Delegates Meet to Foster Flourishing African Publishing Industry
CAROL STREAM, Ill. (April 17, 2018) – Last month, delegates from nine African nations along with Brazil, France, the United Kingdom and the United States gathered on the campus on Trinity International University for the inaugural Africa Speaks conference.
According to the organizers, the stated mission of the conference was “to facilitate a network of like-minded persons and organizations who will commit to working together to foster a flourishing African publishing industry for the enrichment of the Church and society in Africa and around the world.”
Edward Elliott, the founder of Oasis International, served as the visionary catalyst for the event, which was sponsored by the Tyndale House Foundation where Elliott serves on the board.
“Several key facts highlighted the need for this event,” Elliott stated. “Access to books is exceedingly limited in much of Africa, leading to sparse opportunity for African authors to be published. A survey conducted in 2017 found that leaders of the African Church demonstrate an extremely strong desire to read African authors.”
Eminent African scholar and TIU faculty member Dr. Tite Tiénou served as chairperson and moderator for Africa Speaks. One of the goals for the event was to create an accord to ensure that Christian publishing is no longer “business as usual” in Africa but will move forward in unique and innovative ways.
By the conclusion of the conference, the Africa Speaks Accord was crafted, ratified and signed by all delegates including ECPA member publishers, Tyndale House, Moody Publishers and CLC Publications. The delegates have appointed a Continuation Committee to take the vision forward and ensure that specific action steps take place in the months ahead.
For further information, contact Jeremy Taylor at jeremytaylor@tyndale.com.
Tyndale House Foundation, established in 1963 by Kenneth and Margaret Taylor, is a charitable fund which makes grants to support Christian work around the world. For over 50 years the Foundation has received all royalties from the sales of Living Letters (1962), The Living Bible (1971) and the New Living Translation (1996). In 2001 Ken and Margaret Taylor transferred ownership of Tyndale House Publishers to the Foundation. As a result, dividends from the profitable operations of the publishing company also now flow to the Foundation.
