STORYMOJA

Dr. Bibi Bakare-Yusuf is a publisher, based in Abuja, Nigeria.

Dr. Bibi Bakare-Yusuf is a publisher, based in Abuja, Nigeria. She started Cassava Republic Press in 2006. Her company is a social enterprise focused on publishing quality African writing at an affordable price, driven by the dream to re-develop a reading (and writing) culture in Nigeria, as part of the bigger project of re-imagining Nigeria’s future and being part of an African cultural and intellectual renaissance.

Prior to setting up Cassava Republic, Bibi was an academic in the UK and Nigeria. She has a PhD in gender studies from the University of Warwick. Her thesis explored the relationship between embodiment and memory in the African diaspora, examining structures of retention found in New World cultures. She has published many papers in refereed journals, and regularly presents papers at academic conferences. She sits on the editorial board of a number of influential journals and is a life-long and committed feminist.

Bibi also has considerable experience as a consultant in both the public and private sectors. She has worked for the BBC as a researcher, Unifem, ActionAid, the Feminist Library, the Women’s Environmental Network and is involved in a number of community activities that focus on women’s transformation, and the development of a reading and writing culture in Africa.

Join her in the Storymoja Hay Festival sessions described below.

FRI 4 – 5:30pm Publishing and Marketing Panel Discussion w/ John Mwazemba, Agatha V, KPA – Laurence Njagi of Mountaintop Publishers, Stanley Gazemba, Doreen/Bibi Bakare /Billy Kahora

The Kenya Publishing Industry – Where are we headed? : “Kenyans don’t read.” “The only books that sell are textbooks.” “We don’t normally carry African writers.” How many times have we heard these dismal statements? And yet, how many Kenyans spend hours on Facebook, yes, reading? What about email, or text messages and exchanging stories in bars? What is the Kenyan publishing industry doing to capture this market? Is there are future for publishers, and if so, how do we get there? Come listen to a variety of publishers defend themselves, and give them a few ideas of your own on what they should do to reach you – the audience. How can we get Kenyans – and Africans – reading beyond exams?

Saturday 1^st August, 2009, 10am – 11:30am Manuscript Doctor Sesssion w/ Doreen/Agatha Verdadero/Ali Zaidi/Stephen Partington/ Bibi Bakare, Suhaila Cross/John Mwazemba

Writers! Poets! Playrights! Scribes of all sorts! You all practice the written word, but how do you perfect it? By showing your writing to experts and getting feedback. This is your chance. A team of expert editors of all genres of writing will be on hand to peruse your manuscripts and give you instant editing advice and writing tips. You will find out what works and what doesn’t and how to refine your creative ideas. The team includes publishers and editors of major Kenyan journals, magazines, newspapers, and books. Come with 5 to 10 TYPED pages of your manuscript. Do not miss this chance to improve your art.

Sunday 2^nd August, 2009, 12pm – 1:30pm: Careers in Writing w/ Tony Mochama, Judy Kibinge, Jan Blake, Kate Adie, Bibi Bakare moderated by Kingwa Kamencu,

You love to write, but can you make money out of it? You need not be a “starving artist”. Come listen to writers who have made a living out of doing what they love as filmmakers, journalists, storytellers, publishers, etc. You will find out where the jobs are, and how to get them or create them.

Tickets are available from Storymoja as well as all leading book stores ( Booksfirst, Silverbird (formerly NuMetro), Savanis, Book Stop Yaya, Sarit Info Desk). Contact info@storymojaafrica.co.ke for more details about tickets. For information about the dates, venue and guests see here…