Cassava Republic Press is excited to announce the return of its Being Black in Publishing (BBIP) initiative, following the success of its inaugural year. The programme a unique platform dedicated to increasing African and Afrodiasporic representation in publishing through panel discussions, workshops, and internship programmes. BBIP empowers aspiring Black professionals with the knowledge, skills, and networks they need to thrive. This year, BBIP will feature a roster of industry experts, panel discussions, and an expanded internship programme with new opportunities across Southern and Eastern Africa.
In 2023, BBIP brought together over 500 participants from around the world, along with 15 distinguished panellists. The 2024 forum will take place virtually throughout November 2024, offering participants an opportunity to engage with publishing professionals from various sectors, including editorial, design, literary agenting, and digital marketing. Featured panellists include high-profile industry leaders such as Charlotte Abrams-Simpson, Art Director at Orion Fiction; Nkanyezi Tshabalala, Head of Communications at Pan Macmillan South Africa; Nancy Adimora, Founder of Afreada; Bunmi Ishola, Editor at Penguin Random House; and Zakia Henderson, Senior Editor at The New Press, alongside other influential figures.
Building on the success of last year, the BBIP internship programme, which began in Nigeria in 2023, will now extend to Southern and Eastern Africa. Aspiring professionals will secure internships with prominent publishing houses such as Jonathan Ball Publishers and Jacana Media in South Africa, Masobe Books and Narrative Landscape in Nigeria, and Jahazi Press in Kenya. These internships provide invaluable hands-on experience and networking opportunities, helping participants gain a foothold in the industry.
Assistant Editor and creator of the initiative, Boluwatito Sanusi at Cassava Republic, commented: “The impact of last year’s Being Black in Publishing forum was transformative, both in the level of engagement and the meaningful connections it created. Expanding the internship programme to Southern and Eastern Africa is a critical step forward. We believe this will create more pathways for young African professionals to gain industry experience, network with peers and experts, and ultimately help shape a more inclusive future for publishing.”
Operating out of Abuja and London, Cassava Republic Press is a pioneering publisher of award-winning fiction, non-fiction, and children’s books from Africa and its Diasporas. With a catalogue that spans over 17 years, and more than 6 million books sold globally, Cassava Republic Press is committed to sharing stories from the Global Black World; Lagos to Lima, Kingston to Kinshasa, Nairobi to New York.
How to Join the 2024 BBIP Forum
The virtual forum will be held throughout November 2024. The event is free and open to Black individuals from around the world, offering a platform for meaningful discussions on how to create a more inclusive global publishing industry. The programme will cover a wide range of topics to empower emerging talent with the skills, knowledge, and networks needed to thrive in the competitive world of publishing.
For more information and press inquiries, please contact: Rhoda Nuhu marketing@cassavarepublic.biz
Ibrahim Babátúndé Ibrahim
Ibrahim is a Nigerian writer and editor currently based in the UK. He won the Quramo Writers' Prize in 2022 and was selected for the Best Small Fictions anthology in 2024. He was a finalist for the Faber Children's FAB Prize (2023), the Miles Morland Writing Scholarship (2022), a Masters Review anthology prize (2023), and twice for the Moon City Short Fiction Award (2022 & 2023). He has also been longlisted for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize (2022), the Laura Kinsella Fellowship (2022), and the Dzanc Diverse Voices Prize (2021). He has multiple nominations for both the Pushcart Prize and the Best of the Net. Among other things, he is currently the Managing Editor at JAY Lit and a Fiction Judge at NYC Midnight. He’s @heemthewriter on Twitter and Facebook, and @writtenbyheem on Instagram and Threads. His work can be found on https://linktr.ee/heemthewriter.
