Leading African publishing house to launch in the U.K

zainab quadri

November 26, 2015 11:40 AM

Leading African publishing house Cassava Republic Press has announced that it will be launching in the United Kingdom

Bibi Bakare-Yusuf at Ake Book and Art Festival 2015

Leading African publishing house Cassava Republic Press has announced that it will be launching in the United Kingdom, in order to “spotlight the vibrancy and diversity of prose by African writers on the continent and in the diaspora”. Books Live South Africa reported.

With headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria and founder Bibi Bakare-Yusuf who is now based in London, intends to bring the finest contemporary African writing directly to UK audiences.

According to her, Cassava would kick off operations in the UK in April 2016, with books that includes Elnathan John’s Born on a Tuesday, Sarah LadipoManyika’s Like A Mule Bringing Ice Cream to the Sun, Leye Adenle’s Easy Motion Tourist, HJ Golakai’s The Lazarus Effect and Abubakar Adam Ibrahim’Season of Crimson Blossoms.

Bakare-Yusuf will be joined by Emma Shercliff, formerly MD of Macmillan English Campus and head of export sales at Hodder Education, bringing a truly international and cross-cultural dynamic to Cassava Republic.

Bibi Bakare-Yusuf said: "It is exciting to be launching Cassava Republic Press in the UK both as an intervention and as an opportunity to introduce the diversity of writings coming out of the continent. What we are doing is unprecedented: an African publishing house establishing a base in the UK after nearly ten years in Africa rather than the reverse. This is the birthing of African publishing onto the world stage."

Emma Shercliff added that: "Having worked with Cassava Republic in Abuja for almost two years, I am delighted to be starting this new venture with Bibi in London. The feedback we have already received from the UK trade has been fantastic; there is a renewed interest in literature from Africa and we feel particularly excited about introducing some very special authors who are already celebrated in Africa, but practically unknown in the UK, to a wider audience."

In partnership with the British Council as part of their UK/Nigeria 2015-16 programme, Cassava Republic Press will showcase the breadth of talent on the list across UK literature festivals next April.

zainab quadri

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