President of Afreximbank
Afreximbank, in partnership with CANEX Book Factory and Narrative Landscape Press Limited, has announced the launch of the CANEX Prize for Publishing in Africa and is inviting entries from publishers on the continent to submit published trade books for the inaugural Prize.
The CANEX programme, launched in 2020 by Afreximbank, aims to foster a dynamic literary culture across Africa. At the heart of this initiative is the CANEX Book Factory, which seeks to encourage the growth of a sustainable business ecosystem within the literary sector. Recognizing the potential and opportunities within the creative and cultural industries, Afreximbank views CANEX as a key driver for development and job creation in Africa.
The CANEX Book Factory aims to showcase and support the African book value chain by organizing a Pan-African writing workshop, publishing an e-newsletter that focuses on African literature, and instituting a prize for publishing in Africa. The program will conclude with an Award Ceremony at the CANEX WKND event, scheduled to take place in Algiers, Algeria between October 16 and 19, 2024.
The publisher of the best trade book will receive a USD20,000 prize. Trade books, which include fiction, non-fiction, and poetry for a general audience, will be considered. However, academic and textbook publications are excluded. In addition, four finalists will each receive USD2,000 in prize money.
Entries will be evaluated based on the quality of writing, editing, and production. Preference will be given to books that are printed and produced on the African continent, as well as those published in indigenous African languages. For the first year (2024), books published within the last two years will be eligible for consideration.
Canex is dedicated to fostering the growth and development of the creative and cultural economy in Africa and the diaspora. The initiative is aimed at creating an enabling environment for various creative sectors including fashion, music, film, art, literature, gastronomy, and sport. This will be accomplished through the use of a variety of financial and non-financial tools and initiatives.
To submit an entry, please visit https://canex.africa/canex-book-factory and for more information, go to https://www.afreximbank.com/afreximbank-announces-launch-of-canex-prize-for-publishing-in-africa/.
