06-07-2025
How untold stories in African languages could turn the page on publishing
African stories and languages could unlock billions for the continent's publishing industry if governments back local writers, a Unesco report has found. Africa's book market, now worth $7 billion, could reach $18bn with more homegrown books in local languages.
The African book industry, from authors to distributors and publishers, represents 5.4 percent of the global publishing industry, according to a new report from Unesco – which found that African literature has a growing influence around the world.
The report – which covers the 54 Unesco member states in Africa – demonstrates that this potential is largely underexploited, and examines solutions to increase publishing on the continent.
"The African Book Industry: Trends, Challenges & Opportunities for Growth" reports that the continent has all the means to develop a lucrative sector that would create jobs.
There are 6,400 publishers in Africa, publishing 86,000 titles per year on average. The continent is home to 8,000 public libraries, 270 annual book festivals and fairs, and 200 professional publishing associations.
Current trends include an increase in formats such as comics and graphic novels, a new focus on publishing for children and young people, and African books being made into films.
Africa has also seen rapid growth in digital reading. "Over the past years, we've seen a big push on digital platforms, and particularly in young publishers going this way," Caroline Munier, culture programme specialist at Unesco, told RFI. "This can play a transformative role".
Read more on RFI EnglishRead also:Nigerian literary giant Wole Soyinka releases new novel in FranceAfrican book fair in Paris celebrates diversity of diaspora voicesInterview: Tanzanian-born novelist Abdulrazak Gurnah, a Nobel laureate
