At the heart of the African literary scene, a new excitement is emerging, driven by talented voices and visionary publishers. Within the prestigious International Literature Festival of Dublin (ILFD), the meeting between the Nigerian-German writer Olumide Popoola and the literary agent Bibi Bakare-Yusuf illuminated the debates on the past, present and future of Nigerian and African writing as a whole.
Bibi Bakare-Yusuf, founder of Cassava Republic Press, says with conviction: “There is a renewed energy and excitement that I want to see spread across the African literary landscape.” Since its inception in 2006, the Abuja-based publishing house has been firmly committed to promoting Nigerian literature to local, African and international audiences, with branches now in the United Kingdom and the United States.
The existence of Cassava Republic has demonstrated to the entire world that the diversity of Africa and its stories must be celebrated. “Our stories must reflect all the variety of our continent, from the villages to the slums of Kinshasa or Lagos, to the luxury of Cape Town,” emphasizes Bakare-Yusuf.
At the same time, Abuja, the Nigerian capital, aspires to become a City of Literature recognized by UNESCO, thus joining the organization’s “Creative Cities” network. This ambition is part of a desire to highlight the literary wealth of the region, with a proliferation of reading clubs, theaters and bookstores which shape the city’s cultural ecosystem.
Olumide Popoola, writer of Nigerian-German origin, embodies the revival of African literature. His unique approach, oscillating between Nigeria, Germany and the United Kingdom, transcends borders and established narrative conventions. With works such as “When We Speak of Nothing” and her new novel “Like Water, Like Sea” exploring universal themes such as relationships, motherhood and mental health, Popoola offers an innovative vision of literary storytelling.
Cassava Republic, through its bold and inclusive approach to African literature, paved the way for a boom in the publishing industry on the continent, attracting an ever-widening international readership. By inspiring new publishers to join this literary adventure, the publishing house actively contributes to the enrichment of the African literary landscape.
Beyond the quest for diversity, Olumide Popoola underlines the importance of giving voice to previously marginalized narratives. By offering unconventional stories and rethinking pre-established narrative structures, it opens the way to a plural and innovative African literature, capable of captivating an audience eager for authentic literary discoveries..
Thus, in this dynamic of permanent reinvention, literary Africa asserts itself as a continent teeming with talents and stories, shaping the archive of the future through the pages of today. In this common adventure, carried by inspiring voices such as that of Olumide Popoola and Bibi Bakare-Yusuf, the face of a modern and plural African literature emerges, ready to conquer the world through the force of its authentic and bewitching.