ABC gratefully acknowledges the support of: Hivos, the Humanist Institue for Cooperation with Developing Countries

  • Subscribe

    To receive monthly new releases via email or request a catalogue click here. Or you can subscribe to our RSS feed. 

  • News & Events

    We look forward to meeting customers at the London Book Fair. Visit us at stand W430.

    Africa is the focus at the Goteburg Book Fair, September 23-26. ABC along with participating publishers will be exhibiting.

About us

Mission Statement

African Books Collective, founded, owned and governed by African publishers, seeks to strengthen indigenous African publishing through collective action and to increase the visibility and accessibility of the wealth of African scholarship and culture.

Who we are

African Books Collective (ABC) is a non-profit Oxford-based, worldwide marketing and distribution outlet for over 1,000 titles from Africa - scholarly, literature and children's books. It is founded, owned and governed by a group of African publishers, and its participants are 124 independent and autonomous African publishers from 21 countries.

Support from funding agencies is received for development of publishing capacity in Africa; and resource materials are published for the African book and publishing communities.

Michigan State University Press is ABC's N. American partner, handling marketing and distribution in the US and Canada. MSUP has a university press mission. The scholarly publishing arm of Michigan State University, it helps to carry out the institution's land-grant mission through the publication of research and intellectual inquiry that make significant contributions to scholarship in the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences.

History

A group of African publishers met in 1985. This self-help initiative arose from the constraints publishers were experiencing in financing, marketing and distributing their books, and the dearth of African published materials in the North. Collectively, it would be possible to strengthen the economic base of independent  African publishers and meet the needs of Northern libraries and other book buyers. Operations began in 1989, after securing sufficient support from funding agencies. ABC has, over time, adapted itself to changing markets and methodologies, although its founding ethos and aims remain unchanged.

Aims

  • A vibrant, self-sustaining and independent publishing industry emanating from within African culture.
  • African writers and scholars publishing with independent African publishers. 
  • African literature in the mainstream of international literary output.
  • African scholarship strongly represented in the international intellectual community.
  • Appreciation of African aesthetics and cultural identity.

New Strategy 2007

ABC has restrategised from 2007, consequent on the end of its Strategic Plan 2002-2006. Through two new commercial partnerships, ABC will continue its core strategy to market and distribute indigenously African-published books worldwide. At the same time, funding agency support for 3 years will underpin development work to strengthen the African publishing industry through the collective work of the 114 publishers working together in ABC. Ownership of ABC remains with African publishers; its cultural mission continues.

The new strategy is framed in the context of ABC’s cultural mission: disseminating African indigenous knowledge and culture through books, ensuring that the voice of Africa through its scholars and writers is accessible in debates and issues about its own development and future; and supporting African publishers through sales of their books, contributing to cultural, economic, and social development in Africa. That support remains for the preserve of local, rather than multinational, publishers.

Michigan State University Press continues as ABC’s N. American distribution partner.

Whilst the strategy is maintained, the methodologies have changed, reflecting the rapid and evolving changes in the book supply chain; and the positive impact of new technologies. The greater part of ABC’s current list, and future new titles, will become available through Print-on-Demand; and select titles will be stocked by a leading UK wholesaler.

Click here to read a 2009 case study of ABC’s new strategy.

ABC has relocated within Oxford to reflect changed accommodation and warehouse needs. Orders will continue to be processed direct by ABC, or its partner in US, Michigan State University Press. At the same time, most titles are available direct from Lightning Source through its wholesale channels; and select titles are available from physical stock from Gardners Books UK.

Organisation and Structure

ABC is a collective owned by its 17 founder publishers. The founder publishers elect a five-member Council of Management which meets annually. The Council of Management is responsible for setting the collective’s policies and for its representation in the wider book and publishing world, in government, NGO and cultural organizations, within and outside Africa. 

ABC is a UK-registered company limited by guarantee. It has two UK non-executive directors who are legally responsible for the company. ABC seeks to be profit making on behalf of its publishers, and is non-profit making on its own behalf.

The day-to-day running of the collective is from a secretariat in Oxford. The staff is responsible for implementing the policies set by the Council of Management.

For a list of staff and their responsibilities, click here

The Books

ABC stocks largely English language titles in 39 subject disciplines. Some 150 new titles are added each year. There is an emphasis on scholarly and academic books, literature, and general culture titles. There are a small number of children’s titles in Swahili, and some titles in French.

All titles are available for immediate supply: either through Print-on-Demand, or from a UK wholesale partner. All POD titles are available through Lightning Source Print-on-Demand wholesale channels.

The Publishers

The collective is open to autonomous and independent publishers, and ABC actively seeks suitable titles for distribution outside Africa. For more information about publisher participation, click here.

ABC Participating Publishers

Benin

  • Centre Panfricain de Prospective Sociale/Pan-African Social Prospects Centre, Porto-Novo

Botswana

Cameroon

Eritrea

  • HDRI Publishers, Asmara

Ethiopia

Ghana

  • Afram Publications (Ghana) Ltd., Accra
  • Africa Christian Press, Accra
  • Association of African Universities Press
  • Blackmask, Accra
  • Freedom Publications, Accra
  • Ghana Universities Press, Accra
  • Nissio Fiagbedzi, Accra
  • Sankofa Educational Publishers, Accra
  • Sedco Publishing, Accra
  • SEM Financial Training Centre Ltd., Accra
  • Sub-Saharan Publishers, Accra
  • Third World Network – Africa, Accra
  • Woeli Publishing Services, Accra

Kenya

Lesotho

  • Institute of Southern African Studies, National University of Lesotho, Roma

Liberia

Malawi

  • Central Africana, Zomba
  • Chancellor College Publications, Zomba
  • E & V Publications, Blantyre
  • Kachere Series, Zomba
  • WASI (Writers Advisory Services International), Zomba

Mauritius

  • Editions VIZAVI, Port Louis

Namibia

  • Brookridge Publishing, Walvis Bay
  • Reader in Namibian Sociology, Windhoek
  • University of Namibia Press, Windhoek

Nigeria

  • African Heritage Press, Lagos
  • Apex Books, Lagos
  • The Book Company Ltd., Lagos
  • Compumetrics Solutions, Lagos
  • College Press Publishers, Ibadan
  • Concept Publishers, Oyo State
  • CSS Ltd, Lagos
  • Dokun Publishing House, Ibadan
  • Enicrownfit Publishers, Ibadan
  • Fourth Dimension Publishing Co. Ltd., Enugu
  • Handel Books, Eastern Nigeria
  • Heinemann Educational Books (Nigeria) plc, Ibadan
  • Humanities Publishers, Ibadan
  • Ibadan Cultural Studies Group, Ibadan
  • Ibadan University Press, Ibadan
  • Kraft Books, Lagos
  • Maiyati Chambers, Lagos
  • Malthouse Press Ltd., Lagos
  • New Horn Press, Ibadan
  • Niyi Osundare, Ibadan
  • Obafemi Awolowo University Press, Ile Ife
  • Onyoma Research Publications, Port Harcourt
  • Opon Ifa Readers, Lagos
  • Saros International Publishers, Port Harcourt
  • Spectrum Books Ltd., Ibadan
  • Statco Publishers, Lagos
  • University of Lagos Press, Lagos
  • University Press Ltd., Ibadan
  • Urhobo Historical Society, New York & Lagos
  • West African Book Publishers, Ltd, Lagos
  • Women’s Heath & Action Research, Benin City
  • Yintab Books, Lagos

Senegal

Sierra Leone

  • PenPoint Publishers, Freetown 

South Africa

Swaziland

  • Academic Publishers, Mbabane
  • JAN Publishing Centre, Mbabane
  • TTI Publishing Ltd, Mbabane

Tanzania

  • Centre for Energy, Environment, Science & Technology (CEEST), Dar es Salaam
  • Dar es Salaam University Press, Dar es Salaam
  • E & D Ltd., Dar es Salaam
  • Mkuki na Nyota Publishers, Dar es Salaam
  • Tanzania Publishing House, Dar es Salaam

Uganda

Zambia

  • Bookworld Publishers, Lusaka
  • Image Publishers, Lusaka
  • The Lembani Trust, Zambia, Lusaka
  • Multimedia Zambia, Lusaka
  • University of Zambia Press (UNZA Press), Lusaka
  • Zambia Women Writers Association, Lusaka

Zimbabwe

Document Actions