Jacaranda launching US office to satisfy interest in African diaspora

Jacaranda is opening a US office, staffed by two team members, in an effort to speak directly to a wider audience. Office space is currently being secured and sales and distribution will be handled via Baker & Taylor.

With the indie celebrating its 10th anniversary, it will take a specially curated 10th Anniversary Collection to the US featuring Irenosen Okojie’s Butterfly Fish and Speak Gigantular, as well as Anietie Isong’s 2018 McKitterick Prize-winner Radio Sunrise. Jacaranda’s 2022 flagship non-fiction series A Quick Ting On—commissioned by publisher Magdalene Abraha and exploring topics of cultural relevance to the global Black community—will be published in the US in early 2023.

Jacaranda c.e.o. Valerie Brandes said: "We’re delighted to be taking Jacaranda Books to America, showcasing stories that have been overlooked or pigeonholed for far too long, and which will resonate with the American reader longing to experience the African diaspora in fiction, non-fiction and poetry. We’re passionate about storytelling and our award-winning list has something for everyone.

"Launching in the USA represents an intentional step in the right direction, an opportunity for greater growth and to speak directly to a larger audience hungry for books that expand on the experiences of Black and brown people, working class people, LGBTQIA+ people globally. We’re excited for what comes next for Jacaranda Books and our authors."