…we have been able to produce a shortlist of five books which we believe have met the required standard of exceptional work and professionalism. The five finalists were drawn from a highly competitive process that involved 85 applications for published books from 45 publishers and 10 countries across Africa
CANEX Book Factory, an agency of the African Export-Import Bank’s (Afreximbank) has announced a shortlist of five publishers for the inaugural CANEX Prize for Publishing in Africa.
The shortlist are:
- Cassava Republic Press — Female Fear Factory: Unravelling Patriarchy’s Culture of Violence by Pumla Dineo Gqola (Nigeria)
- Jacana Media – Paperless by Buntu Siwisa (South Africa)
- Kachifo Limited – Half Hour Hara by Ugo Anidi (Nigeria)
- La Case des Lucioles – Reine Or by Fatou Sy (Côte d’Ivoire)
- Masobe Books – When We Were Fireflies by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim (Nigeria)
Chair of the Judges, Dr. Wale Okediran, commenting on the shortlisted candidates, states: “In line with our mandate to ‘judge the book as a physical object while also paying attention to its editorial work, including topical relevance and editorial risk,’ we have been able to produce a shortlist of five books which we believe have met the required standard of exceptional work and professionalism. The five finalists were drawn from a highly competitive process that involved 85 applications for published books from 45 publishers and 10 countries across Africa.”
The publisher of the Best Trade Book will be awarded a cash prize of US$20,000 with each of the four finalists receiving cash prizes of US$2,000 each during the CANEX WKND 2024 in Algiers, Algeria, October 16-19.
The CANEX Book Factory aims to spotlight and elevate the African book value chain. It consists of the CANEX Prize for Publishing, the CANEX Creative Writing Workshop, and the CANEX Book Factory Newsletter. The ultimate aim is to create a vibrant and educated class of creatives and entrepreneurs to whom Afreximbank may offer financial support in fulfilment of its mandate to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. The prize is awarded to the most deserving trade book published in the year in question and aims to reward “trade” publishers working on the continent.
CANEX WKND 2024 will take place from 16-19 October at the Algerian Company of Fairs and Exports (SAFEX) in Algiers, Algeria. The event will further develop conversations and provide business-to-business/government opportunities through a 4-day gathering that will be held under the theme: One People, United in Culture, Creating for the World. Registration for the event is free and now open at: www.wknd.canex.africa
