African Publishers Network - APNET

African Educational Publishers are invited.

Bonjour,

Les éditeurs africains sont invités.

APNET CELEBRATES 2026 INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY

On this International Mother Language Day, APNET joins the global community in celebrating linguistic diversity and the vital role of mother tongues in preserving culture, identity, and heritage.

A mother tongue is more than a means of communication; it is the foundation of our traditions, values, and knowledge systems. It strengthens education, promotes inclusion, and connects generations by preserving the richness of our cultural heritage.

APNET recognizes the importance of protecting and promoting indigenous and local languages as a way of fostering mutual understanding, respect, and sustainable development. We encourage communities, institutions, and individuals to embrace and celebrate their mother languages while supporting multilingual education and cultural diversity.

We also encourage African Governments to invest in the publishing and procurement of books written in mother tongue as a way of strengthening access to books in these mother languages. We encourage delivery of curriculum and curriculum support materials especially in early learning in mother languages as a direct way of injecting and promoting mother languages through the school system.

Africa can only be better if we ensure preservation of our over 2,000 languages, and that we cultivate a strong desire to speak, write and learn through them.

Let us work together to preserve our languages for future generations.

Happy International Mother Language Day!

Lawrence Njagi, EBS
Chairman
APNET

You are invited to the 4th International Youth and Children's Book Fair in Dakar, Senegal.

The 16th Abidjan International Book Fair will be held from 28th April to 2nd May, 2026. Make a date and attend!

CALL FOR SUBMISSION OF BOOKS — SDG 11: SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES

Dear African Publishers and Authors,
The Management Body of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Book Club African Chapter is inviting African publishers and authors to submit children’s fiction and non-fiction books that relate to the SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities in English, French, Arabic and Kiswahili that help educate children about the SDGs.

If you have books for children within the ages of 6 and 12 years+ that relate to Sustainable Cities and Communities – SDG 11, we invite you to submit them. Below are the links to the Google forms in the four main languages. A children’s book in any other African language that relates to SDG 11 can be submitted via any of the submission forms.

English https://forms.gle/BRxTzwZ3HZ17NQbMA

French https://forms.gle/mvFFqZ8M2W4PuyR36

Kiswahili https://forms.gle/5SgHfeRxspfVxYu29

Arabic https://forms.gle/ATFoZb4Y8VMHoYmU6

The deadline for the submission of the book(s) is 13th February, 2026. Book submissions for SDG 10 were selected and published. To view/ download the reading lists (SDG 1-10), visit:
SDG Book Club African Chapter | United Nations in Namibia https://namibia.un.org/en/228039-sdg-book-club-african-chapter

ABIDJAN INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR
Save the date: April 28 to May 2, 2026 at the Abidjan Exhibition Center (Hall)

Once upon a time… there was SILA

Before, there was a half-open book, a book in motion, curious, ready to take flight. It told the story of the beginnings of the Abidjan International Book Fair: a story in the making, a promise of knowledge, an invitation to turn the page.

Then time passed. The pages multiplied, readers grew, met, shared ideas, emotions, dreams.

Today, the book is fully open. Because SILA is now a space for expression that is fully embraced, vibrant, and accessible to all. At the heart of the new logo, a reader rises: a symbol of humanity, of knowledge that liberates,

and of reading that fosters growth, reflection, and transformation.

From momentum to fulfillment.

From promise to complete openness.

This new logo represents our story, which continues to unfold with you: readers, authors, publishers, and book lovers.

Welcome to the next chapter of SILA.

🇨🇮 Save the date: April 28 to May 2, 2026 at the Abidjan Exhibition Center (Hall)

SDG 10 ENGLISH READING LIST selected and published. Access the full reading lists https://namibia.un.org/en/228039-sdg-book-club-african-chapter

SDG 10 KISWAHILI READING LIST selected and published. Access the full reading lists https://namibia.un.org/en/228039-sdg-book-club-african-chapter

All African publishers and stakeholders in the publishing industry are invited.

Invited, African Publishers Associations and country representatives!