About Us
African books
African books
in African
hands first.
Open Arts Publishing began with a question: why are so many of the most important African literary voices still being discovered, published, and celebrated from elsewhere?
Our mission
"Everything we do is built around placing African books in African hands first."
Open Arts Publishing · Abuja, Nigeria
Our mission
To publish bold literary and cultural work by writers from underrepresented backgrounds across Africa.
We are a boutique literary press headquartered in Abuja, Nigeria. We acquire African rights and publish primarily for the West African market, with distribution across the broader African continent and to diaspora readers worldwide.
Amplifying voices that reshape how we understand identity, power, and creativity — and making those voices heard across the continent and beyond.
Our values
What we stand for
01
Editorial Courage
We publish work that challenges, not work that comforts. The difficult question is always more interesting than the easy answer.
02
Writer First
Author relationships are long-term partnerships, not transactions. We work closely with every writer through the full editorial process.
03
African Ownership
We acquire African rights and invest in African readership. This continent's stories belong to this continent's readers first.
04
Quality Over Volume
One exceptional book is worth more than five ordinary ones. We give every title the time and attention it deserves.
05
Representation
We centre writers whose identities are underrepresented in African publishing — across gender, sexuality, class, ethnicity, and disability.
Our vision
To become one of West Africa's most respected independent literary presses within five years — known for editorial courage, design integrity, and a genuine commitment to writers who have been overlooked.
What we publish
Fiction, non-fiction, essays, and audiobooks. Every title released in paperback, ebook, and audiobook — because a book should reach its reader wherever they are.
Who we publish
Writers from Nigeria and West Africa, with a focus on early-career voices who have not yet found a publishing home.
Ready to share your work?
We are now accepting manuscripts from African writers on the continent and in the Diaspora.
