Art and illustration in African publishing

Abstract

Just as African literature is going through a process,-of change and adaptation to new conditions, so African art is combining new techniques and ideas with ‘traditional’ ideas of the place of art in society. The illustrated book is a relatively new phenomenon in African literature, and the whole area of design and illustration is a problematic one for African publishers.Illustration has so far had a limited role in African publishing — there are very few lavishly illustrated books produced in Africa. To those used to the production and design standards of the West, it is difficult not to overlook the vitality, excitement and potential of the existing examples of illustration. This is not to say that I think African publishers have fully exploited talent available to them, or explored the scope allowed them in spite of limitations of finance, production methods and market pressures. These limitations have been overcome in examples quoted below.