Introduction
Henry Miyinzi Chakava (26 April 1946–8 March 2024), often described as ‘the godfather of book publishing in Africa’, started his early career at the Kenyan branch of Heinemann Educational Books, later to become the indigenously-owned East African Educational Publishers in Nairobi. He was Kenya’s first African book editor in 1972, at a time when there were few books, or educational materials, published in African languages, and devoted much his life to preserving and elevating the region’s languages. He was also a courageous and highly enterprising publisher who has made a massive and lasting contribution to indigenous publishing and the book trade in Africa.
He was a member of the jury of the Noma Award for Publishing in Africa which ran from 1980 to 2009, an annual prize for African writers and scholars who published their work in Africa. He was also a founder member of African Books Collective (ABC), the African owned, worldwide marketing and distribution outlet for books from Africa.
Henry Chakava has written extensively, perceptively, and eloquently on many topics as they relate to publishing and the book world in Africa, as is reflected in this annotated bibliography, which is presented chronologically with the most recent papers first, a total of 35 records covering the period from 1977 to 2021. Also included are a number of profiles, interviews and obituaries.Footnote 1
***
2021
African Books Collective. Publisher Profiles: Henry Chakava. East African Educational Publishers, Kenya.
https://www.readafricanbooks.com/interviews/henry-chakava/ [Posted 29/08/21]
A profile of, and interview with Henry Chakava, former Chairman of East African Educational Publishers and a founder member of the Oxford-based ABC, as well a member of ABC’s Council of Management for many years. In this interview he offers his thoughts and reflections about the early years of ABC, the opportunities it presented for African publishers to showcase their books in all parts of the world; the early challenges it faced, and the changes seen in the African cultural landscape since the birth of ABC. He also talks about the changes in the African knowledge production landscape, and the move to a new digital publishing environment. Chakava says:
The terrain is clearly set for a vibrant future, especially in Kenya. Most publishers are embracing new publishing technologies very fast, new players are getting onto the scene, and partnerships with international players are also becoming a reality.
ABC can only get better, he says:
First, advancements in modern technology have tremendously eased the ABC model of operations … ABC has been able to contain operational costs and hence consistently increase profitability, due to this futuristic mind-set that looks at the laptop as an office in itself, as opposed to having a physical office. This will continue to define its operations.
BBC World Service ‘Witness History’ [2021] Kenya’s Pioneering Publisher.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3cszmnd (Audio: 8:59mins)
In this conversation on the BBC ‘Witness History’ series Henry Chakava tells Rebecca Kesby ‘… why he devoted his life to preserving and enriching the region’s languages, and why he believes even more must be done to make sure they survive and thrive in the future.’
Ituĩka Literary Platform. Workshop Sessions 2021. Dr. Henry Chakava on Publishing in African Languages.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jB06Dc96Q0 (Video: 45mins)
Henry Chakava worked with African languages for many decades. In his session for the Ituĩka Literary Platform as the chief guest, Chakava revisited his illustrious career as editor and publisher for over fifty years. He has published some of the most notable names in Kenyan and African literature, such as Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o.
2019
Chakava, H. (2019) My Life-Long Involvement in African Indigenous Languages.
https://www.eastafricanpublishers.com/the-chairmans-paper/ [Posted 2019]
Interspersed with some anecdotal content, Chakava sets out the reasons behind his life-long involvement and commitment to promote and publish in indigenous languages. In his conclusion he says:
Research carried out internationally by linguists has scientifically proved that learners weaned in mother tongue in the early years of their education have a better grasp of concepts in other subjects (and languages) later in life. Mother tongues also confer cultural pride, belonging and awareness to the user. However, in the case of Africa, these languages were stigmatized, declared socially inferior, and foreign languages such as English, French and Spanish marketed as languages of immense opportunities and development. The time has come for African languages to take their rightful place in society.
Chakava calls on the Kenya government to enforce policies relating to the teaching and learning of mother tongues in the early years of primary education, and
… to sensitise the public on the cultural and social benefits of this approach, as it instils pride and confidence in the learner. Kenyan publishers are advised to be more enterprising and to invest some of the profits they are currently making from these schemes into the neglected areas of general and indigenous languages publishing.
Chakava, H. (2019) ‘Kenyan publishing: independence and dependence’ in C. Davis (ed.), Print Culture: a reader in theory and practice. London: Red Globe Press, 203–9.
Reprint (extracts only) of an article that first appeared in P. G. Altbach (ed.) (1992) Publishing and Development in the Third World. London: Hans Zell Publishers, 119–50.
Originally published in 1992 and reprinted in the above collection, this was probably the first comprehensive discussion of the origins and development, successes and failures, and opportunities and challenges of the Kenyan book industry, from the time of Kenya’s independence through to the early 1990s. It starts off by discussing the state of the industry at independence, the coming of foreign publishers, the creation of new institutions and the emergence of local publishers. Thereafter it continues with an analysis of the [then] present state of affairs in the early 1990s of all areas of the book sector, concluding that [at that time] the percentage of books imported was still far too high and was a matter of serious concern, and recommending strategies for reversing this trend. Back in 1992, Henry Chakava stated that the book industry can only be independent if it is fully owned and controlled by Kenyans, ‘… and if it projects and is seen to project a truly Kenyan image locally and abroad.’ He also set out the requirements for a fully Kenyan publishing industry to be independent, and that certain assumptions had to be met: namely, (1) continuous availability of book paper from the local paper mill; (2) a government that provides an enabling environment for the local book market, and discontinuing the (then) monopoly enjoyed by state parastatals; (3) the need for professional associations for the book industry to be strengthened, including the setting up of a national book development council; and (4) that the industry, already fully Kenyanized ‘will be manned by trained book professionals who are to provide the management skills that are crucial to the success of any enterprise.’
Chakava, H. (2018) ‘The turning point: Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o and his Kenyan publisher’ in S. Gikandi and N. Wachanga (eds), Ngũgĩ. Reflections on his life of writing. Woodbridge: James Currey, an imprint of Boydell & Brewer, 115–20.
One of several insightful accounts in this collection in which Henry Chakava describes what it meant to collaborate with Ngũgĩ from the perspective of his publishers. He writes that the years of 1976 to 1982 were to turn out to be the most crucial in his relationship with Ngũgĩ. ‘Working together on Petals of Blood had deepened our friendship and built a strong mutual understanding and trust.’ Some of Ngũgĩ’s ideas ‘… began to shape my publishing philosophy and priorities’, prompting him to commission a textbook on oral literature. Another of Ngũgĩ-inspired ideas was the publishing of children’s books in African languages, although unfortunately these books did not succeed ‘… partly because the Kenya curriculum did not recognize African languages, and hardly any books at that level could be sold as trade books. … this was an idea ahead of its time.’ Chakava also writes about the risks of publishing Ngũgĩ’s plays in Gĩkũyũ in the early 1980s – including threats to his own life – his ‘… bosses in London discreetly suggesting they wouldn’t mind if I refused to publish the books.’ He pays tribute to Ngũgĩ as a prolific and versatile writer, comfortable in any genre,
… a man who writes in simple accessible language for the ordinary reader. … He is a person committed to his cause, and has worked tirelessly, consistently, and fearlessly to highlight the plight of the downtrodden in all his writings, especially peasants, workers, women, and the poor in general.
2008
Chakava, H. (2008) ‘African publishing: from Ile-Ife, Nigeria to the present’ in H. M. Zell (ed.) Publishing, Books and Reading in Sub-Saharan Africa: a critical bibliography. Lochcarron, Scotland: Hans Zell Publishing, xxxviii-l.
The introductory essay to the above reference work, which is now out-of-print, but the essay remains freely accessible at https://www.hanszell.co.uk/Site/PDFs/Chakava,%20Introductory%20essay%20in%20PBRSSA,%202018.pdf
In the opening remarks of this essay Henry Chakava states:
The first major conference on African publishing was held in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, in December 1973. It was hosted by the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), and attracted participants ranging from publishers, booksellers, and librarians, to writers (a host of them, with Chinua Achebe giving the opening address), literary critics, and academicians. The conference resulted in the publication of a book, Publishing in Africa in the Seventies edited by Edwina Oluwasanmi, Eva Mclean and Hans Zell, which, for the most part, was a catalogue of the litany of problems facing the African book industry. In this essay I will attempt a state-of-the-art analysis of the (sub-Saharan) African book industry today, exploring most of the key issues from a historical perspective. Achievements, failures and the challenges that lie ahead will be highlighted, and a way forward suggested. My approach will be that of an insider, having been at Ife, and having continued both as a participant and a witness to the industry all these 35 years. A fair question to ask is: Has African publishing come of age? As we shall see, some progress has been made, but the general picture is one of mixed fortunes.
Chakava, H. (2008) Production and Distribution of Cultural Publications in Africa: in search of lasting partners.
http://www.hivos.nl/index.php/nederlands/english/arterial/presentations_conference [link not currently accessible]
A paper presented to the arterial conference on Vitalising Africa’s Cultural Assets, held on Gorée Island, Senegal, in March 2007. Chakava states that publishing general books in Africa is a risky business, and publishing cultural books – such a fiction, drama and poetry, children’s books, or books on arts and crafts, music, dance and the oral tradition, etc. – even more so. ‘The market is small and hard to capture because of poverty and underdevelopment.’ He briefly describes the challenges faced by the book industries, and how these challenges are being met, although many near insurmountable obstacles and constraints remain, and there has been little positive support by African governments. Draws attention to the two organizations that have had the greatest impact in putting African publishing on the map, [as of 2007] the African Publishers Network (APNET) and the ABC, whose thrust has primarily been the advancement of cultural publishing at home and abroad. Both are organizations that, because of their nature, cannot be financially self-sustainable, but which have been supported, until very recently, by several donors. However, funding has now dried up for the most part and the author notes that, as a result of changes of donor policies, it is governments once more who are the preferred partners of the international donor community. Chakava argues ‘… for cultural publishing to take off and thrive, it is imperative for stakeholders in the book industry to lobby their governments to formulate book policies and cultural policies that would serve as a guide to the exercise.’ He urges donors to revert to supporting private sector initiatives in the African book industry, and that organizations such as ABC deserve continuing donor support.
2006
Chakava, H. (2006) ‘Scholarly publishing in Africa: the perspective of an East African commercial and textbook publisher’ in A. Mlambo (ed.) African Scholarly Publishing Essays. Oxford and Uppsala:: African Books Collective, Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation and International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications, 66–75.
Traces the decline of academic publishing in the East African region. Using Kenya as a case study, Chakava explains how the decline has come about, with most university libraries and university bookshops currently in a state of decay, unable to perform their traditional services to students and faculty. He bemoans the fact that very little original research is currently undertaken at Kenya’s universities; and that ‘… sadly our lecturers continue to teach from the same books they themselves learnt from, recycling ideas long discarded’, and goes on to say ‘… if we cannot generate new knowledge for ourselves, then we should not mourn the influx of imported books into our market.’ Meantime the performance by university presses in the East African region has been disappointing. Chakava sees partnerships between university presses at the national or regional levels – possibly also involving partnerships with private sector publishers – as the only viable way forward to strengthen scholarly publishing on the continent.
2005
Chakava, H. (2005) ‘Partnerships Between Rights Owners and Users. A prerequisite for an effective copyright system.’ http://www.nlu.go.ug/dwnld/Henry_Chakava.ppt (link not currently accessible)
A PowerPoint presentation to the African Copyright Forum Conference, Copyright and Access to Information, held in November 2005 in Kampala, Uganda. It reviews the prerequisites for effective copyright systems in an African setting, partnerships between rights holders and users – and how such partnerships can be enhanced through public sensitization and public awareness campaigns – the challenges in rights protection posed by new technologies and new media, as well as the vital role played by national reproduction rights organizations.
1999
Chakava, H. (1999) ‘Dealing with the British’, Logos: Journal of the World Book Community 10 (1): 52–4.
Shorter version also in Bellagio Publishing Network Newsletter, 25 (July, 1999): 15–17.
http://www.bellagiopublishingnetwork.com/newsletter25/chakava.htm
Recounts Chakava’s experience of working with British publishers – the high points and the low points – since he joined the book business in 1972. ‘I can call myself a modest expert on African/British relations, but I am not sure I understand them or that they understand me.’
1998
Chakava, H. (1998) ‘Children and books: Kenya. A decade of publishing for children 1988-1998’ in Zimbabwe International Book Fair Trust (ed.), Books and Children. Proceedings of the ZIBF Indaba 1998, Harare, Zimbabwe, 1–2 August 1998. Harare: Zimbabwe International Book Fair Trust, 42–6.
Slightly shorter version also published as ‘A Publisher’s Perspective on Children’s Books’ in African Publishing Review 7 (6) (November/December 1998): 4–5.
Chakava recounts his experience of publishing children’s books as head of East African Educational Publishers in Nairobi, including publishing of children’s books by prominent African writers such as Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o and Chinua Achebe, and a series of readers both in English and in various Kenyan languages. He explains the reasons why some books in mother tongue languages were not a commercial success, until they were incorporated into to the curriculum to strengthen the teaching of English in primary schools, and were given a series image and a standard design. Chakava also describes the changes in the company’s policies and focus for their children’s book programmes over the years.
1997
Chakava, H. (1997) ‘Wind of change at the World Bank’, African Publishing Review 6 (5) (September/October): 1–3.
Slightly different version, also published as ‘And another thing … World Bank to change course on book development?’, Logos: Journal of the World Book Community 8 (4) (1997): 220–2.
Henry Chakava – who attended a meeting held between African publishers and officials of the World Bank in September 1997 – detected a wind of change at the Bank, and reports that
… it became clear that the bank is ready to change and to adopt new policies that could strengthen the role of local publishers and, in the process, drastically reduce the dominance of the multinational publishers in the developing world.
If the recommendations that emerged for the meeting are adopted as Bank policy, and a programme of action is put in place for their implementation, ‘… local publishing in the developing world will undergo a sea-change and the World Bank will emerge as a strategic partner in a new deal.’
1996
Chakava, H. (1996) Publishing in Africa: one man’s perspective. Chestnut Hill, MA: Bellagio Publishing Network Research and Information Centre (Bellagio Studies in Publishing, 6); and Nairobi: East African Educational Publishers, 197pp.
A collection of essays and articles bringing together Henry Chakava’s writings on many diverse topics, such as autonomous publishing, book marketing and distribution, author-publisher relations, regional cooperation, the World Bank and African publishing, reading promotion, the inequalities of international copyright, and the problems of censorship and government repression.
Chakava, H. (1996) ‘Book marketing and distribution: the Achilles’ heel of African publishing’ in H. Chakava, Publishing in Africa: one man’s perspective. Chestnut Hill MA: Bellagio Publishing Network, Research and Information Center (Bellagio Studies in Publishing, 6), 109–33.
Also published in Development Dialogue, nos. 1–2 (1997): 39–60.
http://www.daghammarskjold.se/wp-content/uploads/1997/08/DD1997_1-2.pdf (entire issue, free access) and, as a slightly different and shorter version, ‘Selling books in Africa: a publisher’s reflection.’ Logos: Journal of the World Book Community 8 (3) (1997): 159–64.
A major article from the 1990s that looks at the challenges of book distribution in Africa at that time. Presents an overview of book promotion and marketing strategies available to the African book industry, and examines ‘… the extent to which these marketing possibilities are being exploited by the African publisher today.’ Finds that marketing and promotion by many African publishers is frequently feeble; there is lack of advance information about new books, unattractive and ineffective promotion material, and some African publishers fail to make use of the many opportunities that exist for free publicity and listings of their books in the major bibliographic services. The author is also critical of the sometimes-sub-standard production quality of African-published books, sloppy editing and proofreading, poor binding and finishing; or books which lack proper title pages and essential copyright data, have no ISBNs, and which show evidence of ‘… lack of proper quality controls and discipline at all levels of the African book publishing chain.’ Also considers the role of book development councils and national publishers associations, and makes a number of recommendations of how to tackle the problems of book marketing and distribution in Africa. Concludes that although marketing and distribution comes at the end of the publishing process it will determine ‘… success or failure of any publishing house’.
Chakava, H. (1996) ‘The Laws of literacy’, Index on Censorship 25 (2) (March/April): 124–7.
Also published, in slightly revised form, as ‘Publishing and state censorship in Kenya’, Bellagio Publishing Network Newsletter, 16 (Spring 1996), 12–14.
Examines manifestations of state censorship in Kenya, the banning of a number of publications, detention and harassment of writers, and systematic attempts to stifle creativity through curtailment of literary seminars, journals and writers’ workshops; and a general lack of facilities or incentives to promote and reward academic excellence or creative talent. Chakava also argues that the creation of state publishing institutions, which are largely controlling the textbook markets, represents another subtle form of censorship.
1995
Chakava, H. (1995) ‘Publishing partnerships between Africa and the North: a dream or a possibility?’, Bellagio Publishing Network Newsletter, 15 (November): 4–6.
A paper presented at the 47th Frankfurt Book Fair in 1995. Examines the prospects of more equitable partnerships and joint ventures between publishers in Africa and those in the North. Argues that ‘… the best way to end state publishing in Africa and stop its future recurrence is for the Northern publishers to support commercial publishing and thereby help to create credible partners with whom they can trade in the future.’
Chakava, H. (1995) ‘Kenya’, in P. G. Altbach and E. S. Hoshino (eds), International Book Publishing: an encyclopedia. New York NY: Garland Publishing, 384–96.
Analyzes the key issues that have changed, shaped, or influenced publishing in Kenya [as at 1995]. Provides some historical background, discusses government policies and the government’s monopoly of the school book market, ownership and control, publishing output, taxation, distribution, and other factors such as illiteracy, promotion of the reading habit, and external aid.
Chakava, H. (1995) ‘The African Publishers Network (APNET): an overview’, in C. Priestley (comp.) Development Directory of Indigenous Publishing 1995. Harare: African Publishers Network, 57–61.
A brief account charting the growth, in its early days, of the African Publishers Network (APNET), its mission, and its achievements during the first two years of its existence.
Chakava, H. (1995) ‘International copyright and Africa: an unequal exchange’, in P. G. Altbach (ed.), Copyright and Development: inequality in the information age. Chestnut Hill MA: Bellagio Publishing Network, Research and Information Center (Bellagio Studies in Publishing, 4), 13–34.
An African perspective on the debate about copyright, its inequalities, and current practice in international rights trading. Contends that many aspects of international copyright reciprocity are illusory, that the main beneficiaries are still the publishers in the North, and that the latter are using copyright as a weapon to maintain the dependency relations that currently exist. Chakava pleads for more equity, honesty, understanding, and fair play to correct the present imbalance in copyright conventions, and which will help to strengthen the indigenous African book industries in the years ahead.
1994
Chakava, H. (1994) ‘Publishing Ngũgĩ: the challenge, the risk and the reward’, African Publishing Review 3 (4) (July/August): 10–14.
Also published in Matatu 15/16, (1996), 183–200; and in J. Gibbs and J. Mapanje (eds), The African Writers’ Handbook. Oxford: African Books Collective, 111–18.
Shorter version published in Bellagio Publishing Network Newsletter 10, (June 1994): 3–5; and extracts also in Logos: Journal of the World Book Community 5 (4) (1994): 176–7.
Henry Chakava, publisher of Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, describes the ‘… pleasurable and enriching experience’ of working with, and publishing the writing of one of Africa’s most distinguished writers – an experience which was ‘… very rewarding both intellectually and commercially.’ He recounts, for example, the discussions and debates they had concerning Ngũgĩ’s strong commitment to writing and publishing in Gikuyu rather than in English, and the challenges of promoting and distributing his books internationally. Also tells the story of the difficult years of Ngũgĩ ‘s detention by the Kenyan government, and the period immediately following his release, when Chakava and Ngũgĩ spent much time together. He took personal risks in publishing Ngũgĩ and his company (then Heinemann Educational Books East Africa, later Heinemann Kenya, now East African Educational Publishers) suffered because of its association with Ngũgĩ’s books. Chakava describes Ngũgĩ as … ‘one of the few writers who believe that publishers are honest and decent people.’
Chakava, H. (1994) ‘The missing links in the African book publishing chains’, in Promoting Technical Publishing in Africa. Seminar Proceedings. Arnhem, Netherlands, 3–6 November 1992. Wageningen, Netherlands: Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation of ACP-EU (CTA), 33–8.
African publishers do not want to perpetuate colonial links, ‘… which would forever make them recipients rather than creators of technical publications.’ Instead, they want to be assisted in becoming independent, autonomous and viable commercial enterprises, seeking joint-ventures, co-publication agreements, sub-licence deals, and agency and translation agreements with partners in the North, to mutual benefit. Chakava argues that there are in fact no missing links in the African book publishing chain. ‘The chain is there, but it is a weak one’, and it is up to African publishers, with the support of governments, donor agencies, and partners in the North to strengthen the chain, and thus help bring about an environment that will enhance self-sustainability and growth.
Chakava, H. (1994) ‘The World Bank and African publishing’, African Publishing Review 3 (5) (September/October): 14–15.
Reviews the World Bank’s textbook provision schemes, its tendering procedures, and the Bank’s African book sector studies. Also reports about an APNET delegation to the World Bank, and on the discussions held with World Bank officials concerning the future relationship between the Bank, African governments, and the African publishing industry.
1993
Chakava, H. (1993) ‘Private enterprise publishing in Kenya: a long struggle for emancipation’, Logos: Journal of the World Book Community 4 (3): 130–5.
Presents a picture of the Kenyan publishing scene [in the mid-1990s]: the long battle of Kenyan indigenous publishers trying to get a fair share of the textbook markets, the prospects for the future for private enterprise publishing, and the transition of a former multinational company, Heinemann Kenya, into an independent, wholly African-owned firm, [now East African Educational Publishers].
Chakava, H. (1993) ‘An indigenous African book publishing industry: in search of a new beginning’, African Publishing Review 2 (5) (September/October): 9–11.
Examines questions of ownership, manpower and capital needs for an autonomous African book industry, and reviews aspects of manufacturing, distribution problems, the size of the market, and government policies. Calls for ‘… a new beginning with more aggressive policies born out of our experiences and past failures.’
Chakava, H. (1993) ‘State publishing: in search of a model for the African publishing industry’, in A. G. Coetzer (ed.), Proceedings of the Info Africa Nova Conference 1993, volume 1. Pretoria: Info Africa Nova CC: 181–5.
Examines the role and experience of state participation in publishing. The author is critical of government monopolies in the book sector, which stifle competition, authorship and writing, and lead to falling standards. Argues that ‘… African book publishing thrives best when left in the hands of the local publishers themselves.’
1992
Chakava, H. (1992) ‘Kenyan publishing: independence and dependence’, in P. G. Altbach (ed.), Publishing and Development in the Third World. London: Hans Zell Publishers, 119–50.
A comprehensive discussion of the origins and development, successes and failures, opportunities and challenges of the Kenyan book industry, which spans from the time of Kenya’s independence to the present day [as of 1992]. Begins by discussing the state of the industry at independence, the coming of foreign publishers, the creation of new institutions and the advent of local publishers. Continues with an analysis of the present state of affairs [in the early 1990s] of all areas of the book sector, concluding that the percentage of books imported is still too high, and recommending strategies for reversing this trend.
1989
Chakava, H. (1989) ‘Publishing in Kenya’, Africa Bibliography, vol. 1988: (March): vi-xi.
Begins with a survey of the available literature on publishing in Kenya and follows with a historical overview of the printed word in Kenya. Describes the objectives of the East African Literature Bureau when it was set up in 1948 and the arrival of multinational publishers OUP and Longman. Examines the changes which took place in publishing after independence in 1963 and the proliferation of multinational publishing houses in Kenya at that time. Gives a detailed analysis of titles which were in demand during the 1970s and 1980s. Notes the subsequent drop in publishing output by indigenous Kenyan publishers, and asks why the industry has not grown in any sustainable fashion since the mid-1970s. Examines the climate for Kenyan publishers in the late 1980s, and issues such as the status of children’s books, language policy, and libraries. The author concludes that the future prospects are good as ‘… the level of literacy is growing gradually and Kenyans are slowly being inculcated into book-reading and book buying.’
1988
Chakava, H. (1988) ‘A decade of publishing in Kenya: 1977-1987. One man’s involvement’, African Book Publishing Record 14 (4): 235–41.
Also published as ‘Das Recht auf den Eigenen Verlag’, Zeitschrift für Kulturaustausch 41 (3) (1991–3): 341–54; and also reprinted in P. G. Altbach (1993) Readings on Publishing in Africa and the Third World. Buffalo NY: Bellagio Publishing Network, Research and Information Center (Bellagio Studies in Publishing 1): 67–73.
Henry Chakava describes his role in the development of Heinemann Educational Books (East Africa), later to become Heinemann Kenya between 1977–87, and now East African Educational Publishers, discussing his personal publishing style and strategies in some detail and offers a brief survey of publishing in Kenya [at that time]. Relates his own involvement in publishing popular fiction and describes his experimentation (supported by statistics) with publishing creative writing, and in the translation of books into African languages.
Chakava, H. (1988) ‘The role of publishing in national development’, The Kenya Bookseller 1 (4) (October/December): 28–30.
Examines the role of the publisher in Kenya, the problem of illiteracy and how this affects national culture, reading habits in Kenya, and book distribution. Also addresses issues relating to book donations, local authorship and training. Stresses the need for a national debate on books and publishing.
1984
Chakava, H. (1984) ‘Reading in Africa - some obstacles’, IFLA Journal 10 (4): 348–56.
Offers a brief overview of the book situation in Africa [in the 1980s], but focuses mainly on three main obstacles to the development of reading in Africa, namely: language, literacy, and an underdeveloped readership. The author points out that these problems can best be solved within a broad framework of national development policies, for example, a literacy or book awareness campaign would also benefit writing and the book industries. He urges careful preparation of targets and priorities for each country.
Chakava, H. (1984) ‘An autonomous African publishing house: a model’, Development Dialogue 1–2: 123–31.
Also published in J. Gibbs and J. Mapanje (eds), The African Writers’ Handbook. Oxford: African Books Collective: 85–93.
Presents a model of a ‘… viable, autonomous, indigenous African publishing house, where viability is also seen to entail longevity and permanence.’ Examines in some detail the various aspects of the publishing business, covering both overall policy questions and the economic, technical and practical issues that confront publishers in Africa.
1983
Chakava, H. (n.d. [1983]) Books and Reading in Kenya. Paris: UNESCO (Studies on Books and Reading, 13). 55 pp.
One of a series of national monographs on the state of books and reading in a number of countries, in order to provide book professionals and the interested public with detailed surveys of matters relating to authorship, publishing, material production and distribution of books and reading. This monograph sets out the position of the book in Kenya [as at 1983]: language policies, authorship, publishing and printing, distribution, training and the legal and institutional framework for publishing. Now inevitably rather dated, but still useful as an overview of the emergence of indigenous publishing in Kenya at that time.
1977
Chakava, H. (1977) ‘Publishing in a multilingual situation: the Kenya case’, African Book Publishing Record 3 (2) pp. 83–90.
Available also at http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0002/000213/021362eb.pdf (facsimile copy of typescript, freely accessible)
A modified and expanded version of a paper (now inevitably very dated) originally presented at a UNESCO sponsored symposium on the publication of books in the various languages of multilingual countries, Moscow-Alma Ata, September 1976. Discusses the problems of a publishing industry which has to face the prospect of publishing in English, Kiswahili, and in a multitude of other African languages across the entire range of books: educational books and those for children, religious books, mass paperbacks, novels, reference books, and more.
***
Festschrift in honour of Henry Chakava (2016)
Kamau, K. and K. Mitambo (eds) (2016) Coming of Age: strides in African publishing. Essays in honour of Dr. Henry Chakava at 70. Nairobi: East African Educational Publishers. 288 pp.
The sixteen chapters in this book form a Festschrift in honour of Henry Chakava, widely recognized as one of the continent’s most dynamic and most innovative publishers, as well as being a prolific author of numerous articles and studies on many aspects of publishing and the book sector in Africa. Preceded by a foreword by Tanzanian publisher Walter Bgoya – another icon among African publishers – the first five chapters in the book are tributes to Chakava’s work, his commitment, courage and vision, and assess his intellectual and professional contribution to publishing and book development in Africa, as well as his involvement in the African world of letters. These five chapters are: ‘The guru of publishing: assessing Henry’s Chakava’s contribution in Africa’ by Kiarie Kamau; ‘Henry Chakava: the gory and glory of African language publishing’ by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o; ‘The triangle that defined AWS: Nairobi – Ibadan – London’ by James Currey; ‘Publisher and intellectual: the work of Henry Chakava’ by Simon Gikandi; and an orature epic in prose poetry commemorating Henry Miyinzi Chakava’s 70th birthday, ‘African orature: back to the roots’, by the Kenyan writer and scholar Micere Githae Mugo. The subsequent eleven chapters focus on different areas of African publishing, containing papers on scholarly publishing, copyright, publishing in the digital age, African books in the international market place, professional training, and the need for research and documentation on the African book industries.
Also of interest
University of Reading. Special Collections. Heinemann Educational Books HEB, African Writers Series
The collection covers the years 1949–99, and includes correspondence, memos, etc. that Henry Chakava exchanged with colleagues at Heinemann, as well as with African writers published by Heinemann, including those published in the African Writers Series.
Note: Use the Ctrl+F(ind) function in the documents, and enter ‘Chakava’ in the navigation panel in order to find references to Henry Chakava.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
For more information see also https://www.reading.ac.uk/adlib/Details/archiveSpecial/110416907
***
Obituaries (a selection)
African Books Collective (n.d.) Henry Chakava: in memoriam.
https://www.readafricanbooks.com/media/website_posts/178/Henry-Chakava.pdf
African Arguments
Walter Bgoya: Henry Chakava (1946 – 2024): the publisher who pricked the people into consciousness.
East African Educational Publishers, Kenya
https://obituarykenya.co.ke/henry-miyinzi-chakava-hsc-mbs/
Executive Office of the President (Instagram)
https://www.instagram.com/p/C4QNj-CN8hl/
Nation Africa
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o: Henry Chakava – my friend, student and saviour.
Henry Chakava’s death marks the end of an era in Kenya’s literary publishing.
Henry Chakava the chairman who dined with the rich and poor.
Of a lobster dinner and other memories of Henry Chakava.
Writing Africa: archiving Black and African literature.
https://www.writingafrica.com/kenyan-publisher-henry-chakava-has-passed-away/
The East African
https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/magazine/veteran-publisher-henry-chakava-dies-at-77-4549486
The Eastleigh Voice
https://eastleighvoice.co.ke/Henry%20Chakava/23918/kenyan-veteran-publisher-henry-chakava-dies-at-77
The Standard
KahawaTungu.com
https://kahawatungu.com/veteran-publisher-henry-chakava-is-dead/
The Star
Amnesty Kenya
https://www.amnestykenya.org/we-have-dr-chakava-to-thank-for-the-rights-and-freedoms-we-enjoy/
In Memory of Henry Chakava – Ndirangu Wachanga (Video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQvFj7Lwpa4
Roaring Simba Network. Tribute to Dr. Henry Miyinzi Chakava, African publisher extraordinaire (Video)
