June 17, 2008, is the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart by Heinemann. This publication provided the impetus for the foundation of the African Writers Series in 1962 with Chinua Achebe as the editorial adviser. Africa Writes Back: The African Writers Series and the Launch of African Literature captures the energy of literary publishing in a new and undefined field. Portraits of the leading characters and the many consultants and readers providing reports and advice to new and established writers make Africa Writes Back a stand-out book. James Currey’s voice and insights are an added bonus. CONTENTS Publishing and selling the African Writers Series The African Writers Series Portfolio & George Hallett’s covers Main dates for the African Writers Series INTRODUCTION: The establishment of African Literature Publishing Chinua Achebe WRITERS FROM WEST AFRICA Nigeria: The country where so much started Negritude from Senegal to Cameroun Magic & realism from Ghana, The Gambia & Sierra Leone WRITERS FROM EASTERN AFRICA Towards the oral & the popular in Kenya, Uganda & Tanzania Publishing Ngugi WRITERS FROM THE HORN & NORTH-EASTERN AFRICA Emperors in Ethiopia Publishing Nuruddin Farah Arab authors in Egypt & Sudan WRITERS FROM SOUTH AFRICA Resistance in South Africa Publishing Alex la Guma Publishing Dennis Brutus Publishing Bessie Head Publishing Masizi Kunene WRITERS FROM SOUTHERN AFRICAN Guns & Guerrillas in Mozambique &Angola Zambia Shall be Free Death & detention in Malawi The struggle to become Zimbabwe Publishing Dambudzo Marechera CONCLUSION: Is there still a role for the African Writers Series?