USIU Ksh20,000,000 Africana gig

Just seen a news item on KTN that USIU has launched a Ksh20,000,000 book fund (or is it an Africana Library or a fund to boost African authors?).
In the item, it is reported that USIU has so far raised about Ksh3,000,000 and hope to raise the rest in five years. (Standard Group CEO - or is it chairman? - Paul Wanyagah feels 5 years is too long a time!).
The chairman of the initiative is one Ken Kariuki.
I listened to the VC Prof Frieda Brown and she was talking of something to do with tuition, other resources - online, print etc. I am lost.
Maybe due to the nature of the news item - brief, rushed, almost PR-ish and all - and the education or otherwise of the writer of the item (shallow, book-matters illiterate, whichever way you look at it), it didn't come out clearly what USIU is coming up with?
a) Is it an Africana Collection? (they should be having one, surely?)
b) Is it an Africana Library?
c) Is it a book fund to boost authors (but how? paying them advances, helping them self-publish, sponsoring them to writing workshops? Buyng them decent clothes? What?)
Towards the end of the item, it was mentioned that USIU hopes to raise the cash from its alumni. I'm not one (thank you so much, Moi University serves me so right, er, for now), so does that mean am excluded from contributing? I can do Ksh50,000 in, you know, five years. I don't make much, really, but when it comes to books, I can even take a Sacco loan just to lay my hands on a said book.
Confusion aside, I think I like this. It was also metioned that there will be a hall of fame kind of thing - every contibutor's name will appear here. I think I will do with a certificate to show I supported a book cause. Considering USIU is my future employer (check with me 5 years from now - after I have done my Masters, written my two books and the works), I think a certificate that shows I contributed a princely Ksh50,000 would not be so bad, au sio?
On a serious note, if ever there was a time for Kenyan publishers and writers to shine, this is such. I'll illustrate.
The East African Educational Publishers beats all the Kenyan publishers hands down when it comes to Africana titles (by that I mean titles, both fiction and non-fiction, done by Africans). What if EAEP just bit the bullet, so to speak, and donated like each of its over 200 titles in the famed African Writers Series? (I know someone will say something to do with Heineman, Longman ... let them!).
Second example: The authors. They can and should surrender a copy of their published books to the USIU Africana thing. I am talking the likes of Ngugi wa Thiong'o, Francis Imbuga, Meja Mwangi, Mwangi Ruheni, Margaret Ogola, Micere Mugo, Maina Kinyatti, Koigi wa Wamwere (I know his limitations as a writer), Grace Ogot, ... (where have all the writers gone?).
Shhhhh: In fact, Ngugi wa Thiong'o with all the money he makes abroad could just write USIU a 1,000,000/- cheque (assuming they are receiving money from non-alumni.)
As soon as I get me the Ksh50,000, I'll go looking for Ken Kariuki. Watch this blog.
Kudos USIU.

Upcoming title: My Journey with Jaramogi by Odinge Odera

Informed sources tell me that Odinge Odera, the first secretary of the Kenya Press Club that was formed in July 1965 is to release an autobiography of sorts but capitalising on his time with the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.

Odinge Odera was among the top 19 KPU men to be detained in November 1969. In a November 11, 1969 Kenya Gazette signed by the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Mr. A. J. Omanga, Odinge was detained alongside Ochola Mak'Anyengo,Ondiek Chilo, Ochola Achola, Jeremiah Opiyo, Onyango, Okello Odongo, Solomon Obeid Oiro and others.
The book, 'My journey with Jaramogi' or words to that effect should be coming out in two weeks time or so.
The book will be published by African Research and Resources Forum, the publishers of A leap into the future - 2007 (By Prof Anyang Nyong'o), Discourses on Civil Society in Kenya and the quartely New Path.
Odinge Odera was among the top 19 KPU men to be detained in November 1969. In a November 11, 1969 Kenya Gazette signed by the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Mr. A. J. Omanga, Odinge was detained alongside Ochola Mak'Anyengo,Ondiek Chilo, Ochola Achola, Jeremiah Opiyo, Onyango, Okello Odongo, Solomon Obeid Oiro and others.

Frankfurt Book Fair, October 14-18

The Frankfurt Book Fair kicks off today.
Links:
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4786466,00.html
http://www.buchmesse.de/en/fbf/
http://www.book-fair.com/en/blog/

Manuscript doctor session for business writers, October 17

This from an email I received:

A MANUSCRIPT DOCTOR SESSION FOR BUSINESS WRITERS
Business writers, this is for you! Business books are best sellers around the world as well as here in Kenya. What makes a good business book stand out from the rest? What can you do to make your own manuscripts grab a publisher’s attention? The first step is to attend the Storymoja Manuscript Doctor Workshop for Business Writers. Bring your manuscripts for review and receive instant expert advice on style, content, structure, and get all your questions answered. The session will start with a workshop on general craft issues. You will learn how an idea and/or early draft can become a book that sells. Come refine your creative ideas with editors Muthoni Garland and Doreen Baingana.

Muthoni Garland, MD of Storymoja, worked in the corporate world for 15 years and wrote business articles on job creation for the Daily Nation. She is the author of several fiction books for adults and children, and the editor of the bestselling business book, “Crown Your Customer” by Sunny Bindra.

Doreen Baingana, Managing Editor of Storymoja, is an award winning fiction writer and editor of the Uta Do? Business Series.

WHEN: SATURDAY OCTOBER 17TH 2009 9:00am – 1:00pm

WHERE: STORYMOJA OFFICES, Njamba House, behind Spring Valley Shopping Centre (with Total petrol station),
Shanzu Rd, Off Lower Kabete Road, Spring Valley, Nairobi

COST: 500 KES
For more information, contact Sheila on 0722838161 or 020-208 9595
Acquire business writing skills for life!

Awesome repetition, this

I'm reading Shimmer Chinodya's Harvest of Thorns.

The blurb reads, 'Harvest of Thorns is a novel of great significance which will give all those who read it a greater understanding of the road along which Zimbabwe has travelled, as well as indicate many of the directions ahead.'



I'm moved by the way Chinodya employs repetition: the first line of the first four paragraphs is repeated in a very creative way:

Line 1, Paragraph 1: The day he came back, ...

Line 1, Paragraph 2: And on that same morning of the day he came back ...

Line 1, Paragraph 3: The afternoon of the day he came back ...

Line 1, Paragraph 4: And on the night of the day he came back ...

Notice the way the day he came back is repeated with great effect.

Imaginary Girlfriend ...

Just done with reading John Irving's Imaginary Girlfriend: A Memoir. Well, I came off more knowledgeable about wrestling than Irving's writings.
A good book nonetheless..

Diary note: Oxford-Longhorn case

The hearing of the case in which Oxford Universiry Press has sued Longhorn Publishers over copyright infringement is tomorrow, October 9.

Set books change... not just yet

Set books change put on hold - (Daily Nation, October 7)
According to KIE Quality Assurance Director, the Ministry of Education has found it necessary to postpone the selection of the next batch of English Literature and Fasihi ya Kiswahili set books until a new assessment report, called a summative evaluation was released.

OUP vs Longhorn: A tale of two kamusis, a runaway author and 320,000 bob

Oxford University Press and Longhorn Publishers are in court. OUP wants Longhorn stopped from further sellings its Kamusi Kamili ya Kiswahili claiming it mischievously 'copied' some of the content of OUP's Kamusi ya Kiswahili Sanifu and Kamusi ya Shule za Msingi.

OUP also accuses one of the co-authors of Longhorn's book, John Gongwe Kiango of breach of contract. OUP claims it contracted Mr Kiango to co-author its book Kamusi ya Shule za Msingi and that going by that contract he was not to engage in any work that 'may reasonably be regarded as conflicting or likely to conflict with the sale of the Plaintiff's work.'

Away from all the legal jargon, OUP cites the definitions of following words as having been lifted, word for word, off its Kamusi ya Kiswahili Sanifu: Amba-, anzali, farijika, kifungu, kipozamataza, shehena, simu, tamathali, tarijama, udekani, ufyefye, and ukaango.

From Kamusi ya Shule za Msingi, OUP cites the following as some of those which were lifted: zahanati, zoea, zoezi, zuia, zumari, zungumza and zuzu.

It also lists a number of ilustrations and photographs it claims were 'copied and imitated.'

So, OUP wants Longhorn restrained from selling or distributing Kamusi Kamili ya Kiswahili. In addition, it wants:

-All copies of Kamusi Kamili ya Kiswahili taken to OUP for destruction

-Damages against Mr Kiango for breach of contract

-Ksh360,270.40 as damages incurred in investigations, expert opinion, workshops and travelling expenses among others.

The hearing was set for October 9.

This is an interesting case: copyright infringement/theft and breach of contract (some would say sour grapes). More, it's a leading publisher, suing another leading publisher (not like the earlier incident in the year when Macmillan won a case against an obscure firm it had sued for reproducing its maps).

OUP and Longhorn are industry giants, any way you look at them. OUP is the more urbane one, the home of respected English texts while Longhorn tends to cut the image of the publisher next door - its stature in Kiswahili publishing ni ya kupigiwa mfano. In other words, if you think English, think OUP; if you want Kiswahili, run to Longhorn. And you won't be disappointed - they know their work.
At the height of the Free Primary Education frenzy, they both raked in hundreds of millions in turnover and had a liking for freelance editors.
They both have a good presence in Tanzania where they frequently send their editors to work.
In the past four years, they both have had mixed fortunes.
OUP got a new regional director for East Africa, one Muriuki Njeru who is known in publishing circles as a no-nonsense manager and performer. You don't mess with this Moi University-trained editor unless you are ready to face his wrath (while at EAEP he sued the former MD, Barack Muluka - now running Mvule - over copyright issues: http://allafrica.com/stories/200711260298.html).
OUP was also in the news when it issued an alert over bootleg copies of its dictionary.
Over to Longhorn, it has been four eventful years. In no particular oder:
a) In a first of its kind move in the region, Longhorn acquired Sasa Sema in 2007 and re-launched it as a Longhorn imprint to specialize in general publications, Early Childhood Development materials, creative works and other trade books. Some say SS was acquired for a rumoured Ksh 100 million.
b) It lost its experienced publishing manager Simon Sossion, who left to found hid own outfit, Target Publications. This didn't go down well with the management.
c) It lost its most famous, most conceited author, Wallah Bin Wallah, he of the Kiswahili Mufti craze. It is said Wallah and Sossion are running the same outfit.
d) It lost Sinjiri Mukuba - then the finest, if not the best - Kiswahili editor in the country, to KTN. Sadly Sinjiri later died in a road accident

Longhorn and OUP are in the business of copyright protection and ownership, so for Longhorn to be taken to court over claims of copyright theft/infringement, it is embarassing. It doesn't matter who is right for what is at stake is its credibility, its claim to originality and its faithfulness to its 'Expanding Mings' tagline. They have essentially been accused of lying, or in classroomspeak, they have 'dubbed.'

As for OUP, it has shown:
a) It doesn't sleep especially when it comes to its products. It looks at its competitors' works with more than a passing interest; perhaps in carrying out a SWOT analysis of the product it realised, 'Well, this looks like our work; yeah, it is our work that they have stolen and are now parading as their own - thieving fellas..' Boy, they know their products.
b) The view we have of publishing firms as these meek outfits ever begging the government to release Free Primary Education funds or who only act over small time book pirates is just an illusion. So it is not all brother-sister-love-you-love-me-back feel in the industry? So these guys can actually sue each other?
c) You don't mess around with them. You do a book with them, you are locked in (Er, look at that contract thrice. Read it. Give a lawyer for his opinion. Then read it... if you don't like it, take a walk).

Where does the Kenya Publishers Association come in?
Here, look at its relevant objecives:
-To promote and protect by all lawful means the interests of the publishing industry in Kenya.
-To protect Members by dealing collectively with problems which can best be so dealt with.
-To serve as a medium for exchange of ideas with respect to publication, sales copyright and other matters of interest to book publishers located in Kenya and to form committees to report on such matters.
-To extend the activities and usefulness of the Association as may seem desirable.
-To discuss and agree on an acceptable code of ethics, to ensure good business and other relationships among members of Association and between the Association and the public

Does KPA have an Arbitration Committee or Ethics Committee to handle such? What of a Legal Committee? Something to think over.

Oh, where is Kopiken?