‘I was told books don’t sell here. I knew that wasn’t true’: the English teacher shaking up Nigeria’s publishing scene
Source: http://www.theguardian.com
After surviving kidney failure, English teacher Othuke Ominiabohs was determined to share his stories with the world. Facing rejection, he self-published his novels—driving across Nigeria, persuading bookshops to stock his work.
His persistence paid off. Within a year, his debut novel Odufa sold 2,000 copies. Realizing the struggles of emerging African writers, he founded Masobe Books in 2018 with a $7,000 loan from his sister.
Today, Masobe Books is a major force in African publishing, focusing on local voices often overlooked by mainstream publishers. In 2024, the company sold nearly 60,000 copies across 41 titles, doubling its previous year’s output. With projections of 80,000 copies in 2025 and over $1 million in revenue over four years, Masobe is proving there’s a thriving market for new African literature.
Read more of the story here: https://childreninfobank.com/safebank/i-was-told-books-dont-sell-here-i-knew-that-wasnt-true-the-english-teacher-shaking-up-nigerias-publishing-scene/
Image Source: http://www.theguardian.com
