Being Black In Publishing

Cassava Republic Press is thrilled to announce the launch of an exciting and transformative month-long initiative, “Being Black in Publishing”. This initiative is part of our commitment to encourage and increase the participation and entry of more African and Afro-diasporic individuals into the publishing industry.

The “Being Black in Publishing” forum is a pioneering effort designed to connect seasoned Black publishing professionals from across the world with aspiring young African and Afro-diasporic individuals interested in finding out about a career in publishing. The month-long programme will provide participants with invaluable insights, skills, networks, and the guidance needed to break into the publishing industry from experts.

As part of our ongoing mission to address and rectify the significant underrepresentation of African and Afro-diasporic voices and perspectives in the global publishing industry, “Being Black in Publishing” will focus on the following objectives:

? Sharing Expertise: Black professionals from various fields within publishing will share their personal journeys, experiences, and expertise, offering invaluable guidance to aspiring publishers. Attendees will gain insights into the roles, responsibilities, and day-to-day challenges of professionals in the industry.

? Career Pathways: Attendees will learn about the various career pathways available within publishing, including editorial, design, marketing and sales. They will also gain insights into navigating and succeeding in these roles.

? Networking: The forum will facilitate networking opportunities, enabling participants to connect with peers and professionals, and fostering a sense of community within the industry.

Publishing experts in the forum include Thabiso Mahlape, Publisher at Black Bird Books; Anwuli Ojogwu, Publisher at Narrative Landscape; Ebyan Egal, Studio Manager at Penguin Random House, Leah Jacobs-Gordon, award-winning book cover illustrator; Natalie Jerome, literary agent at Originate Agency, Layla Mohamed, editor at Cassava Republic, and; Kemi Ogunsanwo, literary agent at The Good Literary Agency, amongst others.

The forum is free and open to African and Afro-diasporic individuals from across the world.

As part of the forum, young people based in Nigeria can apply for a 3-month internship starting in January 2024. The internship programme will allow young publishing professionals to gain hands-on experience in various aspects of the industry including editorial, marketing and sales. Partners in this program include Nigerian publishers and booksellers: Masobe Books, Narrative Landscape Press, Rasmed, and Roving Heights.

Applications for the internship program will be open throughout the month of October and successful applicants will be announced in December 2023.

Cassava Republic Press is proud to embark on this initiative to empower and inspire the next generation of Black publishing professionals. Join us in making a lasting impact on the African and Afro-diasporic publishing landscape!

To register for the virtual programs, sign up here

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