AGP Executive Report

Accessible Reading: Nigeria’s Copyright Commission is urging the creation of a national portal to help blind and print-disabled readers find books in accessible formats. Research Publishing: Sundiata Post has expanded its research arm into a Knowledge Lab, with plans to publish scholarly work, datasets and policy briefs. Literary Prize: Poet and human-rights lawyer Ogaga Ifowodo won the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Literature for Why Does God Need a Gun? Digital Books: Spotify is expanding its audiobook service in Nigeria, offering access to 350,000 titles as it seeks new listening habits. New Voices: At 21, Nigerian writer Doreen Otaru has published her debut novel, Seasons of Blooming, about the uncertainties of growing up. Book Piracy: The government has ordered a crackdown on book piracy, a persistent challenge for publishers and authors.

Young African Voices: Nigerian author Doreen Otaru, 21, has released her debut novel, Seasons of Blooming, exploring the uncertainty of growing up. Accessible Reading: Nigeria’s Copyright Commission is urging the government to establish a national portal to help blind and print-disabled readers find books in accessible formats. Publishing Research: Nigeria’s Sundiata Post has rebranded its research arm as the Knowledge Lab, widening its brief to include original research and scholarly publishing. Digital Books: Spotify has brought 350,000 audiobooks to Nigeria, aiming to build new listening habits. Libraries: A Kenyan power engineer has funded a KSh2 million library for rescued girls in West Pokot. Literary Debate: Zimbabwe’s Caine Prize-winning author has rejected claims that AI wrote his story, amid growing scrutiny of AI in literary work. Book Events: Newswatch marked the 40th anniversary of journalist Dele Giwa’s assassination with a book presentation.

New Voices: At 21, Nigerian author Doreen Otaru has published Seasons of Blooming, a coming-of-age debut about displacement, friendship and starting over. Young Readers: Abuja’s Readbug LitFest meets on Oct. 17 with storytelling, creative activities and a spelling bee aimed at inspiring children to read. Book Access: Nigeria’s Copyright Commission is moving to establish a national accessible-book portal; in Kenya, an engineer has funded a KSh2 million library for rescued girls in West Pokot. Digital Books: Spotify’s audiobook service is now available in Nigeria, offering 15 hours of listening a month and a new route for local authors and publishers to reach listeners. Publishing Trade: Sharjah International Book Fair 2026 is set to bring together 2,673 publishers and exhibitors.

Digital Access: Spotify has launched audiobooks in Nigeria, opening a new channel for Nigerian authors to reach global listeners. Nigeria’s Copyright Commission is also moving to establish a national portal for accessible books. Children’s Reading: UNESCO and partners have unveiled media-literacy workbooks for Nigerian children aged six to 10, teaching them to check information and spot misinformation. Publishing Standards: Zimbabwean Caine Prize winner Simbarashe Kundizeza denies using AI to write his winning story; the prize has begun an internal review after an AI detector flagged the work. Research Publishing: A new ASSAf study warns that rising publication fees are making it harder for African researchers to take part in scholarly publishing. Print Infrastructure: Congo’s National Printing Office is back in business, while authorities in another African publishing market are stepping up a crackdown on book piracy.

Audiobooks: Spotify has launched a catalogue of 350,000 audiobooks in Nigeria, opening a new listening channel and global distribution route for Nigerian authors. New Nigerian Books: Ten-year-old twins Jason and Jaden Ojo will launch their first children’s book, JJ The Sloth and the Twins, in Lagos on October 24; Newswatch will publish a collection of Dele Giwa’s journalism on October 19, marking 40 years since his killing. Publishing Access: South Africa’s Academy of Science says rising publication fees are making it harder for African researchers to publish; a separate study highlights the need to sustain African open-science infrastructure. Books Across Africa: UNESCO is supporting learning with 4,000 books, while Congo’s national printing office is back in business. Literary Debate: Zimbabwean Caine Prize winner has denied using AI to write the prize-winning story, as the prize launches a human-centred review process. Reading Culture: Malawi’s Prophet Hara has challenged the public to build a stronger reading culture.

Audiobooks: Spotify has opened its Nigerian service to 350,000 audiobooks, giving local authors a new route to listeners and widening access to global titles. Book fairs: Sharjah International Book Fair is set to bring together 2,673 publishers and exhibitors from 124 countries. Children’s reading: UNESCO and partners launched Young Truth Detectives, a workbook and guide to help Nigerian children spot misinformation and online risks. AI and authorship: Zimbabwe’s Caine Prize winner has rejected claims that AI wrote his story; the prize organisers say they are developing a human-centred process for reviewing such allegations. Publishing access: African higher-education leaders are urging sustained support for open-science infrastructure, including repositories and publishing platforms, warning that fragile services hit less-resourced institutions hardest. Literary recognition: Nigerian poet Ogaga Ifowodo won the $100,000 Nigeria Prize for Literature for Why Does God Need a Gun? Book trade: Nigeria’s government has ordered a crackdown on book piracy, while new reading events in Abuja spotlight Korean literature and literary links between Brazzaville and Abidjan.

African Literary Exchange: A new partnership between Congo-Brazzaville’s Rentrée littéraire and Abidjan’s international book fair will bring joint events, training and author exchanges to Congolese and Ivorian writers. Reading & Access: Spotify is bringing 350,000 audiobooks to Nigeria, while a Korean literature discussion group in Abuja is building a local community around translated fiction. Literary Debate: Zimbabwe’s Caine Prize winner has rejected allegations that AI wrote his story, renewing questions about authorship and trust in African literature. New Releases: South African journalist James-Brent Styan’s Puppet Master revisits the Steinhoff collapse, drawing on confidential forensic material and new accounts from insiders. Publishing Events: Sharjah International Book Fair expects 2,673 publishers and exhibitors from 124 countries for its November edition, alongside 1,500 cultural events.

Caine Prize: Zimbabwean writer Simbarashe Kundizeza denies using AI to write “The Blue Fighter,” which won this year’s prize. Organizers are reviewing the allegation but have not withdrawn the award; Kundizeza also questioned whether AI detectors are biased against African writers. African Publishing: Sharjah Book Fair 2026 is set to bring together 2,673 publishers and exhibitors, while a London festival will showcase Hausa literature for the first time. Nigerian Literature: Poet Ogaga Ifowodo won the $100,000 Nigeria Prize for Literature for “Why Does God Need a Gun?” Books and Access: A library in New York is sending more than 3,000 donated books to Books for Africa for distribution across the continent. African Politics in Print: Malawi’s Atupele Muluzi contributed a chapter to Penguin’s “Why Liberation Movements Fail: Perspectives from Across Africa,” which examines why liberation movements have struggled to improve living conditions.

Sharjah Book Fair: The 45th Sharjah International Book Fair runs November 4–15, bringing together 2,673 publishers and exhibitors from 124 countries, with Nigerian-American author Nnedi Okorafor among its guests. Books & Memory: Newswatch will present Dele Giwa’s Granite Journalism in Lagos on October 19, 40 years after the journalist’s assassination. Edited by Newswatch co-founder Ray Ekpu, the book celebrates Giwa’s work and legacy. Language & AI: A new commentary warns that AI is learning Somali from a thin, accidental slice of online writing, and urges Somali institutions to treat the written language as public infrastructure. Hausa Literature: The Hausa International Books and Arts Festival holds its first UK event at SOAS, London, on October 24. Founded to create a space for northern Nigerian writers and readers, it has grown beyond books to explore language and culture. Literary Honors: Poet Ogaga Ifowodo won the $100,000 Nigeria Prize for Literature for Why Does God Need a Gun?; author Tsitsi Dangarembga was named the first Black woman to receive Germany’s Peace Prize.

Book Fairs: Sharjah International Book Fair returns Nov. 4–15 with 2,673 publishers and exhibitors from 124 countries, 1,500 events and Oman as guest of honour. Children’s Publishing: Ten-year-old Nigerian twins are set to launch a children’s book and TV series, JJ the Sloth. Literary Awards: Ogaga Ifowodo won the $100,000 Nigeria Prize for Literature for Why Does God Need a Gun?; Zimbabwean author Tsitsi Dangarembga has become the first Black woman to receive the German Peace Prize. Publishing & AI: The Caine Prize is introducing a “human-centred” process after its Zimbabwean winner faced allegations of AI use. Festivals: Accra’s Pa Gya! Literary Festival marked a decade of celebrating stories and ideas.

Caine Prize: The award has begun a “human-centred” review process after its Zimbabwean winner faced allegations of using AI, putting authorship and judging standards in focus. New Books: Ghanaian scholar Dr Abena Asomaning launched three books and raised funds for prison reintegration programmes. Nigeria Prize: Poet Ogaga Ifowodo won the $100,000 award for Why Does God Need a Gun? Literary Festivals: Ghana’s Pa Gya Festival is working to boost visibility for local authors, while Abuja’s literary festival is exploring AI, democracy, culture and identity.

Literary Integrity: The Caine Prize is reviewing its process after its Zimbabwean winner was accused of using AI, renewing debate over authorship and judging standards. Books for Change: Ghanaian scholar Abena Asomaning launched three books and auctioned paintings to support prison reintegration programmes. Textbook Access: Kenyan MPs plan to question the education institute over uneven textbook distribution; in Nigeria’s Benue State, two schools were shut over allegations they forced parents to buy books. African Literature: Poet Ogaga Ifowodo won Nigeria’s $100,000 literature prize for Why Does God Need a Gun? Ghana’s Pa Gya festival also marked its tenth year, promoting local authors and their work.

New Releases: Ghanaian academic Dr Abena Asomaning launched three books and auctioned paintings to support incarcerated women. Translation: At Frankfurt Book Fair, the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre announced 14 projects to bring Arab and Emirati books to readers in seven languages, including Portuguese, Hindi and Spanish. Literary Festivals: Accra’s Pa Gya festival marked a decade of promoting stories and ideas, while organisers also called for greater visibility for Ghanaian authors. Awards: Nigerian poet Ogaga Ifowodo won the $100,000 Nigeria Prize for Literature for Why Does God Need a Gun?; Zimbabwean writer Simbarashe Kundizeza took the 2026 Caine Prize. Books & Ideas: Abuja’s literary festival explored AI, democracy, culture and identity, and the Association of Nigerian Authors opened entries for the 2026 Chinua Achebe Prize for Literature.

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.