A publishing house built for African voices.
Itanile began as a literary magazine and community promoting self-published and independent African authors. Today we publish books, sell them through our reading platform, and work with writers who want a team behind them.
From a magazine to a publishing house
A community for African writers
Itanile started as a magazine and online community, publishing fiction, nonfiction and poetry by African writers and giving them a place to be read. Authors who worked with us then had an editing, design and promotion team behind them, like a traditional publishing house.
Books, not only articles
Writers wanted to publish whole books. We opened the site to ebooks, so authors can publish their own work for free.
A place to read them
We built Itanile Reader so African books can be read in a browser on any device, and sold through one place.
Publishing partnerships
For authors who want more than self-publishing, we are developing publishing partnerships, where the cost is shared and the revenue is shared in proportion.
Africa’s stories, driving development
To lead in using African literature as a means of lasting economic and social development across Africa.
Publishing made simple
To simplify publishing for African writers through a digital platform with easy tools and strong protection for their work, while linking them to their audiences and strengthening Africa’s literary industry.
Four things
Publish
Authors can publish their ebooks on itanile.org for free, after review by our editors.
Sell
Books are sold and read through Itanile Reader.
Connect
Through the magazine and the opportunities archive, we bring writers and readers together.
Partner
We take on a small number of publishing partnerships, including Amazon publishing, on terms agreed with each author.
Principles we publish by
African stories first
We exist to amplify narratives from across the continent and its diaspora, in the voices that tell them best.
Your name on your book
Every book is linked to its author account and author profile.
Terms in writing
Any publishing partnership is agreed in writing with the author before work begins.
The Itanile Annual Awards
Our annual awards recognise contributions to African storytelling in five categories: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Essays, Poetry and the Chapbook Award. Guest editors judge the work published through the year, on strength, quality and impact on the community.
Who runs it
Itanile is operated by Itanile Hub Limited, a company registered in Nigeria (RC 1851904), based in Osogbo, Osun State. It was founded by Oladeji Jonathan D. and is run with volunteer writers, editors, artists and creatives. Meet the masthead
Write to us at [email protected]. For publishing enquiries, [email protected].
Be part of what comes next.
Publish your book, read in Itanile Reader, or tell us how you would like to work with us.
