There Aren’t Enough African Stories

There aren’t enough African stories in the publishing world. In northern hemisphere publishing, which is the centre of the word when it comes to the business of books, African voices appear to be quite diluted.

This might be because the African sound isn’t relatable enough for buyers and readers, or perhaps there haven’t been enough African creators included. It could very well be a combination of both. Terms like ‘minority’ have a lot to answer for, as they have come to mean ‘less’ in more ways than just demographics.

But what about on the African continent? The publishing infrastructure there is not as robust, so there is essentially less ‘business’ going on. There are more than enough stories that would enjoy local commercial success if the opportunity arose. Commercial success is important, as it’s often the measure of success of a publishing house. These businesses need to succeed so they can keep producing.

Everyday life happens in African countries just as it does everywhere else. There aren’t enough African stories yet to capture all of them. The ideas in books will always be potent means of travelling to new experiences for those who cannot physically do so. More publishing on and for the African continent, therefore, is a must- more variety, more African voices, philosophy, humour.