AFREXIMBANK has unveiled the CANEX Prize for Publishing in Africa to further boost the continent’s literary scene.
The initiative, a partnership between the CANEX Book Factory and Narrative Landscape Press Limited, will also uplift the African book value chain.
The CANEX programme launched in 2020 is part of Afreximbank’s strategy to harness the potential of Africa’s creative and cultural industries for development and job creation.
The CANEX Book Factory, a significant programme component, seeks to cultivate a vibrant literary culture across Global Africa through various initiatives, including the newly announced publishing prize.
The CANEX Prize for Publishing in Africa will culminate in an award ceremony at the CANEX WKND in Algiers, Algeria, from October 16-19, 2024.
The prize includes a $20,000 award for the publisher of the best trade book, which encompasses fiction, non-fiction, and poetry but excludes textbooks and academic books.
Additionally, four finalists will each receive USD2,000.
The submissions for the CANEX Prize will be judged on the quality of writing, editing, and production.
Preference will be given to books printed and produced in Africa and those published in indigenous African languages in the past two years.
The CANEX programme’s broader mission includes supporting the creative and cultural economy through various sectors such as fashion, music, film, art, literature, gastronomy and sports. By leveraging financial and non-financial tools, CANEX aims to advance and expand these industries within Africa and its diaspora.
Publishers can submit their works for the inaugural CANEX Prize via the CANEX website: https://canex.africa/canex-book-factory.
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