All the records in the four annual literature reviews thus far published are scheduled to be integrated into the online database of Publishing, Books & Reading in Sub-Saharan Africa. Unfortunately, access to the database remains temporarily unavailable. It is currently still in the process of being relaunched by its new host institution, Kwara State University Library in Nigeria (and see also the 2015 press release at http://www.hanszell.co.uk/Site/PDFs/Press%20release.pdf) Due to a number of persistent technical problems relating to metadata mapping and software functionality, as well as ongoing software development and data transfer issues, there have been serious delays in the migration of the database. However, the new hosts hope that remaining problems and issues can now be resolved shortly, and that they will be able to relaunch the database sometime early in 2019 on a more dynamic, Drupal-based open source content management platform. The first batch of updates and over 500 entirely new records will then also be added to the database. Meantime the accompanying collection of books, monograph series, journals, articles, and other documents on publishing and book development in Sub-Saharan Africa, from 1996 to 2014, donated by Hans Zell to Kwara State University Library in 2015 is now accessible at the recipient library. This is a continuation of an earlier collection and archive (for the 1960-1995 period) that was donated to the African Publishers Network/APNET in Harare in 1995. The 1996-2014 collection has now been fully catalogued and records have been created for each item and integrated in KWASU’s Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC). A complete listing and inventory of the collection (which includes unpublished and archival material) can be found at http://kwasu.edu.ng/library/pbrssa.html. This page also includes a user guide, and an online form to register for access to and use of the collection. Access is free to any bona fide scholar or researcher from around the globe. For more information about the status of the new database, or access to the physical collection, contact Teslim B. Balogun, Project Director, PB&RSSA, Kwara State University Library, PMB 1530, Malete, Kwara State, Nigeria. Email: teslim.balogun@kwasu.edu.ng
This is the third in a series of annual reviews of select new literature in English that hasappeared on the topic of publishing and the book sector in sub-Saharan Africa.The previous annual literature reviews can be found as follows:2016:https://www.academia.edu/31441110/Publishing_and_the_Book_in_Africa_A_Literature_Review_for_2016 (pre-print version)Print/online version published in The African Book Publishing Record 43, no. 2 (May 2017): 120-170. https://doi.org/10.1515/abpr-2017-00042015:https://www.academia.edu/20432811/Publishing_and_the_Book_in_Africa_-_A_Literature_Review_for_2015 (pre-print version)Print/online version published in The African Book Publishing Record 42, no. 1 (March 2016):11-37. https://doi.org/10.1515/abpr-2016-0003.Extensively annotated and/or with abstracts, the present list brings together new literaturepublished during the course of 2017, a total of 157 records. Also included are a small numberof articles and other documents published in 2016 or earlier, and which have not hithertobeen included in previous annual literature reviews or in the Publishing, Books & Reading inSub-Saharan Africa online database (see also below). The literature review covers books,chapters in books and edited collections, journal articles, Internet documents and reports,theses and dissertations, interviews, audio/video recordings and podcasts, as well as anumber of blog postings, with their posting dates indicated. Newspaper articles and storiesare not generally included, unless of substantial length or of special significance.Records are grouped under a range of regional/country and topic-specific headings. It should be noted that, for the most part, literature on particular topics, e.g. children’s book publishing, digital publishing, educational and schoolbook publishing, publishing in African languages, reading culture and reading promotion, scholarly publishing, etc. is listed under topic/subject rather than country headings. For example, an article on developments in the digital book sector in Kenya will be listed in the topics sub-section entitled ‘Digital media and electronic publishing’ rather than in the country section for ‘Kenya’. However, in the absence of a country index it is possible to search for all countryspecific records by using the Ctrl+F ‘find’ function in this document. For example, typing ‘Kenya’ in the search box will find any text/records (in titles of articles, blog postings and other documents, or if part of the annotations) containing the word ‘Kenya’. The same function can also be used to search for names of authors. Most journal articles published online are freely accessible, but a small number are behind a paywall and subscription based. For web documents and online journals the date the source was accessed is indicated [in square brackets]. If I have missed any articles/papers, books, theses, or other relevant documents on the topics covered by this literature review (and published or posted in 2017), I would be grateful if these could be brought to my attention. Please email details to hanszell@hanszell.co.uk, together with an electronic file of the document, or a link to it. All these records, and many more, are scheduled to be integrated into the online database of Publishing, Books & Reading in Sub-Saharan Africa, which is currently in the process of migrating to a new hosting institution, Kwara State University Library in Nigeria (see also press release at http://www.hanszell.co.uk/Press%20release.pdf). Unfortunately, due to a number of technical issues at KWASU relating to metadata mapping and software functionality, there have been serious delays in the migration of the database, but it is now hoped that the new hosts will be able to re-launch it during the early part of 2018, on a more dynamic, Drupal-based open source content management platform. The first batch of updates and over 500 entirely new records will then also be added to the database. For more information about the new database to be launched by Kwara State University Library, contact Teslim B. Balogun, Project Director, PBRSSA, teslim.balogun@kwasu.edu.ng.
Abstract No less than three international meetings on publishing in Africa have taken place recently, which have been followed with detailed action plawns. Among many other recommendations, calls for action to find solutions to perennial problems, as well as discussions focusing on sectorial innovation and revitalization of the African book industries, pwarticipants in all three meetings were strongly urged to start collecting and disseminating book industry data. It is true that reliable figures of book publishing output for the continent of Africa do not exist at the present time, with the exception of a very small number of countries, notably South Africa and Morocco. Meantime the state of African national bibliographies, which can form the groundwork of book industry data, presents a picture of neglect for the most part, with many national bibliographies seriously in arrears, currently dormant, or having ceased publication altogether. Only a small number are accessible in digital formats. Book publishing data and book production statistics are important elements in measuring the growth and vitality of indigenous publishing in any part of the world. In the absence of such data for most of the African continent, there is a need for research, analysis, documentation, and systematic gathering of current, reliable data and statistics on the whole book sector in Africa. However, there are huge challenges and complexities in the goal of collecting data for book industry surveys, which must not be underestimated. Many questions will need to be asked: for example, how is data going to be collected and analysed; what will be the parameters; and what are going to be the sources and the methods? Who should be responsible for undertaking the research and the compilation of such book industry data; and, crucially, who is going to fund the research and the data gathering process on a systematic and ongoing basis? Collecting book industry data is closely interrelated with the publication of national bibliographies and, in addition to examining the issues and challenges relating to the creation of book industry statistics, this paper also provides an analysis of the current state of national bibliographies in Africa, as well as linked matters such as legal deposit legislation, and compliance of legal deposit. Most national libraries and bibliographic agencies in Africa continue to operate under severe constraints, and have been chronically underfunded by their governments for the past four decades or more. An analysis of the current status of African national bibliographies sadly presents a dismal picture. It is unlikely that reliable data for the African book industries can be collected and published without the input and full cooperation of national libraries or bibliographic agencies. There is equally an urgent need for much more active collaboration and interaction between the agencies producing national bibliographies with publishers and book trade associations in each African country. Any attempts to revive the fortunes of African national libraries, and the resumption of publication of high quality and timely national bibliographies, will amount to a formidable task. This paper offers a range of suggestions and recommendations how the situation might be addressed and improved, but also points out that regular compilation of a national bibliography, and effective maintenance of legal deposit, necessitates adequate staff in terms of both numbers and expertise, which is not the case at this time.
a range of regional/country and topic-specific headings.It should be noted that, for the most part, literature on particular topics, e.g.children's book
There is a great deal of excitement nowadays about digital publishing on the African continent and, most recently, about e-book reading devices that may serve as a catalyst to foster a new culture of reading. The term ‘digital revolution‘ keeps popping up in dozens of articles and news stories; it is a term that has perhaps been used rather too liberally, sometimes for projects that are anything but revolutionary.
Divided into three sections, the first part of this somewhat quirky guide addresses the art of writing, while part two is devoted to “the Science of Writing”, covering aspects of grammar, sentence structure, plots, etc. “and all the boring, but essential, stuff that you need to know”. This section also offers some advice about how to get published and how to avoid the pitfalls, dealing with literary agents, assessing the pro’s and con’s of self-publishing, and the challenges of marketing and selling a self-published book. The third section, entitled “Luck”, looks at elements of luck that might be needed and some of the factors that will determine whether or not a book gets published, although the authors express the hope that by following their advice in the first two sections, luck won’t play such a large part for novice writers seeking to get published. This guide contains some helpful, practical advice about many aspects of writing and how to break into print, but the sections on self-publishing – and taking advantage of the opportunities now offered by new digital print technologies such as Print-on-Demand (POD) – are perhaps a bit weak, as is the short section offering marketing tips for self-publishers. It would also have been useful if the authors had included a least a short chapter on the Internet, as the web is now an enormously rich resource for writers of all kind, e.g. web pages on literary awards and competitions, address sources for publishers, directories of literary magazines worldwide, and numerous websites devoted to self-publishing and the craft of writing, quite apart from providing free access to many online references works such as dictionaries, thesauri, style guides, and much more. A novel and useful feature is that the book comes with a CD with interactive modules, worksheets, exercises and tutorials, offering a variety of ideas to get the creative juices flowing.
The present list continues the annual compilations published since 1986 in The African Book Publishing Record, and covers publications through 2007. It is generally limited to titles in European languages, published in the last few years, although we do include selected titles in African languages, including Arabic. We also include significant earlier titles when they recently have come to our notice, because books sometimes make their way slowly into our hands, and because out-ofprint titles are frequently available in library collections. Most of the listed works have been examined by the contributors, but when they were not, it is noted. We have excluded most basic and long established annuals, such as Africa South of the Sahara. New editions of works are listed selectively and usually annotated only if they are significantly different from the previous edition. Increasingly, reference works are published exclusively online, and many print publications also have online versions. We have cited these whenever we find them, noting when they were seen. For print works produced by small or noncommercial publishers, we have included contact information whenever possible, particularly for the use of researchers and librarians in areas where the services of international book dealers are not available.
Published in association with the Washington, DC-based Corporate Council on Africa () whose principal mission is who promote trade and investment between the United States and Africa, this is the 8th edition of an annual reference resource that is primarily intended for entrepreneurs and others who wish to explore business opportunities on the continent, although the book also covers aspects such as history, geography, politics, religions and culture, and there is a section on travel tips. An initial chapter presents a roundup of the main political, social and economic developments on continent in the preceding year, followed by a general chapter on Africa as a whole, chapters focussing on trade and investment, and “Key sectors” such as petroleum and energy, electricity, mining and mineral resources, telecommunications, transport, agriculture, and the banking sector, all accompanied by a variety of charts and tables. There are also chapters on tourism and on “Challenges of Africa”, as well as a rather feeble section on “Africa on the Web”. The latter lists just two news sources for Africa ( and ) and, other than listing the websites of a number of the major international organizations and development assistance agencies, makes no mention of any of the best African studies gateways, portals and mega sites; nor are there listings of information-rich development gateway portals such as for example the Africa pages of the ELDIS Gateway to Development Information hosted by the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex, or the Development Gateway initiated by the World Bank but now hosted by the Development Gateway Foundation . It would also have been helpful to include at least a select bibliography of the leading reference resources on Africa published in both print and online formats. The second part of the book is devoted to country profiles of 53 African nations, each providing basic facts and figures, a little bit of history, and brief overviews of the government, economic policy, trade and investment, etc. together with helpful guidelines for doing business in each country. Some advertising is included, but it does not significantly detract from editorial content. However, one shortcoming is that there is no introductory apparatus and the editor provides no indication how all this material was assembled, and what sources were used. Africa 2008 is attractively presented, includes a large number of high quality illustrations and maps, and it aims to provide a positive image of Africa. However, unlike other annuals and yearbooks on Africa such as the well-established (albeit hugely expensive) Africa South of the Sahara, there is little critical analysis for the most part. Modestly priced, this volume – which is also available in an interactive e-book format – will therefore primarily be of interest to school and public libraries as a concise ready-reference source, rather than for African studies collections.
