NLP expands to East Africa, poised to explore region’s literary wealth

By Editor

NIGERIA’S Narrative Landscape Press, the celebrated Lagos-based publishing company, has announced plans to establish its roots in East Africa, as part of its expansionist vision to cover the continent with cutting edge publishing ideas. It will be known as Narrative Landscape Press East Africa (NLPEA). Based in Nairobi, Kenya, this new offshoot extends the legacy of Narrative Landscape Press Limited.

Living up to its mission of telling ‘Our Stories, Our Way’, the company is committed to amplifying authentic African voices and providing a world-class platform for storytelling. With a focus on celebrating East African region’s literary wealth pioneered by the likes of Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Ezekiel Mphalele, among others, NLPEA is set to deliver great stories that inspire, challenge, and captivate readers locally and globally, according to a press statement made available by the Assistant Editor, Narrative Lansdscape Press, Joy Nwamaka Chime.

“Narrative Landscape Press was built on a vision to tell authentic African stories, and this expansion into East Africa is our way of honouring that legacy,” says Co-founder of Narrative Landscape Press, Dr. Eghosa Imasuen. The managing director and co-founder, Anwuli Ojogwu, adds, “We are excited to collaborate with the region’s talented writers, enriching the literary landscape and creating a home for stories that resonate locally and globally.”

In addition to identifying, nurturing, and publishing remarkable works of fiction, non-fiction, and children’s writing by East African authors, Narrative Landscape Press East Africa will offer its publishing services to organisations and individuals to produce high-quality publications tailored to their specific needs under its publishing services imprint, Prima.

Wendy Njoroge, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of NLPEA, echoed this passion for storytelling and called on East Africa’s creative community to join this journey, noting, “This is a new dawn for storytelling in East Africa. We are committed to providing a platform where stories from this region can thrive and reach audiences far and wide. To authors and storytellers, we invite you to partner with us on this exciting journey. Our stories, told our way, are ready to change the world.”

Readers can look forward to an exciting lineup of books, including powerful fiction, insightful non-fiction, and imaginative children’s stories that reflect the diversity and richness of the East African experience.

Co-founders of Narrative Landscape Press, Dr. Eghosa Imasuen (left) and Anwuli Ojogwu and the CEO of NLP East Africa, Wendy Njoroge

THIS move by Narrative Landscape Press is seen by many industry watchers as a significant positive development for the country and continent in driving the continent’s cultural wealth and taking ownership of it as well.

According to writer and President of Network of Book Clubs and Reading Promoters in Nigeria (NBRP), Mr. Richard Mammah, “This is generally good for renewed pan African consolidation of the African publishing market and books ecosystem. And also notable that it is being driven from within the continent. Recall that the iconic African Writers and Pacesetters brands were also chiefly pan-African in scope. Hope however that the business case for the move has been thorough particularly as it has to do with matters like logistics, infrastructure, currency exchange rate and differences in laws. But overall it is most commendable.”

Abuja-based poet and publisher Mr. Chiedu Ezeanah is also positive attuned to the development, and also sees a positive reclamation of continenta; ownership in the development, when he said, “It’s a great prospect for establishing a larger audience for all their authors, who are principally Nigerians, for now. Secondly, we must remember that they are a commercial/business entity, so I see this move as also growing their market scope as well as expanding their catchment provenance for discovering fresh literary talents by the sheer proximity to the source of the ‘raw material’, literally… I commend them for their audacious plunge into the ‘unknown’. We should also remember, that aside Nigeria and South Africa, East Africa, by current reckoning, perhaps has the fastest growing number of good quality writers, poets, novelists, etc, on the continent. A great haul of value awaits for all stakeholders.

“Penguin and a lot of other American publishers have outlets in South Africa. Unfortunately, none is here in Nigeria. This makes this move by NLP all the more positive for growing the publishing sector in Africa. Africa na we own first na!”

For journalist and literary critic Dr. Olayinka Oyegbile, it’s a “Very good move. For a while now, there has been some unnecessary distance in sharing experience. I believe this move will close or reduce that gap. Books written and published in Nigeria and Kenya will henceforth be simultaneously available, not waiting for the West. This is a brilliant step to exchange non-mediated literary ideas across borders.”

“This is a wonderful development which should be applauded,” said the Secretary-General of Pan-African Writers Association (PAWA), Dr. Wale Okediran. “The publishing and writing market (in Africa) is a huge one and Nigerian publishers are doing the right thing to tap into it. NLP is following the tradition of many Nigerian publishers who have also expanded their publishing horizons to other countries. For example, Literamed Publishers expanded its activities to Ghana and Liberia several years ago while Cassava Republic and Accessible Publishers also have branches in the UK and Dubai respectively.”

For more information, follow Narrative Landscape Press East Africa on Instagram @narrativelandscapepressea, Twitter @NLP_East_Africa or visit www.narrativelandscape.co.ke/info@narrativelandscape.co.ke