215:"When I moved to Nigeria as an academic, there were all these interesting African writers being published abroad, and they’re not available locally.... So I decided, ‘okay, I’m going to start a publishing company’. Cassava Republic Press. I knew nothing, nothing nothing nothing, about publishing! I knew everything about reading and writing, but nothing about the business of publishing. 150 million people. 77 million of them young people under 30. How do we get those people reading? Those are the people I’m actually interested in converting. We want to convert minds. We want to convert them to question who they are, and also question society."
144:, with a focus on affordability, the need to find and develop local talent, and to publish African writers too often celebrated only in Europe and America. Cassava Republic's stated mission is "to change the way we all think about African writing. (...) to build a new body of African writing that links writers across different times and spaces." The publishing house is considered to be "at the centre of a thriving literary scene" that has seen Nigerian writers in particular, as well as writers from elsewhere on the African continent, having considerable success both at home and internationally.
390:: "Until now, much if not all of the African literature in the West has been filtered through the tastes of European and American publishers and editors, who often select works they judge to be historically significant, educational or prize worthy. Now, for the first time, an African publisher is choosing which books get exported, and as a result, Western readers are gaining access to a greater variety of titles, ranging from contemporary African romance and hard-boiled crime to epic fantasy and children’s books."
231:
Bakare-Yusuf emphasises the need for
Africans to be instrumental in publishing as well as writing books: "We started Cassava Republic Press because we wanted Africans to own the means of production, to be in charge of the storytelling and not just writing the stories but to own the facilities and the
219:
She has also said: "Visiting
Nigeria and encountering the paucity and limited range of books in homes, libraries and bookstores was heart-breaking. I wondered what kind of civilization and cultural confidence could be built when so many homes are emptied of books or when the current books available
420:
In
October 2019, Cassava Republic Press was announced as one of five African organizations each to have been awarded a $ 20,000 grant from the African Publishing Innovation Fund in order to launch innovative projects that will develop literacy, book accessibility, and the use of indigenous African
314:
was launched, with titles available in digital form as e-books, aiming to publish "a new kind of romance" that challenges conventional stereotypes, reflecting the lives and aspirations of modern
African women and men: "We want scenarios that discard dangerous notions of male dominance, control and
203:, to produce high-quality African literature at a price that would enable it to be enjoyed by as wide an audience as possible. They had no business or publishing experience, "just passion and a desire to see African stories written and owned by Africans. Inspirational figures in publishing such as
228:. I wanted a publishing house that will connect Africa to itself and its diaspora and vice versa. The idea of a Republic implies the end of a monarchy and a fresh start.... The strapline or slogan for the company is 'Feeding the African Imagination', which fits nicely with our brand name."
370:
as saying: " give symbolic legitimization to
African writing whether we like it or not and we are acutely aware if that. But we are always saying even if they are the centers for legitimization, the means of production must be owned by Africans." She also said, as reported by
315:
manipulation. Above all, we want writers who will allow
African women to see the best version of themselves in print." Founder Bakare-Yusuf has said: "I felt that our ideas about African literature needed to be more diverse.... We don’t think of African literature in terms of
335:, has described the move as "unprecedented: an African publishing house establishing a base in the UK after nearly ten years in Africa rather than the reverse. This is the birthing of African publishing onto the world stage." Titles launched in the UK include Elnathan John's
251:) but also for fiction in other genres, such as crime. In addition, the list includes books for children and young adults, and several titles have been on Nigeria's national curriculum. Among notable authors published by the company are
1251:
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newspaper has stated of the publishing house that "it is credited with innovation. From driving down the cost of books to using digital media to drive sales, Cassava has invariably sought to redefine the
African narrative."
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Cassava
Republic further expanded sales of its titles with a distribution deal to make the company's books directly available in US bookstores in 2017, when Bakare-Yusuf was quoted in
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In preference to the conventional route of selling publication rights to US publishers, Cassava
Republic instead distributes its own editions to American booksellers through
220:
rarely speak to or reflect the world the readers inhabit. I was struck deeply by this lack and decided to do something about it." Explaining the company's name, she says: "
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In 2015 Cassava
Republic Press announced plans to launch its titles in the UK in April 2016, with a presence at literary festivals as part of a partnership with the
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377:: "Our aim is to show the broader reading audience that there is more to African life and literature than what you might read in the news."
211:, were our guide", as Bakare-Yusuf has said: "The internet, Margaret Busby, and many mistakes were my greatest teachers!" She recalls,
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239:, Nigeria, Cassava Republic has built a reputation primarily for literary fiction (with authors including winners of the
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1252:"Cassava Republic Press, OkadaBooks Receive Inaugural $ 20,000 Grants Each from the African Publishing Innovation Fund"
384:, a Minnesota-based distributor, and this represents "a significant new landmark for African literature", according to
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772:"A Renewed Interest in Literature from Africa: Trailblazer Cassava Republic Press to Launch in the United Kingdom"
393:
Plans for Cassava Republic to launch an African-language imprint were announced by Bakare-Yusuf in November 2019.
1161:"Cassava Republic Press to Start African Language Imprint with $ 20,000 African Publishing Innovation Fund Grant"
828:"'One country at a time, one book at a time': An interview with Bibi Bakare-Yusuf from Cassava Republic Press"
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1202:"Cassava Republic Wins London Book Fair's 2018 Inclusivity in Publishing International Excellence Award"
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1071:"Leading African Publisher to launch in the UK introducing the finest new voices from the continent"
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in April 2018 Cassava Republic Press received the Inclusivity in Publishing Award, supported by
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1303:"VIDEO—Politics of the Belly vs Poetics of the Belly. Bibi Bakare on Book Culture in Africa"
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is a relatively affordable but nutritious food crop found across West Africa and in the
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790:"Interview | Bibi Bakare-Yusuf, Cassava Republic Press | Indie Publisher of the Week"
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994:"Ankara Press Debuts 6 African Romance Novels That are Better Than Mills & Boon"
319:. Yet, genre fiction is the mainstay of many publishing houses all over the world."
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413:. In September 2020, Bakare-Yusuf won the Distinguished Africanist Award from the
1142:"A Wave of New Fiction From Nigeria, as Young Writers Experiment With New Genres"
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Authors taken on by Cassava Republic who are now internationally known include
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After being based in Nigeria for a decade, Cassava Republic Press launched in
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1221:"New Honors for Bibi Bakare-Yusuf in the UK, Walter Mosley in the States"
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1089:"Nigeria: Abuja-Based Publishing House Cassava Republic Opens UK Office"
1338:"How a boutique Nigerian book publisher is breaking into the US market"
1123:"How a boutique Nigerian book publisher is breaking into the US market"
656:"Nigerian Publishing House Cassava Republic Comes to the UK This April"
221:
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1327:"Publisher Cassava Republic is changing the way we read about Nigeria"
1040:"Cassava Republic Press to publish leading African authors in the UK"
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1348:"Diversifying the voices of African literature | Bibi Bakare-Yusuf"
1354:"Bibi Yakare Yusuf about the transformation of African literature"
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236:
933:"Ankara Press, new romance imprint from Cassava Republic Press"
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694:"Publisher's expansion brings Nigerian writers to world stage"
731:"Feeding the African Imagination: Nigeria’s Cassava Republic"
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is a steering African book publishing company established in
909:"Cassava Republic unveils Nigeria's newest romance imprint"
188:
187:
In 2006, Bibi Bakare-Yusuf — previously an academic in the
405:'s Alison Morrison Diversity Award in March 2018. At the
1297:"Ankara Press: Q&A with Publisher Bibi Bakare-Yusuf"
970:"New 'empowering' romance imprint from Cassava Republic"
528:"Rebuilding the reading and writing culture (interview)"
1177:"IPG Independent Publishing Awards honour 2018 winners"
1104:"Leading African publishing house to launch in the U.K"
485:"Nigeria's Cassava Republic Press to Launch in the UK"
1314:"Why I chose an African publisher over a western one"
713:"Nigeria's Bibi Bakare-Yusuf: 'Our Brand Is Growing'"
1054:"African publisher Cassava Republic to launch in UK"
1027:"Cassava Republic to launch in the UK in April 2016"
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729:Otas, Belinda, and Tolu Ogunlesi (27 April 2010),
581:"Nigeria: Cassava Republic Captures Book Industry"
1360:, UniversitaetzuKoeln, 21 August 2019. YouTube.
8:
766:
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21:
676:"Cassava Republic Brings Africa to America"
1358:"Important Book Tips by Bibi Yakare Yusuf"
1087:Bagnetto, Laura Angela (20 January 2016).
20:
888:"Five Nigerian novelists you should read"
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461:
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343:Like A Mule Bringing Ice Cream to the Sun
232:infrastructure for telling the stories."
968:Carpenter, Caroline (17 December 2014).
814:"Bringing African writers to the public"
788:de Chamberet, Georgia (22 August 2021).
1052:Onwuemezi, Natasha (24 November 2015).
847:"Cassava Republic hosts Christmas Fair"
562:"A new chapter in Nigeria’s literature"
443:
1231:from the original on 15 September 2020
1219:Anderson, Porter (14 September 2020).
1179:, IPG (Independent Publishers Guild).
607:"Cassava Republic's Inventive Prowess"
310:In 2014, an associated imprint called
1140:Alter, Alexandra (23 November 2017).
952:"Ankara Press: A New Kind of Romance"
670:
668:
605:Elusoji, Solomon (27 February 2015),
331:. Founder Bakare-Yusuf, now based in
199:— set up a company, with her partner
7:
1379:Book publishing companies of Nigeria
950:Shercliff, Emma (15 December 2014),
478:
476:
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109:Cassava Republic Press; Ankara Press
1299:, Africa in Words, 16 January 2015.
1102:Quadri, Zaynab (26 November 2015).
483:Abrams, Dennis (30 November 2015).
1250:Teoh, Jacqulyn (30 October 2019).
1025:Barratt, Jess (24 November 2015),
886:Shercliff, Emma (8 December 2015)
749:"Interview with Bibi Bakare-Yusuf"
579:Adebisi, Yemi (12 February 2011),
432:"A New Chapter in African Writing"
14:
826:Kirkbride, Jasmin (13 May 2016).
711:Piesing, Mark (6 December 2016).
1121:Edozien, Frankie (12 May 2017).
1038:Felix, Chad (25 November 2015),
692:Fic, Maggie (27 November 2016).
526:Umaisha, Sumaila (17 May 2008).
511:, Aké Arts & Book Festival.
401:Cassava Republic Press won the
1374:2006 establishments in Nigeria
1091:. Radio France Internationale.
191:and Nigeria, holding a PhD in
83:South Africa: Pan Macmillan SA
1:
1384:Literary publishing companies
849:, Geosi Reads, November 2011.
770:Jennifer (25 November 2015),
544:Bridle, James (1 June 2010),
816:, BBC News, 14 October 2019.
674:Nawotka, Ed (30 June 2017),
403:Independent Publishers Guild
357:and Abubakar Adam Ibrahim's
323:Expansion into the UK and US
1350:. Filmed at TEDGlobal 2017.
1016:, Cassava Republic website.
468:, Cassava Republic website.
415:African Studies Association
245:Commonwealth Writers' Prize
32:; 18 years ago
1400:
1014:"Introducing Ankara Press"
411:The Publishers Association
359:Season of Crimson Blossoms
16:African publishing company
859:"Bibi Bakare-Yusuf, 2012"
421:languages in literature.
341:, Sarah Ladipo Manyika's
1225:Publishing Perspectives
735:Publishing Perspectives
717:Publishing Perspectives
489:Publishing Perspectives
417:of the United Kingdom.
1312:Sarah Ladipo Manyika,
938:The Chimurenga Chronic
638:"Bibi Comes to London"
273:Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani
217:
140:in 2006 and headed by
134:Cassava Republic Press
22:Cassava Republic Press
1198:Obi-Young, Otosirieze
875:Writing a New Nigeria
861:, Yale World Fellows.
660:Royal African Society
285:Abubakar Adam Ibrahim
213:
197:University of Warwick
72:Nigeria: Yellow Danfo
907:(20 November 2014).
747:Mang, Riley (2019).
658:, What's On Africa (
253:Sarah Ladipo Manyika
177:Sarah Ladipo Manyika
1183:3 June 2019 at the
992:(14 January 2015).
956:Africa is a Country
941:, 15 December 2014.
617:3 July 2015 at the
567:The Financial Times
502:"Bibi Bakare-Yusuf"
453:, Cassava Republic.
347:Easy Motion Tourist
209:Allison & Busby
23:
1167:, 2 November 2019.
1147:The New York Times
1077:, 6 December 2015.
1012:Onwualu, Chinelo,
871:"Meet the authors"
754:Los Angeles Review
560:(6 October 2015),
546:"Cassava Republic"
507:2018-09-29 at the
434:, IBPA, June 2017.
387:The New York Times
355:The Lazarus Effect
1336:Frankie Edozien,
1309:, 14 August 2013.
1292:official website.
1274:official website.
1042:, Melville House.
680:Publishers Weekly
586:Daily Independent
430:Rosemary Laryea,
374:Publishers Weekly
338:Born on a Tuesday
235:Headquartered in
142:Bibi Bakare-Yusuf
131:
130:
96:Publication types
91:Bibi Bakare-Yusuf
59:Country of origin
49:Bibi Bakare-Yusuf
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1322:, 20 April 2016.
1295:Emma Shercliff,
1284:Cassava Republic
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