Joop Berkhout: A tribute to my first publisher, literary guide
By Wale Okediran
ON one sunny day in July 1987 at Enugu Trade Fair grounds in Enugu, Nigeria, when the iconic African wordsmith and master storyteller, Cyprian Ekwensi, held up my hand and publicly presented my first novel, Rainbows Are for Lovers, I felt a glow of happiness and relief flow through me. After several years in ‘the publication wilderness’ I was finally a published author.
I was still relishing that golden moment when my publisher, the indefatigable Chief Joop Berkhout of Spectrum Books Ltd, Ibadan, Nigeria, nudged me to life and reminded me to make a speech. He later taught me how to autograph the book to the enthusiastic crowd that was present at the event.
That momentous day in Enugu marked the beginning of my over 40-year relationship with that great man, a quintessential man of books, a writer’s delight and a loyal friend. During those years, three of my books were published by Berkhout’s then publishing stable, Spectrum Books.
While Rainbows Aare for Lovers went on to become one of Spectrum’s bestsellers, The Boys at the Border was shortlisted for the 1991 Commonwealth Literature Prize.
Even though Dreasms Die at Twilight (Malthouse Press, 2001) was not published by Spectrum Books, the book was adjudged as one of the best 25 books in Nigeria in the last 25 years during Spectrum Book’s 25th anniversary in 2003.
Although a hard-nosed businessman, Berkhout invested in writers and remained so until his death, perhaps one of the most writer-friendly publishers in this part of the world.
Apart from paying me a generous advance royalty for Rainbows Are for Lovers, Berkhout also put me on the then Nigeria Airways, Lagos to Enugu flight WT 264, ‘ Ikogosun Warm Springs’ for the book launch.
Unlike these days when many authors have to run after their publishers for their legitimate book royalties, regular twice yearly royalty payment was the norm during Chief Berkhout’s time at Spectrum Books.
In 2007, when Berkhout founded Safari Books Limited after his temporary retirement from Spectrum Books, he appointed me as Publishing Consultant to the new outfit. In his Letter of Appointment he stated thus, “I am glad that you have joined us as our publishing consultant. I can assure you that I will keep you busy for many years to come.”
Even though at that time he was already in his 80s, he kept to his words by pilling me with loads of jobs and responsibilities. especially in the area of biography writing.
In the course of my duty, Berkhout introduced me to some leading captains of industry, political leaders as well as former Nigerian presidents some of whom I personally interviewed for their biographies.
A great socialite and humanist, I was part of his regular league of lunch and dinner guests in his Ibadan home, Cambridge House, a house made famous by the past occupant, the late Nigerian poet, Christopher Okigbo.
During those encounters, ‘Chairman’ as I fondly called him, regularly regaled me with his thoughts on almost every conceivable topic under the sky even if we didn’t always agree with each other on such topics.
Berkhout got an Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) award from the Nigerian government. He also got the chieftaincy title of Okunborode of Ife in 1992 by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade.
With his demise, Nigeria and indeed Africa has lost a wonderful and illustrious senior citizen, as well as a publisher per excellence who, despite his Dutch heritage, was a naturalized Nigerian who made the country his home for 59 out of his 94 years on earth.
May his soul rest in perfect peace. Amen!
