The State of Literary Agencies in Africa: A Focus on Children’s Books

By Christian Elongue & Scortia Quansah, Muna Kalati

Introduction

The literary landscape in Africa is vibrant and diverse, reflecting the continent’s rich cultural heritage and storytelling traditions. Despite the challenges, the resilience of African writers and literary agencies is genuinely admirable. However, the infrastructure supporting writers, particularly in children’s literature, is still developing.

Literary agencies play a crucial role in this ecosystem, acting as intermediaries between authors and publishers, nurturing talent, and ensuring that African stories reach a global audience. They are representatives for negotiating, pitching, scouting for publishing, securing the best deals for a client, and working closely with publishers. They engage with authors and illustrators by crafting ideas for the editorial process and shaping ideas into fruition. Unlike in Europe, the US, and Asia, literary agencies in Africa are not well known or adequately integrated into the book industry. Less than a dozen literary agencies in Africa specialise in children’s books, compared to hundreds in other parts of the world.

This article delves into the current state of African literary agencies, focusing on those specialising in children’s books. We will explore the obstacles and opportunities within this sector, identify significant stakeholders, and provide actionable recommendations for the way forward, highlighting relevant initiatives by Muna Kalati.

A Growing but Uneven Presence

African literary agencies serve multiple vital functions:

They identify and nurture new voices in African literature, including emerging children's book authors and illustrators.
They negotiate contracts, protect authors' rights, and manage relationships with publishers on behalf of their clients.
They help authors navigate the complex publishing landscape within Africa and internationally.
They help preserve and celebrate diverse African cultures and languages.

Their presence on the continent is growing, but their distribution remains uneven. Countries like South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya have seen a more robust development of literary agencies, while many other nations are still in the nascent stages of establishing this crucial link in the publishing chain. In the realm of children's books, the landscape is even more sparse. Few agencies specialise exclusively in children's literature, and we’d explore some obstacles they commonly experience.

Obstacles Facing Literary Agencies in Africa

Obstacles may vary upon context. Below are commonly observed challenges across Africa:

Financial Constraints: The publishing industry in Africa is often underfunded, making it difficult for literary agencies to sustain their operations. This financial instability affects their ability to invest in new talent, attend international book fairs, or provide comprehensive services to their authors and market African literature globally.
Market Fragmentation: Africa’s literary market is highly fragmented, with significant variations in language and culture, as well as economic and regulatory environments across different regions. This fragmentation challenges literary agencies trying to create a unified market strategy2 or achieve economies of scale.
Piracy and Copyright Issues: The prevalence of book piracy in Africa undermines the financial viability of the publishing industry. Authors and publishers lose significant revenue to illegal copies, which discourages investment in new literary works.
Limited infrastructure and distribution channels: Many African countries lack robust publishing infrastructure, such as printing facilities, distribution networks, libraries, and bookstores. This underdevelopment makes it challenging for agencies to place their authors' works effectively and allow books to reach their intended audience.
Digital Divide: While digital publishing offers new opportunities, many parts of Africa still face challenges in internet connectivity and access to digital devices. This divide limits the reach of e-books and online marketing efforts to only those concentrated in larger cities.
Shortage of Specialized Expertise in children's book publishing and international rights management. This can hinder agencies' ability to effectively represent children's book authors and illustrators globally.

Despite the existing challenges, there are several opportunities for growth and innovation.

Opportunities for Growth and Innovation

Across Africa, factors that indicate opportunities and growth of literary agencies include:

Growing Demand for Diverse Stories: There is a growing global demand for diverse stories and voices that reflect different cultures and experiences. With its rich storytelling traditions, African children's literature is well-positioned to meet this demand. For example, initiatives like Accord Literary, aim to expand contemporary African fiction for young readers through mentoring and global partnerships.
The rise of digital publishing offers new opportunities for African authors to reach a global audience. E-books and print-on-demand technologies can help overcome some traditional distribution hurdles.
Collaborations and Partnerships among African literary agencies on the continent allow for knowledge sharing and a more unified approach to tackling common challenges. International organisations can also provide much-needed support, funding, and exposure for African writers. Moreover, initiatives promoting cultural exchange between African countries and the rest of the world create opportunities for literary agencies to forge international partnerships and showcase African talent. For example, Muna Kalati’s involvement in UNICEF’s Startup Lab aims to improve literacy in Africa through Muna Kalati App, a centralised platform promoting African children’s books.
Promoting multilingual publishing would help preserve Africa’s linguistic heritage and make literature more accessible to children. Muna Kalati has organised several advocacy programs, such as Muna Kalati Talks, to raise awareness and encourage reading and publishing in African languages. Platforms like StoryWeaver by Pratham Books, Sub-Saharan Publishers, African Bureau Stories and TNG Publishing enable the creation and sharing of storybooks in African languages, addressing the issue of language diversity.
Literary Festivals and Book Fairs provide platforms for African authors to showcase their work and connect with publishers, agents, and readers. Events like the Nairobi International Book Fair, Ake Arts and Book Festival, Cape Town International Book Fair and the Lagos Book and Art Festival are crucial for promoting African literature.
Need for training and resources as many aspiring writers lack access to the resources and training necessary to hone their craft. This is particularly true for children’s book authors, who require specialized knowledge in child psychology and pedagogy. The scarcity of creative writing programs and workshops, specifically tailored for children's book authors, exacerbates this and is an opportunity to leverage on.

Significant Stakeholders in Africa and Beyond

Indigenous publishing houses are crucial partners for literary agencies, providing outlets for local authors and illustrators. Some of them include:

Accord Literary: Founded by Deborah Ahenkorah and Sarah Odedina, Accord Literary focuses on representing Africa-based writers of middle-grade and YA fiction. Their goal is to reach young readers around the world through open submission calls, writing workshops, and online seminars.
African Literary Agency of Bieke Van Aggelen, who empowers African voices in literature by bringing the best stories from the continent to publishers worldwide. The agency specialises in adult fiction, speculative fiction, and children’s books.
Muna Kalati also federates a network of 1700 digital publishing actors, booksellers, publishers, illustrators, and authors to enhance the visibility and accessibility of African children’s literature7.
World Arts Agency (WAA): a south African agency making significant strides in the literary scene by representing a diverse range of African writers8.
International Organizations like UNICEF, UNESCO, the African Publishers Network (APNET), the International Publishers Association (IPA) and the British Council play a vital role in supporting literacy and publishing initiatives in Africa. Their programs and funding help address some of the challenges faced by the literary sector.

Major global publishing houses are increasingly looking to diversify their offerings, creating opportunities for African agencies to place their authors' works internationally. Ministries of Education and Culture also shape policies that affect the book industry, including curriculum development and language policies. Organisations focused on literacy and education often partner with publishers and agencies to develop and distribute children's books.

Actionable Recommendations for the Way Forward

Establish specialized Children's Book Agencies focusing exclusively on children's literature to develop expertise in this niche market. Then provide training and mentorship programs for agents specialising in children's books.
Advocate for Supportive Policies by engaging with government bodies to develop policies that support the growth of the publishing industry, such as tax incentives for book production and distribution. Also, push for the inclusion of more African literature in national curricula.
Donors can sponsor the development of more Training Resources, creative writing programs, and workshops tailored to children’s literature. Partnerships with universities and international organisations can provide the necessary expertise and funding for these trainings. For example, training can occur at international conferences and similar fora. Currently, they are scarce despite the increased demand for professional workshops and training sessions on international rights management, contract negotiation, and digital marketing. Muna Kalati’s advocacy programs and writing workshops are excellent examples of initiatives that can be expanded.
Funding: Governments and private sector stakeholders should invest in the publishing industry to ensure its sustainability. Grants, subsidies, and tax incentives can encourage investment in literary agencies and new talent. Muna Kalati’s involvement in UNICEF’s Startup Lab demonstrates the potential of innovative funding solutions. Book professionals should also explore more Alternative Funding Models such as crowdfunding and micropublishing options to support niche projects; or partnerships with corporate sponsors interested in supporting literacy and cultural initiatives.
Innovate in book distribution infrastructure by investing in bookstores, libraries, and user-friendly digital platforms. We must strongly explore partnerships with non-traditional outlets such as supermarkets, mobile libraries, and community centres to reach more readers. Collaborations with tech companies to develop mobile apps for easy access to African children's literature, the development of e-book platforms and online bookstores. StoryWeaver’s digital platform is a model that can be replicated.
Promote Multilingual Publishing through publication of books in indigenous African languages to preserve linguistic heritage and improve literacy rates. Advocacy programs like Muna Kalati Talks have raised awareness and drive demand for multilingual books.
Strengthen Anti-Piracy Measures by implementing stricter copyright laws and enforcement mechanisms to combat book piracy. Public awareness campaigns can educate readers about the negative impact of piracy on the publishing industry.
Foster Pan-African and international Collaborations. Before looking outside, it’s important to create a network of African literary agencies to share resources, knowledge, and best practices. One of the resources that I believe would be immensely valuable is a centralized rights database for African literature to facilitate rights trading across the continent and beyond. Then, build partnerships with international literary agencies, publishers, and organisations to provide African writers with global exposure and support. Accord Literary’s global partnerships serve as a successful model1 and there could also be more exchange programs with established literary agencies in other parts of the world.
Utilize technology to connect writers with literary agents and publishers. Online platforms can facilitate submissions, feedback, and mentorship. Muna Kalati’s App is an innovative solution that leverages technology to promote African children’s books, enabling publishers to sell and distribute their books globally.

Conclusion

As literary agencies continue to evolve and adapt to the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the African market, they have the potential to play a transformative role in shaping the future of publishing on the continent and beyond. The stories of Africa are waiting to be told. With the right support and strategies, literary agencies can ensure that these voices reach the ears of children everywhere, fostering a new generation of readers and thinkers who appreciate the diversity and richness of African literature. Initiatives by organisations like Muna Kalati, Accord Literary, and the African Literary Agency are already making significant contributions, and with continued support and innovation, the future of African children’s literature looks bright.

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