#ReadingAfrica Week is a way to highlight on social media the writers doing diverse and genre-spanning work from every corner of the African continent.
By Editor
Catalyst Press, a global indie publisher of books from and about Africa, is set to host their sixth annual #ReadingAfrica Week from December 4th through 10th this year. This week-long virtual celebration spotlights African authors, publishers and booksellers and encourages readers of all ages to explore more literature from African and African Diaspora authors.
The press, which was established in 2017, kickstarted #ReadingAfrica Week as a way to highlight on social media the writers doing diverse and genre-spanning work from every corner of the African continent, and the indie publishers and booksellers working to bring those voices to more readers. But since then, the campaign has grown in scope and reach to include participants across four continents, a week-long program of virtual events, daily social media challenges, and more. The campaign has been featured in outlets like Book Riot, Bustle, We Need Diverse Books, and Bookshop.org.
Every year, in the first full week of December (this year December 4-10), Catalyst Press asks readers, writers, publishers, educators, booksellers, and book-lovers of all kinds to use the hashtags #ReadingAfrica or #ReadingAfricaWeek across social media on posts that spotlight African stories, writers, publishers, bookstores, journals, literary sites, literary nonprofits and more. Throughout the week, the press will also be hosting daily reading challenges to encourage participants to discover new African writers and genres.
The week-long celebration also includes a line-up of virtual panels, featuring some of the top names in African literature and publishing. The 2022 program includes the following events:
Sunday December 4th at 2pm EST (8pm UTC+02) — Who is African? Place, identity, and belonging in literature, co-hosted with LitNet.
Tuesday December 6th at 2pm EST (8pm UTC+02) — Behind the Scenes: African filmmakers & writers on interplay and adaptation, cohosted with the James Currey Society
Wednesday December 7th at 2pm EST (8pm UTC+02) — Writing the sounds of Africa: African music in literature
Friday December 9th at 2pm EST (8pm UTC+02) — Queer Africa: LGBTQIA+ writers define and defy genres
Saturday December 10th at 2pm EST (8pm UTC+02) — The young reader: African children’s literature, cohosted with World Kid Lit
Panelists and registration links will be announced in the coming weeks on Catalyst Press’ Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages. Two written roundtable discussions will also be released throughout the week.
Catalyst Press has published over 40 titles across a number of genres including adult, young adult, and children’s books, and debuted many award-winning authors to the North American and European markets including 2022 Windham Campbell Prize winner, Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu, 2022 Caine Prize winner, Idza Luhumyo, 2022 Nommo Award shortlisted Mbozi Haimbe, 2022 Hurston/Wright Legacy Award shortlisted Sifiso Mzobe, 2022 Stepping Stones honoree Bridget Krone, and more. Catalyst Press is woman-owned and co-headquartered in El Paso, Texas and Cape Town, South Africa. Visit www.catalystpress.org to learn more.
For more information contact:
Sarah Belle Selig
+27 071 510 9337.