access the directory:

https://brittlepaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Women-in-African-Publishing-the-Book-Trade-A-Series-of-Profiles-by-Hans-M.-Zell.pdf