On the face of it, nigeria has a vibrant book publishing industry with perhaps. Membership is open to publishers registered as limited liability companies in nigeria that have published a stipulated number of books. Some of the history of these countries, however, is naturally mentioned in this history of the rest of africa but is kept to the minimum needed to make the rest comprehensible. It is a rallying point for all book, journals, and electronic publishers in the country since its inception. Historical background and development of the nigeria press in the political arena the historical background and development of the nigerian press commenced with the printing media on 3 rd december 1859 by a christian missionary named reverend henry townsend who established the first newspaper in nigeria called iwe iroyin fun awon egba ati. It borders on the gulf of guinea an arm of the atlantic ocean in the south, on benin in the west, on niger in the northwest and north, on chad in the northeast, and on cameroon in the east. Reviews the historical background to the developments of the nigerian book industry. National development planning in nigeria can be divided into three different phases according to the time in which they took place and the manner of development planning involved in each phase. I hope my book, another mans war, will shatter some of the prejudices around nigeria, and make readers think about britains imperial legacy in a new way. It entails lots of stressful processes, beginning from building the concept of the book, to doing a first draft, sending it for proofreading and then catering for the required finance to see that ideas. Americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie, things fall apart by chinua achebe, half of a yellow sun by chimamanda ngozi adichie, p.
In the history of nigeria, toyin falola serves us a general sweep of nigeria s storied history beginning from the precolonial times right up to the dawn of the new millenium just as the country was making its second experiment with democracy. The association provides a forum through which publishers come together and deliberate on various issues affecting the publishing industry and the book trade at large. The name you are called is a sign of what you are and what you would become. And, they advised themselves to get away from abuja to lagos. The depth of research into the events, activities, personalities involved in the planning, execution, who did what, how and its implication is stunning. A brief history of printing in nigeria nigerian voice. Textsworth publishing limited is a publishing firm in lagos, that publishes market leading textbooks and instructional materials such as textbooks, revision guides, story books, maps, dictionaries, encyclopedias, charts, activity books and others. They also cover large portions of kwara state, and even edo state. Apr 24, 2008 the book, a history of nigeria by toyin falola and mathew heaton is generally informative, especially for those who want a quick understanding of nigeria s origins, its very diverse social and ethnic make up, and the causes of existing internal tensions and its seeming inability to move from a mere political space created by external forces. List of business books companies and services in nigeria. Harold baines presents a true story of being a target of one of these scams.
The importance of publishing, determination of the book publishing to undertake. This research examines the early history of book publishing in nigeria using the onibonje publishers, a sole proprietor and family venture in nigeria, as a case study. Its imprint, lantern books, is a household name in nigeria and west africa. Small scale publishing, moneyspinning venture the guardian. Before the 1914 amalgamation of the diverse peoples on the geographical entity named nigeria, publishing. Books were hand copied mostly by members of religious orders. How to publish a book in nigeria information guide in nigeria. At the publishing company i work for, we recruited 2 of our authors from the absolute write forum.
And if youre persistent and your work is great, i dont see why you shouldnt make it in the end. Using the swot analysis, the research looks at some of the strengths, challenges, basic problems and opportunities associated with the book publishing in nigeria. Ahistoryofnigeria assets cambridge university press. Literamed publications nigeria ltd, a leading childrens book publisher in nigeria was incorporated in 1969. Today, literamed publications limited is nigeria s leading childrens book publisher, and its imprint, lantern books, has become a household name in nigeria and throughout west africa. Along this line the paper examines the brief history and state of. What is the history of book publishing in nigeria answers. Book publishers in lagos, nigeria list of book publishers.
The npa is the only collective voice of publishers in nigeria. For any book to be published in nigeria you need a good fund, editors, publishing company, proper licensing. The largest ethnic groups are hausa and fulani in the north, the yoruba in the southwest, and the igbo in the southeast. The coming of age of book publishing and indexing in nigeria. Nigerias military coup culture is a wellresearched book on nigerias military experience. Lack of professional expertise in bibliographic work and marketing. Book publishers in nigeria list of book publishers nigeria. Inadequacy of indigenous publishing in the country. Home page nigerian publishers association nigerian. For eons, piracy in african book publishing has been something that booksellers. With 24 titles on its list including the work of chimamanda ngozi adichie the company is leading a revolution in the movement to publish books by africans for africans. Before the 1914 amalgamation of the diverse peoples on the geographical entity named nigeria, publishing had been in existence some 68 years earlier.
Read the problems and prospects of book publishing in nigeria. This guide shows you how to publish your book stepbystep. Though farafina continues to struggle against the limitations of publishing in nigeria, notably poor. Nigeria history, west african history, books barnes. Internet publishing has also reduced paper publishing in nigeria. Because of the absence of predetermined qualifications or conditions to be met, book publishing. The new gong publishers of new african fiction, poetry. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. A brief history of printing in nigeria the nigerian voice. Because of the absence of predetermined qualifications or conditions to be met, book publishing is one of the most unregulated industries in nigeria. History of publishing, an account of the selection, preparation, and marketing of printed matter from its origins in ancient times to the present.
Any attempt to write a history book on africas largest country is always going to be a major undertaken. In 1948, a uk newspaper daily mirror successfully bought into the nigerian printing and publishing company, thus bringing forth the first rotary printing press imported into nigeria from england. But they must have looked at their account books to see how many books their people sold. Search the worlds most comprehensive index of fulltext books. A landmark in the history of printing in nigeria was made with the inauguration of the nigerian printing and publishing company in 1925 to publish the nigerian daily times. Cunliffejones dissects the british and his familys legacy in a history of nigeria blended with personal memoir, and his conclusions are often harsh. Introduction book publishing in nigeria is essentially private and unregulated nigerian publishers association the main professional body for book publishers was established in 1965. Progressively, the printing business in nigeria continued to grow due to its viability, which accounted for well over 30 print houses as at 1930. Nnamdi azikiwe established their own news outfits and they used these to promote their political interests. A landmark in the history of printing in nigeria was made with the inauguration of the nigerian printing and publishing company in 1925 to. The study examines the problems of book publishing industry in nigeria as books are effective medium of communication for intellectualism. Book publishing in nigeria is one of the oldest businesses in the history of the nation. The art of publishing in nigeria still needs some adjustment in order to make publishing reachable to many nigerians who wish to publish their work.
The study is descriptive and data sourced from secondary sources. How can i find the best publishing companies in abuja. The activity has grown from small beginnings into a vast and complex industry responsible for the dissemination of all manner of cultural material. The italian luca pacioli, recognized as the father of accounting and bookkeeping was the first person to publish a work on doubleentry bookkeeping, and introduced the field in italy. A free society reader rises to the challenge of freedom in the twentyfirst century, offering thoughts and insights with significant implications for citizens of todays brand new world.
The new gong is a publisher of african books in lagos, nigeria, which marked its debut with remembering ken sarowiwa and other essays by adewale majapearce, and war games, a novel by dulue mbachu. How a boutique nigerian book publisher is breaking into the us market. This represents the very first news media that was published in nigeria and it was published in the southwest. We take great pride in the quality of books that are printed here at gsap. This is a pioneer book on the yoruba military generals of the 19th century covering their individual careers, military alliances and the consequences of their actions on the society.
Mar 30, 2014 42 thoughts on how to selfpublish a book in nigeria in five easy steps. History of publishing magazine publishing britannica. Melrose books and publishing limited is a book publishing company located in abuja, providing services on publishing and marketing of educational books of all. The subjects of the papers range from the economics of publishing in nigeria and the prospects for the industry in the electronic age, through debates about government book policies, to training and the role of publishing organisations both in nigeria and internationally. Unqualified authorpublishers, poor production, inadequate distribution, and lack of capital are all evident. According to statistics, they make up as much as 35% of the total population of nigeria.
Childrens literature may be a modern genre, but there is a long history of writing for children with some surprisingly unchanging elements. The book publishing business requires a lot of patience. A discussion of the advantages of having a welldeveloped indigenous publishing industry follows, along with recommendations for establishing and promoting such an. Yorubas are one of the most popular ethnic groups in nigeria. Every time someone asks us, was this book really printed here in nigeria. May 10, 2015 small scale publishing, moneyspinning venture. Focuses on the book publishing industry in nigeria. The book aims to be the leading authority and definitive reference point for a seminal decade of crisis that shaped modern nigeria. In making sure that this form of art, written art, still stands, i will be sharing with you these five easy steps to publishing a book in nigeria, and im sure it will work anywhere in the world.
List of best book publishers in lagos, nigeria, top book publishers in lagos, nigeria, book publishers near me, best book publishers. Issues like poor financing, government regulation, poor reading culture, piracy and dearth of expertise were interrogated. Culture of nigeria history, people, clothing, traditions. Essay about a brief history of library automation 1507 words.
So if you have a story to tell, let us help you to get it published. Brief history of yoruba people, culture, religion and. A large ad in the new york times c paid for by the central bank of nigeria warns readers of the ongoing professional scam operation being run out of nigeria. The christian missionaries who came from great britain introduced formal western education to nigeria, just before the middle of the 19 th century. Read, highlight, and take notes, across web, tablet, and phone. It was july 2010 that the idea to publish a book became more intense. By publishing textbooks by established authors in line with approved curriculums to story books which serve as a springboard for young readers, lantern books. Beltam publishers nig ltd is a book publishing outfit based in lagos, publishing textbooks for nursery and primary schools.
The latest book covers the abacha to obasanjo years in nigeria. Whilst several authors have documented the history of nigeria and significantly less many of its army, rarely, if ever, has the impact of the politics of nigeria on the army, and viceversa, formed the exclusive subject of study. Nigerian book publisher cassava republic is opening shop in the. When exploring the history of library automation, it is possible to return to past centuries when visionaries well before the computer age. List of books and articles about nigerian history online. A new political philosophy for nigeria and other african countries, 1967. The study examines the problems of book publishing ind ustry i n nigeria as books are effective medium of communication for intellectualism. Dec 23, 2011 today, literamed publications limited is nigerias leading childrens book publisher, and its imprint, lantern books, has become a household name in nigeria and throughout west africa.
The onibonje publishers experience after 50 years iwu juliana james iwu juliana james is a librarian at covenant university, in canaanland, ota, ogun state, nigeria. Problems in providing adequate numbers of highquality books. Problems and prospects of book publishing in nigeria. Were in the busiest and noisiest era in publishing history. Book publishing in nigeria is essentially a private sector affair. Names are powerful and are prophecies of the future. Christian missionaries laid the foundation for book production in nigeria. Jude idada, didi kanu and the singing dwarfs of the north. Although the years since nigerias return to civilian rule in 1999 have seen an increased interest in its history and politics, nigeria remains one of the most. All you require to become a publisher is to erect a signpost outside your office or residence.
Precolonial muslim scholars brought book to areas of northern nigeria ca. Aug 20, 2010 established in 2004, farafina books has become one of nigerias leading independent literary publishers. There are plenty of literary agents and publishers in abuja keen to make your project take form into publications, whether you want to create a magazine, a newspaper or you want to see your novel at the book store. Much of subsaharan africas indigenous print and publishing history is most deeply. Except the lagosbased poet, adolphus amasiatu ii, author of diary of a poet, it is rare to see a nigerian writer who will admit receiving a dime from his publisher s. Jun 03, 2015 history of book publishing in nigeria precolonial era colonial era early independence era onitsha market literature indigenization of publishing kano market literature 4. In 1452, johannes gutenberg a german blacksmith craftsman, goldsmith, printer, and inventorprinted copies of the bible on the gutenberg press, an innovative printing press machine that used movable type. And generally for any book to sell, proper and adequate knowledge of what you are righting about is required.
His book arthashasthra contains few detailed aspects of maintaining books of accounts for a sovereign state. Subscribe to the daily brief, our morning email with news and insights. Book publishing and piracy in nigeria nigerian law. Problems of the book publishing industry in nigeria. This is a short history of africa excluding egypt, ethiopia and dutch and british south africa, which are the subjects of separate histories. Literamed has in its stable over 400 titles of books all widely accepted in nigerian schools. Book launching is killing book publishing in nigeria langaa rpcig. Book advertisements, by about 1650 a regular feature of the newssheets, sometimes had brief comments added, and regular catalogs began to appear, such as the english quarterly mercurius librarius, or a catalogue of books 166870. At the 2007 nigeria book trust foundation book fair in lagos, in may, the ibadanbased writer, tony marinho, complained bitterly of being reaped off by his publishers. Book publishing in nigeria has seen some development. Advantages of indigenous publishing in promoting nigerian history, culture, language and social and economic life.