‘When we invest in publishing, …we invest in the soul of Africa itself’ – Prof. Egara Kabaji at CANEX, IATF2025

Professor Egara Kabaji, professor of Literary Communication in Kenya, a literary critic and creative writer, was the Chair of the Panel of Judges for the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) Prize for African Publishing. The Panel announced the winner of the Prize during the just concluded Intra African Trade Fair (IATF) 2025 held in Algiers, Algeria.

His speech before the winning entry was announced was read on his behalf by Joy Nwamaka Chime, Associate Editor, Narrative Landscape Press, and  Programme Assistant, CANEX Book Factory Prize for Publishing in Africa.

In Silence My Heart Speaks by Thobeka Yose, published by Karavan Press from South Africa, emerged the winner and took home the $20,000 prize money. But Professor Kabaji’s speech touched on some serious issues that must be addressed.

The full text of the speech is published here:

Distinguished guests, writers, and promoters of African publishing,
It is with great pleasure and a deep sense of honour that I stand before you… in this historic city of Algiers. I want to begin by extending my heartfelt gratitude to all who have gathered here to witness and celebrate the CANEX Prize for African Publishing. Your presence is a powerful reminder that publishing is not a marginal activity. It is central to the cultural, intellectual, and economic life of our continent.

I wish to thank the organizers and funders of this prize for their vision and commitment. By creating this platform, they have given us an opportunity to shine a light on the best of African publishing, and to reflect honestly on where we have come from and where we must go. I also want to express my sincere appreciation to my fellow judges. Their wisdom, professional integrity, and tireless effort made this process not only possible but also meaningful. Together, we embarked on a journey that demanded patience, discernment, and a shared belief in the power of books.

We had the daunting task of ploughing through more than eighty entries. It was a rigorous undertaking, sometimes tedious, but above all, rewarding. As we turned page after page, we were reminded of the resilience and creativity that define African publishing. The entries revealed a vibrant spectrum of voices that are bold, imaginative, rooted in our histories, and unafraid to dream of new futures. They demonstrated that Africa is indeed a continent of storytellers, with narratives that deserve to be heard worldwide.

Yet, this process also gave us reason to pause and reflect. While we witnessed great promise, we also saw areas that demand urgent attention. One of the clearest lessons from this year’s entries is that African publishing firms must invest more deliberately in quality. By quality, I mean not only the external aesthetics of a book—the cover design, the binding, the paper quality—but also the inner strength of the work. With this, I mean the intellectual depth, the originality of ideas, and the capacity to engage readers meaningfully. A book must not only be beautiful to behold, but it must also be compelling to the mind and nourishing to the spirit.

This brings me to a vital area: editing. If African stories are to compete with the best worldwide, strong, professional editing is essential. Editing serves as the bridge between inspiration and impact. It ensures that a writer’s voice is sharpened, clarified, and amplified. Without significant investment in editing, even the most brilliant ideas can falter. Therefore, we must dedicate ourselves to cultivating a strong editing culture on this continent.

From the more than eighty submissions, we eventually arrived at a shortlist of ten, then finally five books. This was not an easy task, but the books that made it to the final list stood out because they exemplified what is possible when vision is matched with commitment and resources. They are more than just books; they are showcases of what quality publishing looks like. They remind us that African publishers, when they invest in excellence, can produce works that rival the very best anywhere in the world.

As we announce the winners…, I want to make a passionate appeal. I call upon African entrepreneurs to look seriously at the book industry and see it not as a burden but as an opportunity.

Invest in book publishing, whether in print, digital, or hybrid form. Our future depends on it. When we invest in publishing, we invest in education, in culture, in history, and in the imagination of generations yet to come. We invest in the soul of Africa itself.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, let us remember that books are not just commodities. They are vessels of memory, tools of liberation, and bridges to the future. By supporting African publishing, we ensure that our stories are told, preserved, and celebrated.

Thank you very much.
EGARA KABAJI
CHAIR OF PANEL JUDGES
CANEX PRIZE FOR AFRICAN PUBLISHING