Social Norms
Social norms action with informed and engaged societies
Social Norms
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at lainiciativadecomunicacion.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
Time to read
1 minute
Print
a- a+
Published 21 years ago
Last updated 2 years ago
Read so far

African Books Collective (ABC) - Africa

0 comments
African Books Collective (ABC) seeks to strengthen indigenous African publishing by facilitating collective action and to increase the visibility and accessibility of the wealth of African scholarship and culture. It works in partnership with publishers, donors and other cultural organisations in Africa and elsewhere, to disseminate information and promote African publishing and book interests globally. It uses print-on-demand technology to distribute works published by African publishers outside of Africa.
Communication Strategies
ABC enhances the profile of African books, culture and contributes to the fulfilment of the cultural development policies of its partners and donors. The programme organisers say its promotes dialogue and a process of social change and progress, rooted within the local cultural context. The organisers believe culture goes hand-in-hand with increased social and political consciousness; and that writing and literature are an integral part of a culturally dynamic society.

The programme promotes, markets and distributes African-published materials worldwide outside publishers' domestic markets; and through a full range of marketing activities to increase sales of African-published books. It draws on new technologies and evolving marketing developments, to develop existing markets and establish new markets.
Development Issues
Technology
Key Points
The ABC aims are to have:
  • a vibrant, self-sustaining and independent publishing industry emanating from within African culture.
  • African writers and scholars publishing with indigenous African publishers.
  • African literature in the mainstream of international literary output.
  • African scholarship strongly represented in the international intellectual community.
  • appreciation of African aesthetics and cultural identity.
  • an efficient cost-effective ABC, maximising sales income, reducing the gap between income and expenditure in the long term, working towards self-sustainability, with strong capacity to carry forward its mission.
Partners
African publishers
Sources

African Books Collective website on August 10 2004.