A Significant Milestone for the African Theological Network Press

ATNP Update I: N stands for Network

Life for all of us has changed beyond all recognition over the last month. The grim rising death toll, overwhelmed healthcare workers, lock-down, corporate and individual economic shut-down. At the same time, we have seen extraordinary, inspiring stories: a flood of volunteers to our NHS, a rediscovery of neighbourliness, the gracious gifting of online content, radiant rainbows at many a window. Here is one more good news story, celebrating a significant milestone for the African Theological Network Press (ATNP).

I first started to learn about publishing on the African continent nearly fifteen years ago. As I knew nothing, I talked to every sage I could find and read all I could. While there were occasional bright spots, much was lamentation, no more so than ‘intra-African publishing’. Quite simply books rarely escaped their country of publication, even if they had regional or pan-African importance. Ten years ago, the veteran Kenyan publisher Henry Chakava declared: ‘As long as postal rates remain high, with no customs and trade tariff agreements in place among most countries and regions, and African currencies remain inconvertible, the possibility of intra-African trade in books will remain a pipe-dream.’

In March 2020 Chakava’s pipe-dream took on solid shape in the form of ATNP titles rolling off the presses in both East and West Africa. Emmanuel Katongole’s The Sacrifice of Africa was published in North America in 2010, with a list price of £13. You can buy it on Amazon here. But until now it wasn’t published anywhere on the African continent, above all in Katongole’s native Uganda. The ATNP edition of The Sacrifice of Africa now retails at £6.50 in Kenya and in Ghana at £9. Check out BookNook, Ghana’s answer to Amazon for online book buying. Note the new cover, designed by ATNP’s own Editorial Manager Kyama Mugambi. In a subsequent post, I will explore the significance of this book for political reflection in many African countries. ATNP has also taken a title from West Africa, Kwame Bediako’s Jesus in Africa, and made it available in East Africa for £4.50. East Africa soon will return the favour as ATNP publishes in West Africa a collection of essays on East African approaches to Jesus.

Of course others previously have published the same title in different African countries. However N in ATNP is for Network, linking leading African theology institutions in different regions of the continent to publish the same African theology title in different regions. While the idea of such a network press was proposed twenty-five years ago, we think ATNP is the first attempt at implementation. SPCK staff and trustees have supported the growth of ATNP and gifts from SPCK supporters and generous grants from trusts are funding ATNP in its early days until income from book sales moves it towards self-sustainability.

When students at a Kenyan theological college heard that these titles were going to be published in their country, they spontaneously applauded. Another said that libraries at best acquire a single copy of Jesus in Africa, but it was held in the reserve section and so access is extremely restricted. That applause is now not just proposed but actual publications in both Kenya and Ghana.

Dr Angus Crichton, Global Advocacy Manager

Africa has the fastest growing Christian population, but this population is currently unable to publish their own, uniquely African, vision of Christianity.The African Theological Network Press can change this. It is an ecumenical venture, committed to serving the church in Africa and the Diaspora by strengthening its life and witness through high quality scholarly publications that address contextual mission concerns and are accessible and affordable across the continent, as well as globally. Find out how you can help make the voice of African Christianity heard here >>