[EN] Togo: Children’s publishers meet in Lomé

From 6 to 8 March 2025, the city of Lomé in Togo became the historic venue for the first-ever Forum of African Children’s Publishers (FEJA). The event brought together 52 publishers from 16 African countries, alongside international experts, with the aim of fostering cooperation and strengthening the African children’s publishing sector. Organised by Lire au Togo, led by Simon de Saint-Dzokotoe, and in partnership with ADCF Africa under Agnès Debiage’s leadership, FEJA 2025 marked a key moment in the development of children’s publishing on the continent.

The opening ceremony set the tone for the three-day forum, with leaders such as Simon de Saint-Dzokotoe and Agnès Debiage emphasising the importance of creating African narratives that resonate with young readers. Togo’s Minister of Communication, Yawa Kouigan, and Thi Hoang Mai Tran, representative of the OIF for West Africa, added an official dimension to the event, reinforcing the significance of the forum for the future of African children’s literature. After their speeches, participants gathered for a group photo, marking the beginning of what promises to be a transformative journey for the sector.

The programme was designed to foster both intellectual exchange and practical collaboration. On the first day, a workshop led by Raphaël Thierry from Ægitna Literary Agency explored the challenges of co-publishing in Africa, focusing on rights management and how African publishers can work together. The afternoon saw B2B meetings, allowing publishers to discuss potential co-publishing projects and form new partnerships.