Literary Agents Will Boost Book Business In Nigeria
–Akande
By Yemi Adebisi-May 13, 2018
Abdullahi
(left), Eghagha (second left), Akande (second right) and Ozoagu Amana during
the conference.
The Association of Nigerian Authors
(ANA) has been urged to take up the responsibility of literary agent to enhance
the growth of book industry in Nigeria.
Speaking on Friday May 11, 2018 on
the theme: Literary Agency and the Promotion of the Author’s Craft and
Business, at the just concluded Nigeria International Book Fair, Dr. Lola
Akande, the guest speaker said Nigerian publishers have frustrated most authors
either by rejecting their manuscripts or failure to pay royalties to those that
are fortunate to be published.
The annual Author’s Groove, one of
the most fascinating sessions of the international book fair, held at
Multipurpose Hall, University of Lagos, was attended by writers across the
country.
Akande, a senior lecturer and one
time winner of ANA’s prose prize, stressed that in advanced countries, literary
agents hunt for good writers and pay royalties to works that are yet to be
published. According to her, the agent, not only publishes the book but market
and run competitive publicity for the authors unlike in the Nigeria setting.
“The role of a literary agent is to
sell saleable material. Literary agents search for new writers and they are
often prepared to take immense pains with a writer whose work, in their
opinion, shows potential quality or distinctive promise. Agents do not teach
people how to write. Every writer must expect disappointments at the outset of
their career, but if they have something to say and know how to say it, and
they are patient, eventually, they may learn how to satisfy an editor’s
requirements,” she said.
Chairman of the occasion, Professor
Hope Eghagha, head of English department, University of Lagos said all hands
must be on deck to safe the country from its various challenges especially with
the poor reading culture and menace of social media among the youth.
National president of ANA, Denja
Abdullahi assured the reading public and Nigerian authors for coalition with
relevant stakeholders to achieve this valiant initiative.
