[EN] Digitalback Books: An African Library in the Digital Age – A conversation with its founder, Gersy Ifeanyi Ejimofo

For this issue, we spoke with Nigerian Gersy Ifeanyi Ejimofo, Founder and Director of the online library Digitalback Books. For her, the opportunities Africa must seize far outweigh the challenges ahead. Exclusive interview.

Publishers & Books: Tell us about the DigitalBackBooks.com platform.
Gersy Ifeanyi: Digitalback Books (DBB) is a virtual library platform dedicated to African literature. Over the years, we have curated a comprehensive collection of literary, trade, and scholarly books from, on, or about Africa and its diverse diaspora. We partner with libraries—whether public, academic, corporate, or community-based—to provide access to our content via our mobile app. Readers from participating libraries can search for and read content online or download it for offline reading.

Digitalback Books was born out of my frustration with not being able to access African classics, many of which are out of print. Even across the continent, the works of our authors are often hard to find or not stocked in most bookshops and libraries. I saw technology as the key to addressing these gaps—ensuring that, as a people, we can both discover our stories and share them with the world.

There is increasing focus on content, and many changes are affecting publishing practices. Is this also the case for libraries? How far-reaching are these changes?
Digital content has undoubtedly revolutionised publishing and forced publishers to rethink several aspects of their business models. Digitisation opens up opportunities to bring more titles to market without the cost constraints of print runs. It also makes it easier to bring out-of-print titles back to life.

At DBB, we see incredible opportunities to leverage digital content in ways that enable libraries to innovate and redefine their models while staying relevant to the communities they serve. Can digital be used to expand a library’s reach beyond its physical limits while optimising physical real estate? Where retail space is at a premium, could a digital-first library strategy allow spaces to be repurposed for revenue generation or cultural experiences?

Digitisation offers opportunities to adapt across all industries. It also opens doors for new players to support library initiatives. For example, GTBank’s “Adopt a Library” initiative in Lagos or Tesco Bank in Scotland sponsoring a “Summer Reading Challenge.”

And what about physical books?
I don’t believe publishers should limit themselves to a single format or distribution channel. Our focus should be on getting great content to the widest possible audience. In Africa, the physical publishing industry faces high production and distribution costs. Digitisation helps fill that gap, allowing publishers to focus more on discovering and nurturing great talent.

We tend to romanticise the physical book experience—which I completely understand—but here’s a fact: UNESCO research puts Nigeria’s library-to-population ratio at one library for every 1,350,000 people. For every well-stocked, functioning modern library in Africa, there are numerous dilapidated buildings unfit for purpose. This won’t change overnight. The real question is: what can we do in spite of these challenges?

How is the distribution network for Digitalback Books progressing? Who are your key partners?
It’s growing steadily! Our content acquisition partners are primarily publishers. We currently have over 1,000 titles from more than 20 publishers, and we’re continually signing new ones. I make a point of seeking out lesser-known gems as much as the big-name titles. How many more Adichies and Achebes are out there waiting to be discovered? I’d like to see more content from across Africa in multiple languages—and we’re getting there, step by step. We’re lucky to work with both local and global publishing partners who focus on Africa-centric content. For distribution, we offer our content to public, academic, and corporate libraries for their users. We’re also exploring partnerships with book clubs looking for more diverse collections.

With the rise of digital in the music world reshaping industries, will publishing face the same fate?
These are two very different industries, so it’s hard to say—but I can speak to publishing. Digital plays a crucial role—whether in production, preservation, or promotion—but the right strategy depends on the sector, market conditions, and type of content. A digital-first or digital-only strategy makes sense for genre fiction, which behaves like fast-moving consumer goods. Digital is also vital for regularly updated content like educational or reference materials.

What is the business model of your platform?
DBB operates on a commercial B2B model. We have agreements with both publishers and institutional partners (libraries) for content use. Our platform supports several access models: library lending, subscription, and direct purchase. We also curate custom collections tailored to an institution’s genre focus and budget.

Is this model suitable for the average African consumer?
Yes, I believe it is. As a small business, we’re agile. We’ve learned quickly and adjusted to what I believe is the most suitable model for reaching the widest readership. Whether through public institutions funding digital library resources or banks sponsoring access for local communities, the end-user ultimately gets free but managed access to quality content. I see it as a win-win.

What are the challenges of digital books for Africa’s development?
I see more opportunity than challenge. Africa has already leapfrogged in sectors like mobile money, education, and health through mobile tech. Why not in reading?

What does the e-book represent in Africa today, and for your virtual library specifically? Who are your typical users?
E-books and audiobooks are growing across Africa, either through retail models or NGO-backed initiatives. At DBB, our goal is to strengthen existing library institutions through our digital offerings. That’s our focus.

Is your catalogue composed of African or foreign books, and does it include periodicals? Is Africa ready for digital reading?
 As has often been said, “Africa is not a country.” It’s vast, diverse, and complex. Factors like connectivity, censorship, funding, and device affordability vary greatly. The region has already embraced digital content in diverse ways. Just as not everyone uses public libraries in Europe, we know there will be African communities DBB doesn’t reach. But we are focused on readers—and there are many. That’s why our library partnerships matter. If you ask, “What problem are you trying to solve?”—I’d say: to make African stories more discoverable, more accessible, and more affordable to those who want to read them.

What are the risks in this market?
The biggest risk, in my view, is resistance to change. We can become so attached to old ways that we don’t fully embrace new ones—especially if we’re not digitally native. For example, at the Pan-African Literacy for All conference in Abuja in 2017, I heard the same problems raised in the 1990s: lack of access to books, poor distribution, a shortage of local material, etc. We can’t expect different results without change. Digital offers a way forward.

How can mobile phones help your business grow—and promote e-books across Africa?
Digital resources have been around for a while, especially in academic sectors via PCs and laptops. But mobile phones have transformed access. Mobile penetration in Africa offers a huge opportunity. Even if someone lacks access to a library, they likely have a mobile phone—one that can instantly connect them to thousands of books. That’s incredibly exciting.

 What role can African mother tongues play in promoting reading and education?
Africa is home to over 1,000 languages. Documenting and archiving literature in all these languages is essential. I just returned from the SCOLMA conference, which focused on preserving African literary archives. It was inspiring—and we’re exploring DBB’s potential role in these efforts.

A final word for our readers?
I’d love to see our Discover Africa Stories Collection in every public and academic institution across Africa as we work to decolonise the bookshelves in our shared spaces. Institutions interested in partnering with us are very welcome to get in touch!

With Ulrich TALLA WAMBA.