Introduction
Company name
(Tanci Publishers NPC)
The name of the Non-Profit Company is Tanci Publishers. It publishes books written in isiXhosa, and educational materials such as study guides and classroom posters. The long term vision is to venture into other languages particularly isiZulu and seSotho. Books published under Tanci Publishers, authors will get to keep their copyright. The responsibility to publish, produce, print and Market is Tanci Publishers, at no cost to the author. If funding is available, the intention is to incentivise authors for every work published. South Africa has no funding for emerging authors, especially those writing in languages other than English and Afrikaans. This is sad because the most spoken languages, by number of mother tongue speakers are isiZulu, isiXhosa, Afrikaans (isiBhulu), and collectively these languages amount to well over 70% of the reading population. This is the gap that Tanci is looking to close.
Vision
- To be a leading small-publishing company in isiXhosa
- To instil language pride (writing, reading, speaking)
- To empower authors writing in isiXhosa, financially and literary
- To explore language as an economic tool
A nation is illiterate until it acknowledges its language in knowledge development
Motivation
One of the founder’s books (Ivamna Bafazi Bolusu) had been in schools since 2016. This initiative is intended to empower authors who write in languages other than English. These authors do not get published, and their works are said to have no markets.
From personal experience, unknown and up and coming authors are exploited. They do not get compensated for their works. Following the personal dilemma, I am starting afresh. I have now decided to publish isiXhosa books.
This initiative requires funding in order to succeed. And that necessitated that I knock on our government departments, institutions, and private sector. Books published under Tanci Publishers, authors will get to keep their copyright. The responsibility to publish, produce, print and Market is Tanci Publishers, at no cost to the author. If funding is available, the intention is to incentivise authors for every work published.
South Africa has no funding for emerging authors, especially those writing in languages other than English and Afrikaans. This is sad because the most spoken languages, by number of mother tongue speakers are isiZulu, isiXhosa, Afrikaans (isiBhulu), and collectively these languages amount to well over 70% of the reading population.
My contribution and interest is in both preserving the languages, knowledge development, and promoting a literate nation that is comfortable among the nations of the world.
Writing books in our languages is a skill we cannot let go. That alone necessitate that we look for support from those who have the means. Government is known for its long involvement and support for language developmental causes in South Africa.
Materials are hardly availed in African languages like isiXhosa beyond formal schooling. Public libraries hardly, or simply do not stock these materials. A nation is illiterate until it reads in its language.
Long term vision is to also avail the novels in brail and promote book reading among the blind community
Immediate and long term vision:
- To be a leading emerging vernacular author
- To instil language pride (writing, reading, speaking)
- To sharpen the mind of South Africans
- To broaden South Africans minds about global matters
- To explore language as an economic tool
- To create a small-publishing company and assist young authors
- To empower authors writing in isiXhosa, financially and literary
- To be an ambassador of all that is good about South Africa
Goals
- Avail books in South African languages
- Contribute meaningfully in the lives of those English is second language
- Reveals global issues in our languages
- Encourage the culture of reading
- Support, mentor and compensate other authors
- Produce good quality books in isiXhosa
- Publish relevant stories that speak to our heritage while relating international historical events of significance
- Sustainably support government initiatives relating to availability of books in all languages
- Be of assistance to the book publishing industry at large
- Service schools and prisons in promoting books written by local authors
- Service prisons (avail isiXhosa books for free)
Sector analysis
People speaking isiXhosa as mother tongue according to the latest statistical surveys are around 17 million, mainly found in the Western, Eastern Cape Provinces, Southern KwaZulu-Natal, significant pockets are found in the Northern Cape, Gauteng, North West and Free State.
IsiXhosa is the first published language in South Africa, and in fact the bible was first translated into the language. Newspaper publishing in vernacular was firstly done in isiXhosa. Beyond high school it is rare to find books written in isiXhosa. This led to publishers concluding there was no market for isiXhosa books.
Book publishing in languages is challenged with too few people wanting to invest in the sector as publishers. This is coupled with the socio economic conditions of those language speakers. Among the young the challenges to reading include: rise in smartphone usage and easy access to paid television content.
Market scan
- Government schools
- Private schools
- Correctional Facilities
- Young Professionals
- Reading clubs
- Elderly people
Capital expenditure future needs
Office space
Infrastructure
Two computers and a laptop
Internet connection
Mobile phone (for office use)
Office stationery
Staff
Publishing uses freelance workers. Many of these are senior academics. Often cost for services is negotiated and sometimes they do the work on voluntary basis.
