Lack of unified voice weakens Namibia’s publishing sector
Scarce funding silencing author’s voices
University of Namibia (Unam) Press publisher Naitsikile Iizyenda has raised concern over the absence of a unified voice in Namibia’s publishing industry, warning that the sector remains fragmented and lacks an organisation to represent its collective interests.
Speaking at the national consultations on Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) at the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre in Windhoek last week, Iizyenda said although there have been efforts to collaborate among publishers, these have repeatedly fallen short. “The biggest challenge is that we do not have a representative association or organisation that defines what Namibian publishing stands for. Publishers tend to operate within their own environments,” she said.
Iizyenda noted that while Unam Press operates under the mandate of the University of Namibia and adheres to strict publishing standards, a rise in independent self-publishers over the past five years has created inconsistencies in quality.
“What we are seeing are authors publishing their own books without following any particular guidelines, and that is problematic because we have standards and guidelines we adhere to,” she said.
She cautioned that substandard publications, whether sold locally or online through platforms such as Amazon, harm the country’s publishing reputation internationally. “It doesn’t reflect well on Namibia in terms of the product we are putting out to the international community,” she stressed.
Beyond the issue of coordination and quality, writers in the sector also face significant challenges linked to funding, production and readership.
Silencing history, authors
Many authors struggle to secure financial resources to research, document and publish their work, particularly those focusing on cultural preservation.
Collecting oral histories and indigenous knowledge from elders requires extensive travel and resources, yet such support remains scarce.
Even after publication, low book sales and weak local readership continue to discourage writers, with many authors resorting to informal methods of distribution at community events or cultural gatherings. The lack of grants or structured funding mechanisms further limits efforts to preserve and promote Namibian stories.
Stakeholders also raised concern over cultural erosion, warning that younger generations are increasingly disconnected from traditional knowledge systems as modern technology dominates their interests, making the documentation of Namibia’s own narratives all the more urgent.
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Speaking at the national consultations on Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) at the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre in Windhoek last week, Iizyenda said although there have been efforts to collaborate among publishers, these have repeatedly fallen short. “The biggest challenge is that we do not have a representative association or organisation that defines what Namibian publishing stands for. Publishers tend to operate within their own environments,” she said.
Iizyenda noted that while Unam Press operates under the mandate of the University of Namibia and adheres to strict publishing standards, a rise in independent self-publishers over the past five years has created inconsistencies in quality.
“What we are seeing are authors publishing their own books without following any particular guidelines, and that is problematic because we have standards and guidelines we adhere to,” she said.
She cautioned that substandard publications, whether sold locally or online through platforms such as Amazon, harm the country’s publishing reputation internationally. “It doesn’t reflect well on Namibia in terms of the product we are putting out to the international community,” she stressed.
Beyond the issue of coordination and quality, writers in the sector also face significant challenges linked to funding, production and readership.
Silencing history, authors
Many authors struggle to secure financial resources to research, document and publish their work, particularly those focusing on cultural preservation.
Collecting oral histories and indigenous knowledge from elders requires extensive travel and resources, yet such support remains scarce.
Even after publication, low book sales and weak local readership continue to discourage writers, with many authors resorting to informal methods of distribution at community events or cultural gatherings. The lack of grants or structured funding mechanisms further limits efforts to preserve and promote Namibian stories.
Stakeholders also raised concern over cultural erosion, warning that younger generations are increasingly disconnected from traditional knowledge systems as modern technology dominates their interests, making the documentation of Namibia’s own narratives all the more urgent.
[email protected]
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