The Pan African Writers Association (PAWA) has advised members of the African Publishers Network (APNET) to take the job of publishing African literature in indigenous languages more seriously.
The PAWA Secretary General, Dr Wale Okediran, made the call at the ongoing 3rd African Publishers Conference in Casablanca, Morocco.
As he put it: ”Even though publishing is a business, publishers are not just business gurus but important agents of change who also contribute to societal progress through the knowledge products and books which they publish.”
Okediran, who was one of the speakers at the conference, reiterated the long held views of advocates for vernacular literature such as the late Ngugi Wa Thiong’o that increasing the number of books published in African languages is crucial to a strong local book economy as well as cultural liberation for Africa.
He also eulogised APNET for its “robust and significant contribution” to African literature.
The conference, under the theme, “Promotion of Books for National Development in Africa”, is being attended by over 60 participants from about 30 countries.
The audience, which is made up of publishers, professionals and cultural actors, have gathered to exchange ideas, strengthen collaborations and shape the future of publishing in Africa.
