2024-03-14 23:26:53
From the very renowned Ngugi wa Thiong’o, to more contemporary authors like Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor, Kenyan literature is booming. Readers are increasingly hungry for local stories. But getting published remains a challenge for many writers, especially when starting out. Sometimes you have to turn abroad or publish on your own.
From our correspondent in Nairobi,
The shelves of Soma Nami in Nairobi are filled with authors from the continent. The independent bookstore claims to be pan-African. She has also just launched her own publishing house. Wendy Njoroge, one of the co-founders, explains: “ There are gaps in Kenya in terms of publications of works of fiction or non-fictional literature. Few publishing houses risk it. Our goal is to be able to introduce East African stories to the rest of the world. Many films are based on books. The idea would even be that the book is a first step in nourishing a broader landscape with East African stories. »
Kiarie Kamau is well aware of these shortcomings, despite public demands for Kenyan literature. He is CEO of a publishing house and president of the Kenya Publishers Association. “ The publishing sector is very dynamic in Kenya, but mainly in one area: school textbooks, explains the publishing professional. I would say that they represent between 85 to 90% of the books published. And this is because they provide almost immediate income, especially if one responds to a government call for tenders which are generally paid within six to eight months. For fiction, profitability takes longer, it requires publishing houses to have more capital. »
Self-publishing
Faced with these difficulties, Joan Thatiah decided to self-publish her works. She recognizes that the investment is risky. The writer says she spent a little over 1,500 euros to obtain 1,000 copies of her first book. “ I had to look for an editor, a designer for the book, then there is the whole legal aspect, copyrights, and finally the printing which is very expensive, she explains. And in the end, we don’t know if the books will sell. I put all my savings into it, it was a real gamble! »
Today, Joan does not regret her decision, because she now manages to make a living from her profession as a writer. “ It’s a lot of work, but for me, self-publishing is more profitable than if I had gone through a publishing house “, she assures. Of his nine books, only one has been published by a publishing house, Nigeria. « I profit regarding 50% of the income from the books sold, compared to 10% that a Kenyan publishing house promised me. », further specifies Joan Thatiah.
Drawing on this experience, the writer today helps beginning Kenyan writers navigate the world of self-publishing and thus encourage the growth of Kenyan literature.
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