PRESS RELEASE
Frankfurt Book Fair – Hall 5.1, B125 – October 10-14, 2018
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Changing the Narrative
Presentation
The programme “Lettres d’Afrique: changing the narrative†is coming to Frankfurt for the first time, after two editions under the flag of “Pavillon des Lettres d’Afrique†at the Paris Book Fair, and one at the Brussels Book Fair 2018. “Lettres d’Afrique: changing the narrative†is part of the African stage promoted by FBF and concentrated in Hall 5.1 this year. This stage is notably comprised of Cameroonian publisher AfricAvenir (B115), Sub-Saharan Publishers (Ghana, B117), En toutes lettres publishing (Morocco, B140), African Books Collective (B121), and Bureau International de l’Edition Française hosting 16 publishing houses from Francophone sub-Saharan Africa (B133).
Lettres d’Afrique is organised by Agence Culturelle Africaine (ACA), Senegalese-based agency set up by cultural entrepreneur Aminata Diop Johnson, and coordinated by Germany-based researcher Raphaël Thierry. “Lettres d’Afrique†is a label highlighting the plurality of literatures written by African and Caribbean authors. African publishers were always a part of the programme in Paris and Brussels, and they are now at the centre of the programme in Frankfurt. Broadly, Lettres d’Afrique is a space for conferences, discussions, valorization of African literature and letters inviting African publishers and Northern publishers or intellectuals to exchange together.
A connective space
Lettres d’Afrique can be seen as a “connective space†to strengthen African presence at FBF 2018 by driving the attention on its African neighbours, including international organizations represented on the African stage: International alliance of independent publishers, African Books Collective, Afrilivres and African Publishers Network.
Lettres d’Afrique is a springboard towards many other publishers who are directly or indirectly represented in Frankfurt: African Books Collective represents for example 154 publishing houses, Association Afrilivres 33 publishers from Francophone Africa, International Alliance of Independent Publishers 32 publishing houses, and African Publishers Network (APNET) 44 African countries.
Changing the narrative
As to “change the narrativeâ€, the challenge is to promote a programme not putting “African publishing†as a central topic, or to focus on one single language this time, but rather to defend African publisher’s outputs and business in Frankfurt, as well as stressing their contribution to bibliodiversity. In this idea, Lettres d’Afrique can serve as a megaphone for publishers producing high quality outputs available in different languages. Lettres d’Afrique aims to advocate these publishers’ legitimacy within the international book market, towards a world readership.
No language is privileged by the programme, and most of the meetings will be conducted in English and French. Participants are principally English-speaking guests and Francophones, with several publishers promoting African languages books or Hargeysa Book Fair in Somaliland (dedicated to African languages publishing).
Highlights
Lettres d’Afrique’s first hope is to earn a professional audience and to enable an exchange between African publishers and publishers or organisations from other areas.
The programme is based on themes (such as feminism, postcolonialism, E-commerce and business models, North-South linkages in the publishing industry, African comics, Children’s book publishing, etc.), authors (hosting discussions with writers such as Antoinette Tidjani Alou from Niger, Johary Ravaloson from Madagascar, Simon Pierre Mbumbo from Cameroon and several others), and international relations. Lettres d’Afrique also tries to bring a light on the different hubs African book fairs and literary festivals represent in Africa, as well as highlighting some meaningful literary awards across the continent: on this aspect, the programme notably addresses the challenge of reviving an award inspired by the late Noma Award for Publishing in Africa, first internationally organized during FBF 1980. We will then discuss media coverage and African publishing’s place within academic, professional and digital media. Besides, Lettres d’Afrique can also be thought of as a springboard for the audience towards other lively markets, events and places in Africa, where publishers are “on the moveâ€. Then, Lettres d’Afrique promotes the relationship between African publishers and international organizations such as International Publishers Association (IPA), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), or Association pour le Développement de l’Education en Afrique (ADEA).
Lettres d’Afrique also promotes the “Indaba†meetings, dedicated to publishers presenting their catalogues to other professionals, and making a connection with the important Zimbabwean International Book Fair, which raises the question: what about an “African Frankfurt�
In collaboration with International Alliance of Independent Publishers and Pen International, Lettres d’Afrique will host a roundtable dedicated to Freedom of publishing, in the follow-up of FBF 2018 programme on Press freedom and human rights.
A feedback from FBF 2017 “Francfort en Français†will be organized on Lettres d’Afrique, hosting S.E. Anne-Marie Descôtes (Ambassador of France in Germany), Juergen Boos (President of Frankfurt Book Fair), Didier Dutour (Institut Francais) and Pierre Myszkowski (Bureau International de l'Edition Française).
Lettres d’Afrique aims a public audience during the open-public weekend (October 13-14) to exchange with the publishers, and to visit their stands where they exhibit their books across the African stage.
A bridge from 1980 to 2018
During the events, a link will be drawn towards FBF 1980 and the vent entitled “Africa: a continent asserts its identity†which conveyed about 180 publishing houses from all over the continent, and brought to light one of the most inspirational African writer in the history, the late Mariama Bâ, author of Une si longue lettre published in Senegal. This brilliant past is the origin of Frankfurter organization Litprom, and a ground for Lettres d’Afrique in Frankfurt.
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Full programme available here: http://www.editafrica.com/programme-lettres-dafrique-changing-the-narrative/ and on FBF’s portal
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19 African nations
Benin, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somaliland, South Africa, Togo, Uganda
Other countries
Canada, France Germany, Haiti, New-Zealand, Spain, United Kingdom, USA
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The Promoter
Aminata Diop Johnson (Agence Culturelle Africaine): http://pavillondeslettresdafrique.com/organisateur
@AminatadiopJ
The Coordinator
Dr. Raphaël Thierry (EditAfrica): http://www.editafrica.com/
@raphthierry
24 publishers
AfricAvenir (Cameroon): http://www.africavenir.org/shop/categories/books.html
Ago Media (Togo): https://fr-fr.facebook.com/bdafricaine/
Amalion (Senegal): http://www.amalion.net/en/
Atelier des nomades (Mauritius): https://fr-fr.facebook.com/atelierdesnomades/
Bakame (Rwanda): http://www.bakame.rw/
Das Wunderhorn (Germany): http://www.wunderhorn.de/
Dodo Vole (Madagascar): http://dodovole.blogspot.com/
Écosociété (Quebec/Canada): https://ecosociete.org/
Éditions du remue-ménage (Quebec/Canada): http://www.editions-rm.ca/
Elondja (Democratic Republic of Congo): http://elondja.blogspot.com/
En Toutes Lettres publishing (Morocco): http://www.etlettres.com
Fratmat Éditions (Coast): https://www.facebook.com/fratmat.editions
Ganndal (Guinea): http://editionsganndal.blogspot.com/
Graines de Pensées (Togo): http://grainesdepensees.com/
Jacana Media (South Africa): http://www.jacana.co.za/
Legs Éditions (Haïti): http://legsedition.net/
Modjaji Books (South Africa): http://www.modjajibooks.co.za/
Nouvelles Editions Africaines du Sénégal (Senegal): https://www.librairienumeriqueafricaine.com/search/lna/sm_vid_Editeur%3A%22Nouvelles%20%25C3%2589ditions%20Num%25C3%25A9riques%20Africaines%20%2528NENA%2529%22
Ntsame (Gabon): http://www.leseditionsntsame.com/
Presses Universitaires d'Afrique (Cameroon) : http://www.aes-pua.com/
Ruisseaux d’Afrique (Benin): http://www.ruisseauxdafrique.com/
Sub-Saharan Publishers (Ghana): https://www.subsaharanpublishers.com/
Toom Comics (Cameroon/France): http://www.toom-comics.com/
Wits University Press (South Africa): http://witspress.co.za/
The discussants
Dr. Kidi Bebey (author, France)
Dr. Nathalie Carré (Institut des Langues et Civilisations Orientales, France)
Maly Diallo (Après la Première Page, France)
Corentin Emery (La Kora, France)
Olatoun Gabi-Williams (Borders Literature for All Nations, Nigeria)
Kathrin Grün (Director of PR & Communications, Frankfurter Buchmesse)
Laurence Hugues (International Alliance of Independent Publishers)
Stephanie Kitchen (International African Institute, UK)
Dr. Madhu Krishnan (University of Bristol, UK)
Acèle Nadale (Afrolivresque.com, Germany)
Christophe Ngalle Edimo (Toom Comics, Cameroon/France)
Ernest Oppong (African Publishers Network)
11 authors
Koffivi Assem (author of Monfay et les mondes parallèles, Ago Media: Togo)
Dan Bomboko (author of Un monde hostile, Elondja: DRC)
Kidi Bebey (France author of Miriam Makeba, la reine de la chanson africaine, Cauris Livres: Mali)
Christophe Edimo (author of Djo’o bar, Toom Comics: Cameroon/France)
Madhu Krishnan (author of Writing Spatiality in West Africa Colonial Legacies in the Anglophone/Francophone Novel, Boydell & Brewer: UK)
Manfred Loimeier (author of Literaturen aus Afrika - Eine komprimierte Einführung aus postkolonialer Sicht, Brandes & Apsel Verlag: Germany)
Simon-Pierre Mbumbo (author of Vaudou Soccer, Toom Comics: Cameroon/France)
James Noël (Haïti, author of Belle merveille, Zulma publishing: France)
Johary Ravaloson (author of Vol � Vif, Dodo Vole publishing: Madagascar)
Antoinette Tidjani Alou (author of Tina Shot Me Between The Eyes & Other Stories, Amalion: Senegal)
Anne-Marie Voisard (author of Le droit du plus fort. Nos dommages, leurs intérêts, Ecosociété Publishing: Quebec/Canada)
The Organisations/Projects
Africa Comics - http://www.africacomics.net/
African Books Collective - http://www.africanbookscollective.com/
African Publishers Network - http://www.african-publishers.net/
Afrilivres - http://www.afrilivres.net/
Akwaba Culture (Ivory Coast) - http://akwaba-culture.ivoire-blog.com/
Bristol University (UK) - http://www.bristol.ac.uk/
Bureau International de l’Édition Française (France) - https://www.bief.org/
Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales (France) - http://www.inalco.fr/
International Alliance of Independent Publishers - https://www.alliance-editeurs.org/
International Publishers Association - https://www.internationalpublishers.org/
Literary Agency Astier-Pécher (France) - http://pierreastier.com/
Pen International - https://pen-international.org/
Oxford International Centre for Publishing Studies (UK) - https://publishing.brookes.ac.uk/
Youscribe (France) - https://www.youscribe.com/
Universität Heidelberg (Germany) - https://www.uni-heidelberg.de/
The Book Fairs
Ghana International Book Fair (Ghana)
Foire du livre de jeunesse de l’Ile Maurice (Mauritius)
Foire Internationale du Livre et du Matériel Didactique de Dakar (Senegal)
Frankfurt Book Fair (Germany)
Hargeysa Book Fair (Somaliland)
Writivism (Uganda)
The Medias
Africa e Mediterraneo (Italy) - http://www.africaemediterraneo.it/en/
Afrolivresque.com (Germany) - http://www.afrolivresque.com/
Après la Première Page (France) - https://soundcloud.com/apreslapremierepage/
Borders Literature for All Nations (Nigeria) - http://www.bordersliteratureonline.net/
IntranQu'îllités (Haiti) - http://www.zulma.fr/intranquillites.html
Logos: Journal of the World Publishing Community (UK) - https://brill.com/view/journals/logo/logo-overview.xml
Publishing Perspectives (USA) - https://publishingperspectives.com/
Wasafiri (UK) - https://www.wasafiri.org/
The Awards
Alioune Diop Award pour la promotion de l'édition en Afrique francophone (Senegal)
Prix des 5 Continents de la Francophonie (Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie)
Prix Ivoire pour la Littérature Africaine d'Expression Francophone (Ivory Coast)
Gerald Kraak Award (South Africa)
Our Guests
S.E. Anne-Marie Descôtes (Ambassador of France in Germany)
Juergen Boos (President of Frankfurt Book Fair)
Didier Dutour (Institut Francais)
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Programme
Wednesday, October 10th / Mercredi 10 octobre
9:10-9:30 – Inauguration: African Books for a sustainable knowledge (Frankfurt 1980-2018) / Des livres africains pour un savoir durable (Francfort 1980-2018)
Amari Sow (Nouvelles Editions Africaines du Sénégal), Akoss Ofori-Mensah (Sub-Saharan Publishers, Ghana), Paulin Assem (Ago Media / International Alliance of Independent Publishers, Togo), Dr. Raphaël Thierry (EditAfrica, France)
Language: English/French
Langue : Français/Anglais
11:00-12:30 – International partnerships in African Publishing / Partenariats internationaux dans l’édition en Afrique
Brian Wafawarowa (International Publishers Association, South Africa), Katja Petrovic (Bureau International de l’Édition Française, France), Ernest Oppong (African Publishers Network, Ghana)
Discussant: Stephanie Kitchen (International African Institute, UK)
Language: English
Langue : Anglais
13:00-14:00 – Indaba Marketplace
Meet African publishers / À la rencontre des éditeurs africains
13:00-13:30 – Graines de Pensées (Togo)
13:30-14:00 – Ganndal (Guinea)
14:30-16:00 – Children & Youth Publishers: Echoing words & picturing the World / Edition de jeunesse: reflets du monde pour écho de mots
Corinne Fleury (Atelier des nomades, Mauritius), Marie-Paule Huet (Ganndal, Guinea), Yasmin Issaka-Coubageat (Graines de Pensées, Togo), Akoss Ofori-Mensah (Sub-Saharan Publishers, Ghana), Dr. Kidi Bebey (France, author of Miriam Makeba, la reine de la chanson africaine, Cauris Livres: Mali)
Discussant: Dr. Kidi Bebey (author, France)
Language: English/French
Langue : Français/Anglais
16:30-18:00 – Freedom of Publishing / Liberté d’éditer (International Alliance of Independent Publishers & Pen International)
Élodie Comtois (Écosociété, Quebec/Canada), Yasmin Issaka-Coubageat (Graines de Pensées, Togo), Dr. Carles Torner (Executive Director, Pen International, Spain), Anne-Marie Voisard (sociologist and author of Le droit du plus fort. Nos dommages, leurs intérêts, Ecosociété Publishing and author of the current study "Freedom to publish", International Alliance of Independent Publishers, Quebec/Canada)
Discussant: Laurence Hugues (International Alliance of Independent Publishers)
Language: English/French
Langue : Français/Anglais
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Thursday, October 11th / Jeudi 11 octobre
9:15-10:40 – Rights in African Languages: Promoting networks and exchanges to facilitating trade / Droits en langues africaines : promouvoir les réseaux et les échanges pour développer le marché
Eric Dusabimana (Bakame, Rwanda), Dr. Kenza Sefrioui (Publisher of the collection Maroc : la guerre des langues ? - En Toutes Lettres publishing, Morocco), Dr. Jama Musse Jama (Hargeysa Book Fair, Somaliland)
Discussant: Dr. Nathalie Carré (Inalco, France)
Language: English/French
Langue : Français/Anglais
10:50-11:20 – Indaba Marketplace
Meet African publishers / À la rencontre des éditeurs africains
– L’Atelier des nomades (Mauritius)
11:40-13:00 – Economic models and & E-Commerce for African publishers / Modèles économiques et commerce en ligne pour les éditeurs africains
Justin Cox (African Books Collective, UK), Serge Kouam Dontchueng (Presses Universitaires d'Afrique, Cameroon), Juan Pirlot De Corbion (Youscribe, France)
Discussant: Ernest Oppong (African Publishers Network)
Language: English
Langue : Anglais
14:00-15:30 – Discussing the Postcolonial legacy / Questionner l’héritage postcolonial
Sulaiman Adebowale (Amalion, Senegal), Prof. Dr. Kum'a Ndumbe III (AfricAvenir, Cameroon), Prof. Dr. Manfred Loimeier (Universität Heidelberg, Germany), Veronica Klipp (Wits University Press, South Africa)
Discussant: Dr. Madhu Krishnan (University of Bristol, UK)
Language: English
Langue : Anglais
16:00-17:30 – Asserting & connecting identities: African book fairs and literary festivals / Affirmer et connecter les identités : foires du livre et festivals littéraires en Afrique
Dr. Madhu Krishnan (Writivism, Uganda), Elliot Agyare (Ghana International Book Fair), Dr Ibrahima Moctala Lô (Foire Internationale du Livre et du Matériel Didactique de Dakar, Senegal), Ruth Kumpmann (Frankfurt Book Fair, Germany), Corinne Fleury (Foire du livre de jeunesse de l’Ile Maurice, Mauritius), Dr. Jama Musse Jama (Hargeysa Book Fair, Somaliland)
Discussant: Olatoun Gabi-Williams (Borders Literature for All Nations, Nigeria)
Language: English/French
Langue : Français/Anglais
18:00-18:30 – Indaba Marketplace
Meet African publishers / À la rencontre des éditeurs africains
– Éditions Ntsame (Gabon)
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Friday, October 12th / Vendredi 12 octobre
9:00-11:00 – Indaba Marketplace
Meet African publishers / À la rencontre des éditeurs africains
9:00-9:30 – Legs Éditions (Haïti)
11:30-13:00 – North-South linkages, value chain and the rise of literary agents in the literary field / Relations Nord-Sud : de la chaine de valeurs et de l’essor des agents dans le champ littéraire
Pierre Astier (Literary Agency Astier-Pécher, France), Manfred Metzner (Das Wunderhorn, Germany), Ibrahima Aya (Tombouctou publishing, Mali), Dr. Kenza Sefrioui (En toutes lettres, Morocco), Corinne Fleury (L’atelier des nomades, Mauritius), James Noël (author, editor in chief IntranQu'îllités, Haïti)
Discussant: Corentin Emery (La Kora, France)
Language: English/French
Langue : Français/Anglais
13:30-15:00 – Feminist Press reversing the gender bias / Quand l’édition féministe renverse la perception du genre
Colleen Higgs (Modjaji Books, South Africa), Mirline Pierre (Legs éditions, Haïti), Anne Migner-Laurin (Les Éditions du remue-ménage, Canada)
Discussant : Maly Diallo (Après la Première Page, France)
Language: English/French
Langue : Français/Anglais
15:30-16:30 – Indaba Marketplace
Meet African publishers / À la rencontre des éditeurs africains
15:30-16:00 – Presses Universitaires d’Afrique (Cameroon)
16:00-16:30 – Fratmat Éditions (Ivory Coast)
17:15-18:00 – Lecture Afrolivresque
Acèle Nadale meets Johary Ravaloson, author of Vol � Vif, Prix Ivoire pour la Littérature Africaine d'Expression Francophone 2017 (Dodo Vole, Madagascar)
Discussant: Acèle Nadale (Afrolivresque, Germany)
Language: French
Langue : Français/Anglais
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Saturday, October 13th / Samedi 13 octobre
9:30-11:00 – The Chain of Knowledge: Media Coverage of African Publishing / La chaine du savoir : couvertures médiatiques de l’édition africaine
Dr. Madhu Krishnan (Wasafiri, UK), Olatoun Gabi-Williams (Borders Literature for All Nations, Nigeria), Prof. Dr. Angus Phillips (Logos/Oxford International Centre for Publishing Studies, UK), Acèle Nadale (Afrolivresque, Germany), Porter Anderson (Publishing Perspectives, USA)
Discussant: Dr. Madhu Krishnan (Bristol University, UK)
Language: English
Langue : Anglais
11:30-12:30 – Indaba Marketplace
Meet African publishers / À la rencontre des éditeurs africains
11:30-12:00 – Ago Media (Togo)
12:00-12:30 – Bakame (Rwanda)
12:45-14:15 – Africa Comics: Extending styles / Quand la bande dessinée africaine étend la palette des styles (in partnership with Africa & Mediterraneo)
Paulin Assem (Ago Media, Togo), Dan Bomboko (Elondja, DRC), Simon-Pierre Mbumbo (Toom Comics, Cameroon/France), Ngong Bertrand Collins (AfricAvenir, Cameroon)
Discussant: Christophe Ngalle Edimo (Toom Comics, Cameroon/France)
Language: French
Langue : Français
15:00-15:45 – Literature across Borders / La littérature au-del� des frontières
Olatoun Gabi Williams Talks to Antoinette Tidjani Alou - Author, Tina Shot Me Between The Eyes & Other Stories (Amalion, Senegal)
Discussant: Olatoun Gabi-Williams (Borders Literature for All Nations, Nigeria)
Language: English
Langue : Anglais
15:50-16:25 – Francfort en français - un an plus tard
S.E. Anne-Marie Descôtes (Ambassador of France in Germany), Juergen Boos (President Frankfurt Book Fair), Didier Dutour (Institut Francais), Pierre Myszkowski (Bureau International de l'Edition Française)
Speaker: Kathrin Grün (Director of PR and Communications, Frankfurter Buchmesse)
Language: French/German
Langue: Français/Allemand
16:30-18:00 – Opening the gates: African literary awards and African publishers / Ouvrir les portes : prix littéraires et éditeurs africains
Isabelle Kassi Fofana (Prix Ivoire pour la Littérature Africaine d'Expression Francophone, Ivory Coast), Akoss Ofori-Mensah (Sub-Saharan Publishers, Ghana: publisher of Meshack Asare, winner of the Noma Award for Publishing in Africa 1982), Myriam Senghor-Bâ (Prix des 5 Continents de la Francophonie, France), Maggie Davey (Gerald Kraak Award, South Africa), Pierre-Cresus Gbado (Ruisseaux d’Afrique, Benin: winner of the Alioune Diop Award for African publishing 2002)
Discussant: Sulaiman Adebowale (Amalion, Senegal)
Language: English/French
Langue : Français/Anglais
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Sunday, October 14th / Dimanche 14 octobre
10:00-10:45 – African Books Collective’s Bestsellers 2018
Justin Cox (African Books Collective, UK)
Language: English
Langue : Anglais
12:00-16:00 – Indaba Marketplace
Meet African publishers / À la rencontre des éditeurs africains
12:00-12:30 – En Toutes Lettres (Morocco)
12:30-13:00 – Modjaji Books (South Africa)
13:00-13:30 – Amalion (Senegal)
13:30-14:00 – Sub-Saharan Publishers (Ghana)
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Lettres d’Afrique: changing the narrative is being supported by: Unesco, Fondation Clément, Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, Agence Française pour le Développement, Institut Français Deutschland:
Professional partners in Frankfurt: International Alliance of Independent Publishers, African Publishers Network, African Books Collective, Afrilivres, Editions La Kora, Bureau International de l’Edition Française:
Academic partners in Frankfurt: Bristol University (UK), Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales (INALCO, France), International African Institute (UK):
Media partners: Warscapes, Bakwa Magazine, Publishers & Books, Mosaïques : le mensuel des arts et cultures du Cameroun, Afrolivresque.com, Africa & Mediterraneo, Africultures, Borders Literature for all Nations
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Minna Salami is a Scandinavian-Nigerian scholar whom it has been a privilege to encounter ...
