Ankara Press, the new romance novel-focused imprint of groundbreaking Nigerian publishing house Cassava Republic Press, announced earlier this week that they will be releasing a free digital anthology of love stories in celebration of Valentine's Day. The special collection will feature short stories from seven contemporary African writers alongside audio recordings and translations of each story into the different language spoken by its contributing author, including Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Egbira, Kiswahili, Kikuyu, Kpelle and French.
The forthcoming anthology will feature narratives from Kenyan memoirist and TIME 100 honoreeBinyavanga Wainaina, and award-winning Nigerian authors Toni Kan, Sarah Ladipo Manyika, Chuma Nwokolo Abubakar, and Adam Ibrahim. Literary newcomers Edwige-Renée Dro of Cote d' Ivoire and Liberia's Hawa Jande Golaka have also penned original stories for the anthology.
Co-founder and publishing director of Ankara Press Bibi Bakare-Yusuf remarked that the project will allow African readers interested in modern romance stories "to read and hear what romancing in different languages might sound like and mean, as well as showing how romance can break away from the genre stereotypes and still be entertaining." The Valentine's Day anthology will be available for free digital download on the Ankara Press website on Saturday, February 14th. For more, keep up with Ankara Press on Twitter and Facebook.
Update: February 14, 2015: Download the Ankara Press Valentine's Day Anthology 2015 here.
Valentine's Day 2016 Update: Today, Ankara Press released their first print books in the company's two year existence. The six print titles are: A Tailor-made Romance by Oyindamola Affinnih, Black Sparkle Romance by Amara Nicole Okolo, A Taste of Love by Sifa Gowon, Love’s Persuasion by Ola Awonubi, Finding Love Again by Chioma Iwunze-Ibiam and Elevator Kiss by Amina Thula.
They also released two new e-books today: The Seeing Place by Aziza Eden Walker and Love Next Door by Amina Thula.
