The African Translation Project is a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to translating contemporary fiction from non-colonial African languages into English.
The African Translation Project is a groundbreaking initiative curated by award-winning South African author, editor, and publisher Zukiswa Wanner through her press Paivapo Publishing, and E.D.E. Bell, a Detroit-based author and international literary curator. The project addresses a critical gap in global literature by making authentic African storytelling accessible to English-speaking readers worldwide.
The project ensures that human translators and writers re-selling their work receive fair compensation, addressing a gap that traditional publishing structures and continental publishers, lacking resources and grant programs, cannot currently fill.
The project has identified three specific books for translation, with a tiered funding approach:
Book 1
Bengithi Lizokuna (I thought it was going to rain) by Nakanjani G. Sibiya, translated from isiZulu by acclaimed author Sifiso Mzobe.
Book 2
Zvinobvinza (The Crocodile Doesn’t Hunt) by Pauline Chirata-Mukondiwa, translated from Shona by Zukiswa Wanner.
Book 3
A Kiswahili work to be announced if the project reaches $5,000, with translation beginning if funding reaches $7,500 by the same deadline.
The books will be curated, translated, and published on the continent, ensuring that the entire process remains rooted in African literary traditions and expertise. Initially, the translated works will be made available as part of a larger collection of translated books in 2026, with e-books offered at low cost for a limited time. The project commits to providing copies to anyone who wants to read these stories but cannot afford to purchase them.
The African Translation Project operates entirely through community support and donations. Every contribution directly supports translator compensation, publication costs, and the broader mission of making African literature accessible across linguistic boundaries.
Visit https://ko-fi.com/africantranslationproject to make secure donations of any amount. Ko-fi allows both one-time contributions and recurring monthly support.
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