Algiers

The inaugural CANEX Prize for Publishing in Africa was awarded in a prestigious ceremony held in Algiers, during the CANEX Weekend. Organized as part of Afreximbank’s CANEX Book Factory initiative in partnership with Narrative Landscape Press Limited, the event honored outstanding achievements by African publishing companies. The dinner was hosted by the Minister of Culture and Arts of Algeria, Mrs. Soraya Mouloudji.

An Evening of Celebration

The event took place during an exclusive dinner featuring an African Union-themed menu curated by chefs from Algeria, Trinidad, and Nigeria. The program host, Fatima Sharif, introduced Dr. Eghosa Imasuen, co-founder of Narrative Landscape Press Limited and Program Manager for the CANEX Book Factory. Dr. Imasuen expressed gratitude to Afreximbank and CANEX for their ongoing support of African publishing. He highlighted the significance of the prize trophy, a bronze sculpture crafted by the famed bronze casters of Benin City and engraved with the Adinkra symbol nkyinkyim, symbolizing resilience and adaptability.

Dr. Imasuen was joined by Mr. Omar Ben Yedder of IC Publications and Ms. Lavaille Lavette of One Street Books, who each gave short speeches on the importance of telling African stories. They underscored how vital it is to invest in the continent’s rich literary heritage.

Finalists

The award evaluates entries based on the quality of writing, editing, and production, with particular emphasis on books printed and produced in Africa, as well as those published in Indigenous African languages. This year, eighty-five entries were received by the prize administrators from forty-five publishers across Africa, representing a diverse range of languages, including English, French, Portuguese, and Swahili. Five publishing houses were shortlisted for the CANEX Prize, with each being recognized for their exceptional contributions to the African literary landscape. Dr. Wale Okediran, Chair of the Judges, read out the citations for each shortlisted book, as representatives from the respective publishing houses collected medals on their behalf.

Cassava Republic Press (Nigeria), shortlisted for Female Fear Factory: Unravelling Patriarchy’s Culture of Violence by Pumla Dineo Gqola, was praised for its “solid cover design, elegant layout, and contribution to feminist literature.” Layla Mohamed, Editor at Cassava Republic, collected the medal on behalf of the publishing house.

Jacana Media (South Africa) was honored for Paperless by Buntu Siwisa, which the judges described as “a beautifully written story of the hidden lives of migrant workers in Africa.” Kelly Mawa, Publishing Assistant at Jacana Media, accepted the medal on behalf of the company.

Kachifo Limited (Nigeria), recognized for Half Hour Hara by Ugo Anidi, was celebrated for being “a delightful and engaging children’s story” with “well-crafted illustrations.” Coco Anetor-Sokei, Managing Editor, collected the medal for Kachifo Limited.

La Case des Lucioles (Côte d’Ivoire), shortlisted for Reine Or by Fatou Sy, was praised for its “brave design and theatrical presentation.” Unfortunately, no representative from La Case des Lucioles could attend the event, and their medal was collected on their behalf by Dr. Eghosa Imasuen.

Masobe Books (Nigeria) was shortlisted for When We Were Fireflies by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim, which the judges commended for its “meticulous writing and eye-catching cover design.” Othuke Ominiabohs, Managing Director, received the medal for Masobe Books.

Presentation of Medals

The medals were presented to the finalists by dignitaries that included Mrs Soraya Mouloudji (Algerian Minister of Culture and Arts), Mrs Kanayo Awani (Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade Bank at Afreximbank), and H.E. Ambassador Minata Samate Cessouma (Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development at the African Union Commission).

Winner Announcement

The winner of the inaugural CANEX Prize for Publishing in Africa was Cassava Republic Press for publishing Female Fear Factory: Unravelling Patriarchy’s Culture of Violence. Mrs. Soraya Mouloudji and Mrs Kanayo Awani presented Layla Mohamed of Cassava Republic Press with the trophy. In her brief remarks, Mohamed expressed gratitude to the organizers and underscored the importance of African publishers continuing to champion diverse stories.

The CANEX Prize for Publishing in Africa, a $20,000 award, is designed to promote excellence in African publishing by recognizing and supporting the work of African publishing companies.

The CANEX Prize for Publishing in Africa rewards the best trade book publishers in Africa. A prize of $20,000 is awarded to the publisher – selected from a shortlist of five (5) finalists – of the best trade book (defined as books published for a general audience, including fiction, non-fiction, and poetry; and excluding textbooks and academic books) published in the year in question. Additionally, the remaining four finalists in the shortlist are awarded the amount of $2,000 each.

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The post CANEX BOOK FACTORY ANNOUNCES WINNER OF CANEX PUBLISHING PRIZE 2024 first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Algiers, Algeria

Africa Export-Import Bank’s (Afreximbank) Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) has invited the prose writers of African and Caribbean descent to participate in The CANEX Book Factory Creative Writing Workshop. CANEX is organizing the workshop in collaboration with the James and Grace Adichie Foundation and Narrative Landscape Press Limited.

As part of the larger CANEX Book Factory initiative is dedicated to highlighting the book value chain in Africa. The workshop will support and develop literary talent within Africa and its diaspora.

The workshop will unfold over ten days this summer at a tranquil seaside resort in Aburi, Ghana, offering an idyllic setting for writers to gather and grow. Travel and accommodation will be provided by CANEX, and participants will enjoy a taste of local cuisine. All of these will allow them to fully immerse themselves in their craft during the workshop.

Speakers of all six official languages of the African Union—Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, and Kiswahili—can apply to attend as comprehensive translation services will be provided to all attendees.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, globally acclaimed author, will lead a team of writers who will facilitate the workshop, alongside legal and business professionals who will provide valuable insights into the legal and commercial aspects of the writing profession. Workshop participants will have the chance to contribute to an anthology of writing that will be published after the workshop.

Submissions

Interested writers should submit a 250–500-word prose sample and evidence of nationality (national ID card or travel passport data page) of an eligible country. Submissions will be collected through an online form available on the website.

To be eligible to apply, the candidates must be from an African Union member country or territory, and a citizen of a member country of CARICOM.

Submission Window: The submission window for The CANEX Book Factory Creative Writing Workshop will be open till 30 June 2024.

“We invite prose writers to join us for this enriching experience at The CANEX Book Factory Creative Writing Workshop, where both your narrative skills and your professional acumen can be enhanced,” a press release said.

The CANEX Book Factory is an annual program of events of the Creative Africa Nexus initiative of African Export – Import Bank (Afreximbank) that is designed to spotlight and elevate the African book value chain through the publishing prize, a Pan-African writing workshop, and an e-newsletter highlighting African literature. This year’s program will culminate in an Award Ceremony at the CANEX WKND in Algiers, Algeria, between 16 and 19 October, 2024. (PR)

Read: African bank launches awards for promoting book publishing in Africa

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Algiers

The CANEX Book Factory has unveiled the panel of judges for the inaugural CANEX Prize for Publishing in Africa.

Chaired by author, Dr. Wale Okediran, the 2024 panel of judges features Ivorian writer and essayist Edwige-Renée Dro along with Egyptian poet, novelist and journalist Ashraf Aboul-Yazid.

Dr. Wale Okediran serves as the Secretary-General of the Pan African Writers’ Association (PAWA). An accomplished author, he has published 14 novels, many of which are part of reading curriculum in various Nigerian universities. In 2010, he co-founded the Ebedi International Writers Residency in Iseyin, Oyo State, first of its kind in Nigeria. He is also the Deputy Secretary-General for the Union of Writers from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. His novel, Tenants of the House, was adapted into a movie that has been featured on Netflix, showcasing his impact in both literature and media.

Edwige-Renée Dro is a writer, literary translator, and literary activist from Côte d’Ivoire. Her short stories and essays have been widely anthologized. Her interests lie in exploring linguistic justice via the various variations of English and French Spoken in Africa. She has served on the juries of Caine Prize for African Writing; the PEN International Short Story Prize and she has been a member of the advisory board of the PEN/HEIM Translation Fund. Dro is an Africa39 laureate, a 2019 Miles Morland Fellow, and a 2021 Writing Fellow of the Iowa International Writing Program. In 2020, she founded 1949: the library of women’s writings from Africa and the black world in Abidjan.

Ashraf Aboul-Yazid, also known as Ashraf Dali, has been a significant figure in cultural journalism for over 30 years and has authored and translated around 40 books. His literary works have been translated into multiple languages, including Korean, Turkish, Persian, English, Sindhi, Spanish, and Malayalam. Aboul-Yazid’s dedication to culture and literature has earned him prestigious awards including the Manhae Prize in Literature in 2014 in the Republic of Korea and the Arab Journalism Award in Culture in 2015 in the UAE. He has served as the President of the Asia Journalist Association (AJA) since April 2016 and is a founding member of the Congress of African Journalists (CAJ).

The judges will present a long list of ten publishers in August followed by a shortlist of five finalists in September. A USD20, 000 prize will be awarded to the publisher of the best trade book at the CANEX WKND at Algiers this October. The remaining four finalists will each receive USD2, 000 in prize money.

The CANEX Prize for Publishing in Africa is a part of the CANEX Book Factory. The CANEX Book Factory is an annual program of events of the Creative Africa Nexus initiative of African Export – Import Bank (Afreximbank) that is designed to spotlight and elevate the African book value chain through the prize, a Pan-African writing workshop, and an e-newsletter highlighting African literature. This year’s program will culminate in an Award Ceremony at the CANEX WKND in Algiers, Algeria, on 16-19 October, 2024. (PR)

Read: CANEX Prize for Publishing in Africa Launched in Egypt

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The post CANEX Book Factory announces judges for CANEX Publishing Prize first appeared on Sindh Courier.