First content market to take place at the 2023 Nairobi International Book Fair

A content market will take place at the Nairobi International Book Fair (NIBF) for the first time this year. The new initiative aims to open networks on the continent and to get African writing to more readers across African countries and globally.

In partnership with the Kenya Publishers Association (KPA) and the African Publishers Network (APNET), digital content company eKitabu will be bringing together rights professionals and editors from across the African continent and around the world.

Taking place from 27th September 1st October at the Sarit Expo Centre in Nairobi, the Rights Café at the 24th NIBF will focus on publishing, trading, and translation rights. African publishing rights professionals from countries including Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda and Ghana will be meeting their counterparts from the UK, France, Italy and the USA, among professionals from other counties.

The NIBF is the regional marketplace for books bringing together publishing professionals, authors, booksellers, print suppliers, media and readers from Africa and around the world. Organised by the KPA, it has grown to be one of the leading book exhibitions in the region since it was first hosted in 1996, and theme this year will be “Nurturing Talent Through Publishing".

The Rights Café will be a dedicated space for business-to-business rights discussions with NIBF ambassadors, who are rights buyers drawn from publishing houses in Africa and the rest of the world. Activities will include panel discussions on trends in African literature, how to strengthen rights trading for African writers and conversations with authors. In addition, "speed-dating" sessions will be held for buyers and sellers.

Kiarie Kamau, the chairman of KPA and c.e.o of East African Educational Publishers, said: “African books are still not well known beyond our borders. KPA is excited to see NIBF uplifted, providing a home for engagement and opportunities for publishers to showcase new and existing content from Africa, with the goal of building the market and moving books around the globe.”

Mary Maina, chair of KPA’s NIBF committee and managing director of Moran (E.A.) Publishers, added: “NIBF 2023 is the ideal destination for individuals seeking exclusive deals on print and digital books. NIBF offers numerous opportunities with publishers as well as authors, editors, illustrators, printers, and booksellers.

"Attendees can look forward to a fun-filled experience packed with learning and interaction alongside business associates and beloved local and international authors.”

Valeria Paolini, the NIBF ambassador from Italy, commented: “As a translator, I will be aiming not only at straightforward rights sales, but also at building up a list of books for proposals to selected publishers, which is why I’m looking at specific books in addition to broad spectrum genres and publishers. For this purpose, coming to agreements with rights holders at NIBF will be crucial.”

From Uganda, Goretti Kyomuhendo added: “It’s wonderful to be one of the first Nairobi International Book Fair Ambassadors. I’m excited to build relationships and knowledge and share my own experiences as an African writer and publisher with new friends in the African publishing community.”