AGP Executive Report

Author Visibility: Ghana’s Pa Gya Literary Festival says its 10th edition will help local writers reach readers and connect with publishers, booksellers and other industry players. Literary Prizes: The Association of Nigerian Authors has opened entries for the 2026 Chinua Achebe Prize and listed its past winners; meanwhile, poet Ogaga Ifowodo has won the $100,000 Nigeria Prize for Literature for Why Does God Need a Gun? Industry & Festivals: Cairo International Film Festival plans an initiative to adapt books for the screen. Abuja’s literary festival will explore AI, democracy, culture and identity, while Zimbabwean writer Simbarashe Kundizeza has won the 2026 Caine Prize for African Writing.

Literary Festivals: Abuja’s inaugural Festival of Literature and Ideas opened with a programme spanning books, politics and culture. Shillong Literary Festival also announced Booker winners Damon Galgut and Kiran Desai as headliners. Literary Prize: Nigerian poet Ogaga Ifowodo won the $100,000 Nigeria Prize for Literature for Why Does God Need a Gun?, selected from 223 entries. Publishing and Readers: A new collection of 20 Nigerian picture books aims to bring the country’s cultures and diversity to young readers. Accra’s Pa Gya! Literary Festival marked its 10th anniversary. African Writing: Zimbabwean writer Simbarashe Steyn Kundizeza won the 2026 Caine Prize for African Writing for “The Blue Fighter.”

Nigeria Prize for Literature: Poet, lawyer and activist Ogaga Ifowodo won the $100,000 2026 award for Why Does God Need a Gun?, a collection confronting religious and political violence. It was chosen from 223 entries. The inaugural Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts also named two joint winners: Beyond Tarkwa Bay and Mara Mania, each exploring Nigerian stories through documentary film. Children’s Books: A foundation unveiled 20 Nigerian picture books aimed at celebrating the country’s cultures and diversity. Textbook Access: Benue authorities sealed two schools over reports of parents being forced to buy textbooks.

Nigerian Fiction: Duke Terry Gbande’s The God Weaver has reached No. 10 on Amazon’s African Myths and Legends bestseller list. The Yoruba-inspired novel’s use of AI has sparked debate about authorship and creativity. Textbook Access: Benue has shut two schools over alleged pressure on parents to buy textbooks. In Kenya, KICD warned schools against unauthorised titles as distribution of approved Grade 11 books began. Literary Development: Book Buzz Foundation and the EU are advocating a literature festival to support cultural exchange and literary growth. New Voices: A Durban teenager has turned a love of writing into a published novel.

New Books: Nigerian author Frank Igwealor has published The Fallacy of Reciprocity of Generosity, exploring why people helped by others may later become distant or disloyal. Textbook Access: Benue State has sealed two schools accused of forcing parents to buy books directly from them and penalising pupils whose families could not afford them; state policy allows textbook reuse and purchases from outside bookstores. Literary Festivals: At Abuja’s inaugural Festival of Literature and Ideas, Lola Shoneyin called for sustained investment in a world-class event to support Nigerian writers and cultural exchange. African Writers: Zimbabwean writer Simbarashe Kundizeza won the 2026 Caine Prize, while a Durban teenager has turned a love of writing into a published novel. Reading Culture: South Africa’s new children’s bookstore in a converted Cape Town post office and calls in Nigeria for pupils to use physical libraries point to efforts to build reading communities.

Libraries & Literacy: Nigeria’s National Library and ZODML urged pupils to read beyond textbooks and donated 80 books to eight Lagos schools. Kwara officials also called on young people and civil servants to embrace reading. African Writing: Zimbabwean author Simbarashe Kundizeza won the 2026 Caine Prize for African Writing for his story “The Blue Fighter.” New Voices: A Durban teenager has turned a love of writing into a published novel. Children’s Books: A Nigerian foundation unveiled 20 picture books celebrating the country’s cultures and diversity, while a report explores how reading can help young Tanzanians become creators.

Young Authors: Durban teenager Mia Kessopersadh has self-published Shadow of Avox, a dystopian novel she began at 16, handling its ISBN and online release herself. African Fiction: Zimbabwean writer Simbarashe Steyn Kundizeza won the 2026 Caine Prize for African Writing for “The Blue Fighter.” Children’s Books: A Nigerian foundation has unveiled 20 picture books celebrating culture and diversity. In South Africa, the Eastern Cape has ordered R1.6-billion in new textbooks while the Western Cape holds back. Reading Culture: Kwara State is urging young people and civil servants to embrace reading as a tool for peace.

African Writing: Zimbabwean writer Simbarashe Steyn has won the 2026 Caine Prize for African Writing for “The Blue Fighter.” Children’s Books: A Nigerian foundation has unveiled 20 picture books aimed at celebrating culture and diversity. Audiobooks: Spotify is expanding its audiobook service to more than 180 markets by year-end, opening access to 350,000 titles in over 120 languages for audiences across Africa and beyond; some publishers have criticised its subscription bundle. School Publishing: South Africa’s Eastern Cape has ordered R1.6-billion worth of new textbooks, while the Western Cape is holding back its orders. Language and Books: Morocco has released the first official Amazigh translation of the Quran’s meanings.

Audiobooks: Spotify says its audiobook service will reach more than 180 markets by year-end, after Audiobooks+ passed one million subscribers; publishers continue to challenge the bundle’s royalty model. Children’s Publishing: Nigeria’s Book Buzz Foundation launched 20 locally created picture books to showcase the country’s cultures and diversity. Textbooks: Kenya’s curriculum institute warned schools against unauthorised books as Grade 11 distribution begins; in South Africa, the Eastern Cape ordered new textbooks while the Western Cape held back. Language and Press Freedom: Morocco released its first official Amazigh translation of the Quran’s meanings, while a publisher in Mali was jailed over a neighbour’s insult, raising concerns about press freedom.

Publishing & Policy: Spotify says it will expand audiobooks from 22 markets to 180+ by end-2026, adding 350,000+ titles across 120+ languages, with Africa among the regions using its Audiobooks+ model. Media, Books & Access: A new Bible Access List warns 100 million Christians in 88 countries can’t freely get a Bible in their own language, highlighting a growing “scripture access” gap. Education & Tech in Classrooms: Oxford University Press research finds Hong Kong teachers are rapidly adopting AI tools, with 83% using AI chatbots—an approach that’s also spreading across markets including South Africa. Governance & Publishing Ecosystems: Nigeria’s INEC begins the 100-day countdown to 2027 polls and says voter registration has hit 103.4m, while INEC also uploaded the approved NDC logo after a court order. Regional Culture & Scholarship: Qatar University and Qatar’s Awqaf ministry conclude a Quran-and-human-knowledge conference with researchers from nine countries, underscoring growing academic publishing around Quran-inspired knowledge. Legal Pressure on Witnesses: An Enugu court remands a man accused of circulating video of an attack on NDC members, raising fresh concerns about how “evidence” is treated in political disputes.

Publishing & Media Business: Informa plans to buy Clarion Events for $2.96bn and simultaneously separate its Taylor & Francis academic publishing unit, signaling a sharper focus on B2B live events. Electoral Tech & Governance: Nigeria’s INEC urged the prompt release of outstanding election funds for 2027 polls, while also rolling out AI to help verify results and curb fake news; meanwhile, INEC uploaded the NDC’s approved logo after a court order, letting campaigns proceed. Digital Publishing & Industry Platforms: Lagos hosts GOCOP’s 10th annual conference with sessions on building an African newsroom model, AI for online publishing, and digital media monetisation. Books & Literacy: Zimbabwe’s Great Zimbabwe University postponed its graduation after storm damage; Kenya’s push for better library expertise and Tanzania’s reading initiatives highlight the region’s ongoing literacy and education priorities. Legal & Rights: A Sahel-focused report flags criminalisation of journalism in Mali, while Nigeria’s NCWS calls for an end to media trials and intimidation of women leaders in Taraba. Africa in the Wider World: The Philippines expanded visa-free entry for citizens of 46 African countries (up to 30 days), with Nigeria excluded from the standard arrangement.

Cookbook-as-romance: South African chef Neo Nontso launched Love & Lobola at Exclusive Books, framing lobola negotiations and marriage milestones as recipes and rituals. Reading for creators: Tanzania’s Christian Ngao, 10, credits books for turning imagination into published stories, showing how early reading can build young authors. Identity & publishing-adjacent policy: South Africa’s green ID books are set to end, with a March 30, 2028 deadline for applications and production stopping March 31, 2027—an identity shift that will affect how people access services and documents. Elections and voter-card logistics: Nigeria’s INEC says nationwide PVC collection starts Friday, Oct 9, 2026, as the voter register tops 103 million. Libraries under strain: A University of Uyo lecturer warns Nigeria’s school libraries fail without trained librarians, not just books. Local book trade boost: Cape Town’s Imagnary House is opening a children’s bookstore in a repurposed Kenilworth station post office on Oct 11. Sex-offender register push: South Africa’s Ian Cameron launches a 30-day campaign to publish daily details from public court records, pressing for transparency around the closed sex offenders register.

Electoral Updates (Nigeria): INEC says Nigeria’s national voter register has hit 103 million ahead of 2027, after Continuous Voter Registration phases that added 10.6m+ new applicants, with ABIS cleanup and online registration steps in place. Media & Accountability (Kenya): A Kenyan media round-up on Dangote’s Lamu refinery spotlights both the “game changer” promise—jobs, energy security, industrialisation—and the push for answers on land, environment, and community benefits. Publishing/Books (Africa-focused): A book review highlights Railways of the British Empire (Amberley Publishing), tracing how British rail influence spread across Australasia, the Middle East and beyond. Information Integrity (West Africa): FactSpace West Africa’s Rabiu Alhassan elected to the IFCN board, aiming to strengthen local-language moderation and public trust in fact-checking. Libraries & Reading Culture (Africa-adjacent): A report on the Schomburg Center’s “Forging Ahead” exhibition spotlights Black women artists—an arts-and-archives story that underscores representation in cultural collections. Public Services (South Africa): Fuel prices are set to rise sharply from Oct 7, with regulated petrol and diesel increases expected to feed into transport and food costs.

Press Freedom Watch: A France media-freedom report warns that political deadlock and the run-up to the 2027 presidential election are stalling reforms, while rising hostility toward journalists—especially public broadcasters—raises new risks for pluralism. Electoral Reform Debate: Nigeria’s Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) urges a 50% presidential threshold with run-offs, plus faster resolution of election disputes before winners are sworn in, citing public concern that court delays can overturn ballot outcomes. Publishing & Media Accountability: A new book review spotlights Truth, Trust, and the Future of Journalism in Nigeria (Premium Times Books/NGE), tying journalism’s future to truth and public trust. Co-ops & Finance: Kenya’s Sacco members may see lower dividends as Sasra orders extra provisioning of about KES 7.67bn tied to insolvent Kuscco. Transport & Records: Uganda Railways Corporation’s Lake Victoria ferry failures are revisited, including how the sunk MV Kabalega was kept on the books for years before being written down. South Africa Paper Trade: South Africa’s trade authority rejects Mondi’s bid to raise tariffs on cheap office paper imports, citing weak demand and digitisation pressures.

Press Freedom & Elections: Nigeria’s media watchdogs and opposition figures are pushing back hard on INEC’s 2027 plans, with the Nigerian Guild of Editors calling for electoral reforms like a 50% presidential threshold and faster dispute resolution, while Action Alliance chair Kenneth Udeze brands INEC’s upcoming world press conference a “dangerous threat” and a biased “jamboree.” Book Publishing & Journalism: A new 394-page book, Truth, Trust, and the Future of Journalism in Nigeria (Premium Times Books/Nigerian Guild of Editors), argues that journalism can’t survive without truth and trust—an echo of wider digital-age credibility battles. Kenya Books/Politics: Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna formally adopts The Equitable Party as the political vehicle for the Linda Mwananchi Movement, setting up a 2027 rebrand fight. Literacy & Reading Culture: Kano’s Almajiri literacy push reports dramatic gains after a Jolly Phonics intervention, and South Africa’s top teacher urges daily reading routines to tackle poor grade-4 comprehension. South Africa IDs: Home Affairs sets March 31, 2028 as the deadline to replace the green ID book with Smart IDs. Culture & Libraries: Haiti’s National Book Directorate unveils René Depestre, a Century of Sparks, a collective work by 41 authors.

Library & Archives: Qatar’s Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani visited the US Library of Congress after his book “Qatar Through My Eyes” was catalogued, and he donated copies of related works on Qatar’s history and Nabati poetry. Publishing & Policy: A UK Electronic Travel Authorisation list names only Mauritius and Seychelles among African countries, leaving most African travellers to use the traditional visa route. Education & Student Life: Madonna University in Rivers State expelled one final-year nursing student and suspended 14 others over a viral TikTok “Gen Z nurses” dance challenge filmed on campus. Books & Reading Culture: Donal Ryan picks student-friendly reads including Doris Lessing’s “The Grass Is Singing” and Sylvia Plath’s “The Bell Jar,” framing them as intense but teachable entry points. Rare Books & AI: A US rare-books dealer warns that AI firms are buying and scanning books in bulk, with physical copies then destroyed under a legal “fair use” approach. Sports (Book-adjacent): Shai Hope’s unbeaten 162 powered West Indies to a record ODI chase win over India.