Cassava Republic Press is set to amplify African and Afro-diasporic voices in the global publishing industry with the return of its acclaimed Being Black in Publishing (BBIP) initiative. According to a statement by the pioneering publishing house based in Abuja and London, following the resounding success of its inaugural year, the 2024 BBIP forum will offer an expanded roster of industry experts, panel discussions and internship opportunities across Southern and Eastern Africa.
In 2023, the BBIP programme brought together over 500 participants from around the world, along with 15 distinguished panellists, to discuss strategies for boosting African and Afro-diasporic representation in publishing. This year’s virtual forum, scheduled throughout November 2024, promises to build upon that momentum, providing a robust platform for meaningful dialogue and networking.
The 2024 BBIP forum will feature an impressive lineup of industry leaders, including Charlotte Abrams-Simpson, Art Director at Orion Fiction; Nkanyezi Tshabalala, Head of Communications at Pan Macmillan South Africa; Nancy Adimora, Founder of Afreada; Bunmi Ishola, Editor at Penguin Random House; and Zakia Henderson, Senior Editor at The New Press, among others. These influential figures will share their insights, expertise, and strategies for creating a more inclusive publishing landscape.
Boluwatito Sanusi, Assistant Editor and creator of the BBIP initiative at Cassava Republic, expressed excitement about the programme’s expansion, stating, “The impact of last year’s Being Black in Publishing forum was transformative, both in the level of engagement and the meaningful connections it created. Expanding the internship programme to Southern and Eastern Africa is a critical step forward, as we believe this will create more pathways for young African professionals to gain industry experience, network with peers and experts, and ultimately help shape a more inclusive future for publishing.”
The BBIP internship programme, which began in Nigeria in 2023, will now extend to South Africa, Kenya, and other parts of Southern and Eastern Africa, providing aspiring publishing professionals with hands-on experience and invaluable networking opportunities at leading publishing houses such as Jonathan Ball Publishers, Jacana Media, Masobe Books, Narrative Landscape, and Jahazi Press.
As the global publishing industry continues to grapple with issues of representation and diversity, Cassava Republic’s Being Black in Publishing programme stands as a testament to the power of collective action and the transformative potential of empowering emerging African and Afro-diasporic talent. With its expanded reach and robust lineup of industry experts, the 2024 BBIP forum is poised to be a pivotal event in the ongoing quest for a more inclusive and equitable publishing landscape.
