canex book factory

A dedicated platform for African publishing, writing, and literary culture — built to strengthen the continent's creative economy from the ground up. Where stories are written, published, traded, and read.

PROGRAMMES

From first-time writers to established publishers, CANEX Book Factory runs programmes that recognise excellence, build capacity, and create the conditions for African intellectual property to thrive — on the continent and across the world.e for everyone.

PROGRAMME ONE

canex cREATIVE wRITING wORKSHOP

THE WORKSHOP THAT TAKES YOU TO THE WORLD

Our Creative Writing Workshop is an immersive programme designed to nurture emerging writers from Africa, the Caribbean, and the Diaspora. Held in inspiring locations with travel and accommodation covered, the workshop brings together expert-led sessions, one-on-one mentorship, and peer exchange, giving writers the tools, community, and confidence to thrive in the global literary ecosystem.

What's Included:

● Expert-led sessions across fiction, non-fiction, and poetry

● One-on-one mentorship with established authors and editors

● Peer exchange with writers from across Africa, the Caribbean, and the Diaspora

● Travel and accommodation fully covered for selected participants

programme two

canex publishing prize

CELEBRATING THE BOOKS THAT DEFINE OUR ERA

The CANEX Publishing Prize celebrates excellence in African, Caribbean, and Diaspora publishing. Awarded annually to outstanding trade books in fiction, non-fiction, and poetry produced on the continent, the prize recognises exceptional storytelling, quality production, and editorial innovation, giving authors and publishers the global recognition their work deserves and opening doors to wider markets.

PROGRAMME three

panel sessions

THE CONVERSATIONS SHAPING THE FUTURE OF OUR LITERATURE

Engage with thought leaders, industry experts, and creatives during lively panel discussions exploring the trends, challenges and opportunities in African, Caribbean, and Diaspora literature. These conversations spark dialogue, surface new ideas, and connect participants with the thinking shaping tomorrow's literary landscape.

programme four

masterclasses

REAL SKILLS. REAL PROFESSIONALS. REAL RESULTS

Learn directly from experienced professionals in focused, practical sessions covering writing, editing, publishing, marketing, and more. Designed to give you actionable skills and insider knowledge, our masterclasses equip you to succeed at every stage of the book value chain.

PROGRAMME five

meet the author

BEHIND EVERY GREAT BOOK IS A STORY WORTH HEARING

Get up close and personal with authors through intimate conversations that reveal the stories, inspirations, and processes behind their work. These sessions allow readers, writers, and industry players to connect directly with the creators shaping today's literary landscape.

CANEX Book Factory × Caine Prize for African Writing

In collaboration with the Caine Prize for African Writing, CANEX Book Factory hosts a curated series of sessions that take African short fiction further — into publishing, theatre, film, and beyond. A partnership rooted in craft, and pointed toward industry.

Session 01 — Pitch Your Manuscript

A live pitching session where writers present their manuscripts directly to a panel of industry experts — publishers, agents, and producers — for on-the-spot feedback and professional positioning.

Session 02 — From Page to Screen

Writers and producers in conversation about what makes literary work attractive to film and television — and how to navigate the road from manuscript to adaptation.

CANEX Book Club — February 2026 Pick Homegoing - YAA GYASI

Two half-sisters, one sold into slavery, one married to a slave trader. Their descendants' stories span three continents and three hundred years — a sweeping, shattering debut that traces the fractures of family across the African diaspora.