Cassava Republic Autumn/Winter 2019 catalogue

C AS S AVA RE P UBL I C P RE S S AUT UM N/ W I NT E R 2 019 C ATALOG UE

NEW TITLES

Making Futures: Young Entrepreneurs in a Dynamic Africa

by Sangu Delle

T

his collection tells the story of an emerging digital Africa, through the eyes of Africa’s most promising young entrepreneurs. Charting the stories of 24 entrepreneurs working in different industries across the continent, Making Futures: Young Entrepreneurs in a Dynamic Africa showcases the young women and men who are taking charge of their destinies and building business enterprises and innovative non-profits to radically change their lives and the lives of their communities.

Genre: ISBN: Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

Non-fiction 9781911115885 17th September 2019 ÂŁ16.99 World

NEW TITLES

A

Better Never Than Late

by Chika Unigwe

timely collection of interconnected stories about the experiences of Nigerian migrants making their way in Belgium, centred around Prosperous and her husband Agu, and the various visitors who gather at their apartment each week. These ten tales explore their struggles and triumphs, from unhappy marriages (of convenience or otherwise), and the pain of homesickness and loneliness, to dealing with religious fervour and exorcism. Award-winning author Chika Unigwe writes with humour and acute observation, providing a layered and very human portrayal of the realities of migrant life.

Genre: ISBN: Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

Literary Fiction 9781911115540 3rd September 2019 £9.99 World

T

The Whispering Trees

by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim

he magical tales in The Whispering Trees capture the essence of life, death and coincidence in Northern Nigeria. Myth and reality intertwine in stories featuring political agitators, newly-wedded widows, and the tormented whirlwind, Kyakkyawa. The two medicine men of Mazade battle against their egos, an epidemic and an enigmatic witch.

And who is Okhiwo, whose arrival is heralded by a pair of little white butterflies?

“Fire and smoke, snapshots of life and brushstrokes of afterlife… these are the energetic strains of Abubakar Adam Ibrahim’s debut story collection.”

- A. Igoni Barrett, author of Blackass

Genre: ISBN: Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

Literary Fiction 9781911115861 8th October 2019 £9.99 World

NEW TITLES

On Ajayi Crowther Street

by Elnathan John (author) and Alaba Onajin (illustrator)

O

n the noisy Ajayi Crowther Street in Lagos, neighbours gather to gossip, discuss noise complaints, and faithfully head to church each Sunday. But beneath the surface lies a hidden world of clandestine love affairs, hidden pregnancy, spiritual quackery and hypocrisy, that threatens to destroy the community from within. On Ajayi Crowther Street peels back the curtains on the lives of Reverend Akpoborie and his family, to reveal a tumultuous world full of secrets and lies.

Genre: ISBN: Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

Graphic Novel 9781911115908 5th November 2019 ÂŁ15.99 World

Literary Fiction Born on a Tuesday

by Elnathan John Winner of a Betty Trask Award 2017. Shortlisted for the Republic of Consciousness Prize & the NLNG Nigeria Prize for Literature

D

antala lives in Bayan Layi, Nigeria and studies in a Sufi Quranic school. By chance he meets gang leader Banda, and is thrust into a world with fluid rules and casual violence. Dantala runs away and ends up living in a Salafi mosque, where he embraces Salafism as preached by his new benefactor Sheikh Jamal. But as political and religious tensions mount, he is torn between loyalty to his benefactor and adherence to the Sheikh’s charismatic advisor, Malam Abdul-Nur. This novel explores life, love, friendship, loss and the effects of extremist politics and religion on everyday life in Northern Nigeria.

“Born on a Tuesday brings home the reality of what is happening in northern Nigeria with a power the news reports of Boko Haram’s atrocities can’t adequately project. Elnathan John is a writer to watch.”

- Fiammetta Rocco, The New York Times ISBN: Publication Date: Price: Rights Sold:

9781911115021 2016 £9.99 French, German, English (US, India)

Like a Mule Bringing Ice Cream to the Sun

by Sarah Ladipo Manyika Shortlisted for the California Book Awards and the Goldsmiths Prize

D

r. Morayo is a cosmopolitan Nigerian woman, on the cusp of seventy-five and living in San Francisco. She has a zest for life as she speeds through the streets in her vintage Porsche, chats to strangers, and reminisces about characters from her favourite novels - until she has an accident, crushing her independence. As Morayo recounts her story, moving seamlessly between past and present, we meet a range of characters reflecting the diversity of San Francisco. A beautifully uplifting story.

“Manyika’s story about an elderly Nigerian woman is quiet, sophisticated and it expands the canon of contemporary African literature into welcome new territory.”

- Bernardine Evaristo, author of Mr Loverman “Ladipo Manyika’s book reminds us of the value of indulgence and delight – in sex, in food, in company, and in reading.”

- The New Statesman ISBN: 9781911115045 Publication Date: 2016 Price: £9.99 Rights Held: World Rights Sold: French, Spanish, German, Dutch, Danish, English (India)

Literary Fiction Season of Crimson Blossoms

by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim Winner of the NLNG Nigeria Prize for Literature 2016 “Season of Crimson Blossoms is written in a gorgeous tapestry of language, tying together large-scale historical events with the smaller more mundane activities of daily life.”

- New York Journal of Books

A

story of love and longing in conservative Northern Nigeria featuring Binta, a fifty-five-year-old widow yearning for intimacy after the sexual repression of her marriage and Reza, a twenty-five-year-old weed dealer. Brought together in unusual circumstances, Binta and Reza face a need only they can satisfy in each other. Rumours surface about their illicit affair and a family confrontation results in disastrous consequences. A novel that unfurls gently, revealing layers of emotion that defy age, class and religion.

ISBN: 9781911115007 Publication Date: 2016 Price: £9.99 Rights Held: World Rights Sold: French, German, Tamil, English (India)

When We Speak of Nothing

by Olumide Popoola Shortlisted for a DIVA Literary Award 2017 “... a linguistically inventive and deliciously original debut novel.”

- The Guardian, Best Books of 2017

B

est mates Karl and Abu are both 17 and live near King’s Cross.

It’s 2011 and racial tensions are running high in London.

Normally chatty Abu is infatuated with gorgeous classmate Nalini but dares not speak to her. Meanwhile, Karl is the target of the local thugs, who are irked by his being. When Karl finds out that his father lives in Nigeria, he decides that Port Harcourt is the best place to escape the sound and fury of London and connect with a Dad he’s never known. Rejected on arrival, Karl befriends Nakale, an environmental activist in the Niger Delta, and falls headlong for his feisty cousin Janoma. Meanwhile, the murder of Mark Duggan triggers a full-scale riot in London and Abu finds himself in its midst.

When We Speak of Nothing launches a powerful new voice onto the literary stage. The fluid prose, peppered with contemporary slang, captures what it means to be young, black and queer in London.

ISBN: Publication Date: Price: Rights Held: Rights Sold:

9781911115458 2017 £9.99 World Danish

Literary Fiction The Hundred Wells of Salaga

by Ayesha Harruna Attah “Who says that there are no good authors coming from Ghana? Shut up! Have you read Ayesha Harruna Attah?”

- Ama Ata Aidoo, author of Our Sister Killjoy and Changes

A

minah lives an idyllic life until she is brutally separated from her home and forced on a journey that turns her from a daydreamer into a resilient woman. Wurche, the wilful daughter of a chief, is desperate to play an important role in her father’s court. These two women’s lives converge as infighting among Wurche’s people threaten the region. Set in pre-colonial Ghana, The Hundred Wells of Salaga is a story of courage, forgiveness, love and freedom. Through the experiences of Aminah and Wurche, it offers a remarkable view of slavery and how the scramble for Africa affected the lives of everyday people.

ISBN: Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

Rights Sold:

9781911115519 2018 £9.99 World English (excluding North America) Dutch, French, German, Italian

German Calendar No December

by Sylvia Ofili (author) and Birgit Weyhe (illustrator) Winner of a Rudolph Dirks Award 2018 Shortlisted for the Max & Moritz Award 2018

O

livia Evezi’s childhood is a happy one; her days are spent listening to Highlife records with her father, and poring over the colourful postcards her mother receives from Germany. But Olivia is a dreamer and longs for more. Her restlessness takes her first to a boarding school in Lagos, and then to her mother’s homeland of Germany. There, she is thrown into a hidden world of workers and migrants; a world of constant vigilance, where a piece of paper can hold the key to survival.

“A worthy coming-of-age story about resilience.”

- Kirkus Reviews

Genre: ISBN: Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

Graphic Novel 9781911115618 2018 £15.99 World English

Literary Fiction In Dependence

by Sarah Ladipo Manyika Over 3 million copies sold

I

n the early sixties, Tayo Ajayi sails to England from Nigeria to take up a scholarship at Oxford University. There he discovers a whole generation high on visions of a new and better world. He meets Vanessa Richardson, the beautiful daughter of a former colonial officer. Their story, which spans four decades, is a bittersweet tale of a relationship fraught with the weight of history, race and geography and the universal desire to fall truly, madly and deeply in love.

“In Dependence is a riveting love story across the challenges of race, geography and scars of colonial history.”

- Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o

ISBN: Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

A

A Small Silence

by Jumoke Verissimo

vivid and visceral excursion into the margins of society from a powerful new literary voice. After a long and brutal stint in jail for his activism, Prof returns to society a broken man.

Tormented by memories of his past, he chooses darkness and isolation.

One day Desire, a young undergraduate student and orphan, knocks on his door. Her entry into Prof ’s life awakes long-repressed emotions and longing in him which he struggles to tame. A Small Silence is an intimate and evocative exploration of Nigeria’s political history, the alienating effects of trauma and the restorative power of the dark and silence.

“A compelling and compulsive story —I couldn’t stop reading.”

- Helon Habila, author of The Chibok Girls and Waiting for an Angel “An intriguing... intimate debut.”

- Leila Aboulela, author of Bird Summons “Moving and shock-filled.”

- Giles Foden, author of The Last King of Scotland

ISBN: Publication Date: Price: Rights Held: Rights Sold:

9781911115793 30th July 2019 £11.99 World Italian

9781911115779 21st May 2019 £11.99 World

Literary Fiction

T

Nights of the Creaking Bed

by Toni Kan

he first book in the new Cassava Shorts series offers an unflinching look at life and lust in Lagos. This memorable short story collection is full of colourful characters involved in affecting dramas: a young man who can’t get the image of his naked, beautiful mother out of his mind; a middle-aged housewife who finds love again but has an impossible decision to make; a child so poor he has to hawk onions on Christmas day - and many others.

“Beginning with deliberate brevity and ending on a note of lush lyricism, these fascinating vignettes of Lagos life showcase an array of peripatetic characters who are hopelessly stuck in their dilemmas.”

- Sefi Atta, author of Everything Good Will Come

ISBN: Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

A

9781911115847 30th April 2019 £9.99 World

Better Never Than Late

by Chika Unigwe

timely collection of interconnected stories about the experiences of Nigerian migrants making their way in Belgium, centred around Prosperous and her husband Agu, and the various visitors who gather at their apartment each week. These ten tales explore their struggles and triumphs, from unhappy marriages (of convenience or otherwise), and the pain of homesickness and loneliness, to dealing with religious fervour and exorcism. Award-winning author Chika Unigwe writes with humour and acute observation, providing a layered and very human portrayal of the realities of migrant life.

ISBN: Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

9781911115540 3rd September 2019 £9.99 World

T

The Whispering Trees

by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim

he magical tales in The Whispering Trees capture the essence of life, death and coincidence in Northern Nigeria. Myth and reality intertwine in stories featuring political agitators, newly-wedded widows, and the tormented whirlwind, Kyakkyawa. The two medicine men of Mazade battle against their egos, an epidemic and an enigmatic witch. And who is Okhiwo, whose arrival is heralded by a pair of little white butterflies?

“Fire and smoke, snapshots of life and brushstrokes of afterlife… these are the energetic strains of Abubakar Adam Ibrahim’s debut story collection.”

- A. Igoni Barrett, author of Blackass

ISBN: Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

9781911115861 8th October 2019 £9.99 World

Crime

G

Easy Motion Tourist

by Leye Adenle (An Amaka Thriller)

uy Collins, a British hack in Lagos, ends up stumbling into the murky underworld of the city. He meets Amaka, a sassy guardian angel of Lagos working girls who wants to expose the dark underbelly of Nigerian organ trafficking. With Easy Motion Tourist’s astonishing cast, Tarantino has landed in Lagos. This pageturning crime novel pulses with the rhythm of Nigeria’s mega-city, reeks of its open drains and sparkles like the champagne quaffed in its upmarket districts.

“It’s shocking, it’s funny, it’s a vaulting jackal of a book that rips out your throat… and your heart. This book roils, rages, and roars. Leye Adenle has my vote for crown prince of crime writers in the UK.” - James Ellroy

ISBN: Publication Date: Price: Rights Held: Rights Sold:

When Trouble Sleeps

by Leye Adenle (An Amaka Thriller) “Spectacular - Adenle is crime fiction’s best new voice for years.”

- Lee Child

T

he self-appointed saviour of Lagos’ sex workers, Amaka may have bitten off more than she can chew this time as she finds herself embroiled in a political scandal. When a plane crash kills the state gubernatorial candidate, the party picks a replacement who is assured of winning the election: Chief Ojo. But Amaka knows the skeletons that lurk in Chief Ojo’s closet, including what took place at the Harem, the secret sex club on the outskirts of Lagos that he frequents. Amaka is the only person standing between Chief Ojo and election victory, and he sends hired guns Malik and Shehu after her. Caught in a game of survival, against a backdrop of corruption, violence, sex and sleaze, Amaka must find a way to outwit her bloodthirsty adversaries.

In this compelling sequel to the award-winning Easy Motion Tourist, Leye Adenle pulls back the curtain on the seedy underbelly of Lagos once again in this gritty and widely-acclaimed thriller.

ISBN: Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

9781911115632 2018 £8.99 World

9781911115069 2016 £8.99 World French, Spanish, English (India)

Crime

S

The Carnivorous City

by Toni Kan

oni Dike is a Lagos big boy; a criminal turned grandee, with a beautiful wife, a sea-side mansion and a questionable fortune.

Then one day he disappears and his Jag is found in a ditch, music blaring from the speakers. When his younger brother, Abel, a small-town teacher, discovers that his brother is missing, he takes the first plane to Lagos. He is rapidly sucked into the unforgiving Lagos maelstrom where he has to navigate encounters with a motley cast of common criminals, deal with policemen intent on getting a piece of the pie, and contend with his growing attraction to his brother’s wife.

“The Carnivorous City takes the reader on a Dickensian tour of Lagos, bringing the city to life like no other book I have read.”

- Helon Habila, author of Waiting for an Angel andThe Chibok Girls ISBN: Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

9781911115243 2016 £8.99 World

A

Lagos Noir edited by Chris Abani

n anthology of noir stories set in the tumultuous metropolis, Lagos. Featuring corrupt cops, luxurious mansions and a trail of bodies, this carefully curated collection brings together brand-new stories from some of Nigeria’s most reputed and exciting writers, including Leye Adenle, Nnedi Okorafor and Sarah Ladipo Manyika. With an intimate knowledge of the city, each writer takes us through the murky underbelly of waterways and alleyways, freeways and spaghetti bridges to reveal the unbridled darkness pulsating through this megacity by the lagoon.

“A not-to-be-missed fiction anthology edited by Chris Abani, Lagos Noir features Nigeria’s most compelling writers on the darker side of Lagos. A must-read for literary fans of all kinds.”

- The Root

ISBN: Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

9781911115731 2018 £12.99 UK & Commonwealth

Crime

The Lazarus Effect

by H. J. Golakai (A Vee Johnson Mystery)

V

oinjama Johnson’s life is a mess. She’s an investigative journalist who’s been seeing things: a teenage girl in a red hat that goes hand-in-hand with the debilitating episodes she is loath to call ‘panic attacks’. Until she spots a photo of the girl from her hallucinations at a local hospital. Vee embarks on an investigation with her oddball assistant Chloe, delving into the secrets of the fractured Fourie and Paulsen families. A gripping new addition to the African crime genre.

“A wonderful debut…brimming with intelligence, wit and real heart.

Enormously entertaining.”

– Deon Meyer ISBN: Publication Date: Price: Rights Held: Rights Sold:

The Score

by H. J. Golakai (A Vee Johnson Mystery)

V

ee and her ever-faithful sidekick, Chlöe Bishop, have been banished from the newsroom to review a sleepy tourist lodge.

They have just checked in when the first body is discovered hanging from a tree, with Vee’s purple silk scarf used as a noose.

Suicide… or strangulation? Vee discovers a strange world of conferences and corruption, dog-walking and drug addiction, all whilst juggling the two men in her love life.

ISBN: Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

9781911115397 6th August 2019 £8.99 World English (excluding South Africa)

9781911115083 2016 £8.99 World English (excluding South Africa) Italian

Non-fiction

I

Safe House edited by Ellah Wakatama Allfrey

n a collection of creative essays that ranges from travel writing and memoir to reportage, Ellah Wakatama Allfrey brings together some of the most talented writers of creative nonfiction from across Africa. This anthology contains a range of unforgettable stories. Whether examining the increasing influence of China in Ghana or understanding what it means to be gay in Africa, these essays present personal views of contemporary issues in an accessible and thought-provoking manner.

ISBN: Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

H

Highlife Giants

by John Collins

ighlife Giants is an intimate portrait of the pioneering artistes of West Africa’s vibrant music scene from the 1920s onwards. It is packed full of inside information from stars including E.T Mensah, Kofo Ghanaba, King Bruce, Bobby Benson, Victor Uwaifo, and Ignace De Souza. For those who lived through the era, Highlife Giants will be a compendium that invokes treasured memories. For their children and grandchildren, this book will inspire an interest in the rich musical history of West Africa.

ISBN: Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

9781911115298 2016 £12.99 World English

9781911115168 2016 £12.99 UK & Commonwealth

Non-fiction Longthroat Memoirs: Soups, Sex and Nigerian Taste Buds

by Yemisi Aribisala Winner of the John Avery Award, André Simon Food and Drink Book Awards. Shortlisted for the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.

L

ongthroat Memoirs presents a sumptuous menu of essays about Nigerian food, lovingly presented by the nation’s top epicurean writer. As well as a mouth-watering appraisal of the cultural politics and erotics of Nigerian cuisine, it is also a series of love letters to the Nigerian palate. “…amazing witty writing about Nigerian cooking and identity.”

- Ruby Tandoh, baker, columnist and author of Flavour

ISBN: Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

9781911115267 2016 £12.99 World

A

A Stranger’s Pose

by Emmanuel Iduma

unique blend of travelogue, musings and poetry, A Stranger’s Pose draws the reader into a world of encounters haunted by the absence of home, estrangement from a lover and family tragedies. The author’s recollections of fragments of his journeys to African cities offer a compelling and very personal meditation on the meaning of home and the generosity of strangers to a lone traveller..

Alongside accounts of the author’s own travels are other narratives about movement, intimacy, the power of language and translation.

Includes 39 photographs by acclaimed African photographers.

“Dream of a perfect book, a ballad with all the lyrics remembered. The sleeper wakes from dreams. That book is in your hands.”

- Teju Cole, author of Every Day is for the Thief and Open City “A stunning hybrid of a book.” - Vanity Fair “A brilliant travelogue… Emmanuel Iduma expands what writing about the continent can be by paying extraordinary attention to the ebbs and flows of human connection.”

- The Atlantic

ISBN: Publication Date: Price: Rights Held: Rights Sold:

9781911115496 2018 £10.99 World Italian

Non-fiction

S

She Called Me Woman edited by Chitra Nagarajan, Azeenarh Mohammed & Rafeeat Aliyu

he Called Me Woman is a collection of first-hand accounts by a community telling their stories on their own terms.

In this absorbing and ground-breaking collection, 25 narratives are brought together to paint a picture of what it really means to be a queer Nigerian. Covering tales of first love and boarding school curiosity, as well as the (sometimes fraught) relationship between sexuality and spirituality, She Called Me Woman challenges stereotypes with these snapshots into queer Nigerian life.

“The editors of this collection succeed in bringing LGBTQ Nigerian women out of the shadows.”

- Publisher’s Weekly

“This is a bold, brave and brilliant book.”

- Jackie Kay (MBE), author of Trumpet and The Adoption of Papers

“These true stories, these women speaking in their own words, of their own lives, are radical, vital, and timely […] they are beautifully told, the pain and honesty and hope and joy in these accounts is strong like a song.”

- Stella Duffy, author of The Hidden Room ISBN: Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

9781911115595 2018 £12.99 World

Non-fiction Be(com)ing Nigerian: A Guide

by Elnathan John “While John is an advocate of collective responsibility, he aims his fiercest barbs at those in positions of power, delivering a joyous massacre of sacred cows.”

- Kieron Monks, CNN

A

n affecting, unrestrained and satirical guide to the Nigerians you will meet at home and abroad, or on your way to hell and to heaven. This is a searing look at how power is abused, negotiated and performed in private and in public; in politics, business, religious institutions and in homes. Beyond poking fun at the holders of power, it is a summons, a provocation and a call for introspection among all levels of society.

ISBN: Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

Making Futures: Young Entrepreneurs in a Dynamic Africa

by Sangu Delle

T

his collection tells the story of an emerging digital Africa, through the eyes of Africa’s most promising young entrepreneurs. Charting the stories of 24 entrepreneurs working in different industries across the continent, Making Futures: Young Entrepreneurs in a Dynamic Africa showcases the young women and men who are taking charge of their destinies and building business enterprises and innovative non-profits to radically change their lives and the lives of their communities.

ISBN: Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

9781911115885 17th September 2019 £16.99 World

9781911115960 11th July 2019 £9.99 World

Young Adult What Sunny Saw in the Flames

by Nnedi Okorafor “The sheer joy of something like the ‘Sunny’ series is the feeling that I simply have not read this before, and that is so rare... It’s fantasy, yet it comes from a cultural place that isn’t the stuff we’ve already seen 1,000 times before.”

- Neil Gaiman “There’s more imagination on a page of Nnedi Okorafor’s work than in whole volumes of ordinary fantasy epics.”

- Ursula K. Le Guin, award-winning author of A Wizard of Earthsea “If you’re tiring of knights, dragons and Merlin-type wizards and are interested in exploring a fresh and different world of magic, try What Sunny Saw in the Flames. It’s jam-packed with mythological wonders.”

- Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson series

T

welve-year-old Sunny Nwazue doesn’t fit anywhere. She is albino, and she has a special gift: she can see into the future. But when she meets Orlu, her classmate, she becomes part of an exciting new realm of strange creatures and dark secrets – a world where your worst defect is actually your greatest asset. Now, Sunny and Orlu, with their friends Chichi and Sasha, must help track down a criminal who has been kidnapping and maiming children all over the city.

ISBN: Pages:

Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

9781911115106 132pp 2016 £7.99 UK & Commonwealth

Sunny and the Mysteries of Osisi

by Nnedi Okorafor Winner of the 2018 Lodestar, the World Science Fiction Society Award for the Best Young Adult Book

I

n this sequel to What Sunny Saw in the Flames, from award-winning author Nnedi Okorafor, an encounter with a lake monster sets Sunny Nwazue on a thrilling path. She must learn to master her magic powers, while uncovering the mysteries of the shadowy town of Osisi.

This is a compelling tale combining culture, fantasy, history and magic.

“Nnedi Okorafor’s imagination is stunning.”

- The New York Times

“Mythology, fantasy, science fiction, history, and magic blend into a compelling tale that will hold readers spellbound.”

- Chicago Review of Books ISBN: Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

9781911115571 2018 £7.99 UK & Commonwealth

CHILDREN’S/YOUNG ADULT The Secret of the Purple Lake

by Yaba Badoe With illustrations

by Gbolahan Adams “Mermaids, magical elephants and singing walruses all feature in Badoe’s enchanting collection.”

- Mail on Sunday, Top Books of 2017

T

he Secret of the Purple Lake is a collection of five interlinked stories that take us from Ghana to Orkney, and from Spain to Norway and Thailand. As a minor character from one story assumes a major role in the next, we meet a fascinating cast, including Imoro the magic elephant, the Walrus Prince, and the Wild Princesses of Rousay. These tales of transformation and independence are brought to life with 24 black and white illustrations.

ISBN: Pages:

Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

N

The Hidden Star

by K. Sello Duiker

olitye lives in a shack with her mother Thembi in Phola, a dusty township on the edge of Johannesburg. She is good at maths and likes collecting stones, which she places in a bucket under her bed. She also has unusual powers: she can communicate with dogs. Nolitye has two close friends, Bheki, who is overweight, and the bespectacled Four Eyes, who join with her to resist the bullying from Rotten Nellie and her gang of Spoilers. One day, Nolitye finds a special stone that has the power to make people feel happy and laugh. Her mission from now on is to gather together the other pieces of the stone and reunite them, to stop darkness from taking control of her world.

“Duiker has created a vibrant cityscape populated by living, breathing, multifaceted human beings... [insert space] Simply put, it’s a home.”

– New York Times “With strong elements of magical realism, the novel is both charming and whimsical with several heart-thumping moments that make it difficult to put down.”

– Kirkus Reviews

ISBN: Pages:

Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

9781911115434 210pp 2017 £7.99 World English

9781911115311 132pp 2017 £7.99 World English

Children’s Princess Arabella Goes to School

by Mylo Freeman “Using bright colors and brilliant prints, Freeman encourages young readers to be themselves.”

– Kirkus Reviews

A

delightful addition to the popular ‘Princess Arabella’ series. Princess Arabella and her friends embark upon their first day at Princess School. They find themselves taking some very unusual lessons – and when they are allowed to bring their pets to school, fun and games ensue!

ISBN: Pages:

Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

9781911115410 28pp 2017 £6.99 World English

I

Princess Arabella and the Giant Cake

by Mylo Freeman

t is almost Granny’s birthday and Princess Arabella and her friends set out to bake the most DELICIOUS and most GIGANTIC cake in the entire world. But who will be the winner – Princess Arabella, Prince Mimoun, Princess Sophie or Princess Ling? And what is that surprise in the Giant Cake?!

“A joyful, multi-ethnic tale in the Princess Arabella series, with vibrant illustrations.”

- BookTrust

ISBN: Pages:

Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

9781911115427 28pp 2017 £6.99 World English

Children’s

P

Princess Arabella Mixes Colours

by Mylo Freeman

rincess Arabella thinks her room is boring. So she decides she’s going to do something about it – all by herself. She mixes up some paints and in no time at all her room looks fabulous. An entertaining book about the popular little Princess Arabella, with fun information about mixing colours.

“Arabella’s adventures offer something fresh and entertaining to anyone looking for princess stories with a difference.”

- The Alligator’s Mouth children’s bookshop, Richmond, Surrey

ISBN: Pages:

Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

9781911115120 28pp 2016 £6.99 World English

Princess Arabella’s Birthday

by Mylo Freeman

I

t’s Princess Arabella’s birthday. She wants a very special present. But will she get what she wants? A happy story about birthdays!

“A delightful story with gorgeously fresh, bright and ‘smudgy’ illustrations, complete with nellyphant end pages!”

- Letterbox Library ISBN: Pages:

Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

9781911115137 28pp 2016 £6.99 World English

T

Princess Arabella is a Big Sister

by Mylo Freeman

he newest title in the popular Princess Arabella series! Princess Arabella can’t wait to have a younger sibling to play with. But what would be most fun – a brother or a sister? Sisters seem great… until Arabella meets Prince Mimoun’s sister. A brother then? Princess Ling’s brothers seem like too much trouble! What do Mum and Dad have in store for Princess Arabella?

“Vibrant illustrations burst from every page, making this a fun book to share with young children, particularly those who are anticipating a new arrival in the family.”

- BookTrust

ISBN: Pages: Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

9781911115717 28pp 19th March 2019 £6.99 World English

Children’s Hair, It’s A Family Affair!

by Mylo Freeman

A

celebration of black hair, through the vibrant and varied hairstyles found in a single family. With Mylo Freeman’s trademark colourful illustrations, this entertaining book will show young black children the joys that can be found through their hair, and remind other children of the many different types of hair that can be found in the world around them.

“A fine mirror book for kids with textured hair that has endless possibilities.”

- Kirkus Reviews

“Freeman continues to depict authentic black families, which are sadly under-represented in picture books, with vibrant illustration and some simple text about elements of everyday life.”

- BookTrust ISBN: Pages: Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

9781911115670 28pp 12th September 2018 £6.99 World

A

Every Girl Is A Princess

by Mylo Freeman

charming novelty picture book that will entertain even the youngest readers. Try and match each crown with a princess – and then see who appears on the final page!

An interactive book, including flaps and a mirror.

ISBN: Pages: Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

9781911115380 18pp 2017 £9.99 World English

Children’s

A Fun ABC

by Sade Fadipe Illustrated by Shedrach Ayalomeh

J

oin Adanah on an alphabetical adventure as she goes to visit her grandfather. Every letter, from A to Z, is featured in this African alphabet book, including a camera to take pictures, an eagle spied above the trees, a pump for fetching water, and stories told by Auntie Sumbo. Written in a bouncing rhyming style, children will learn while having fun as they join Adanah on her school break.

Mayowa and the Masquerades

by Lola Shoneyin Illustrated by Francis Blake

M

ayowa and the Masquerades tells the story of Mayowa’s visit to his relatives in Ilisan where he learns to love the outdoors and comes to understand important lessons about his people’s customs. This story is a bright, light-hearted read and the bold illustrations will engage children and their parents.

ISBN: Pages:

Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

9781911115144 32pp 2016 £6.99 World

“A fun, positive portrayal of everyday life in a Nigerian village, which effectively introduces the alphabet to young children.”

- BookTrust ISBN: Pages:

Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

9781911115151 32pp 2016 £6.99 World

Ankara Press

M

Black Sparkle Romance

by Amara Nicole Okolo

ira is ambitious and creative but she’s stuck as a PA to the ruthless editor of fashion magazine Black Sparkle. A string of disastrous dates threatens to put her off men forever. And then she crashes into the Mercedes of tiger-eyed Dominic. Mira’s luck changes when she’s promoted to assistant editor, but Dominic is the photographer for her first edition in charge. Sparks fly as the creative energy of two talented individuals fuels a heady mix of fear and desire.

ISBN: Pages:

Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

K

9781911115229 152pp 2016 £5.99 World

Finding Love Again

by Chioma Iwunze-Ibiam

ambi thinks the serene Obudu Mountain Resort is the perfect place to finish her poetry collection and heal her broken heart. But along comes Beba, the gorgeous man from her past who reignites the spark between them. Can Kambi resist Beba’s charms and keep up the pretence of being his fake fiancée to help him in his quest to find his mother? Or will a phony engagement be the key for Kambi to begin Finding Love Again?

ISBN: Pages:

Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

9781911115212 172pp 2016 £5.99 World

P

A Tailor-Made Romance

by Oyindamola Affinih

hoenix Advertising Agency star Tishe is looking forward to her first date with sharply-dressed Adnan. She is shocked when she discovers that he is a tailor. She vows that there will be no second date … ever. But once they share a goodnight kiss, everything changes. They embark on a whirlwind romance as she struggles to reconcile her disapproval for Adnan’s profession with her burning desire for him. Will Tishe give Adnan a chance? Find out in this racy romance.

“Step aside Mills and Boon. Ankara Press is here! The new and hip romance story imprint that’s had African literary Twitter buzzing for weeks is worth every beam of spotlight it’s enjoying at the moment.”

– The Guardian

ISBN: 9781911115182 Pages:

176pp Publication Date: 2016 Price: £5.99 Rights Held: World

Ankara Press

T

A Taste Of Love

by Sifa Asani Gowon

hey say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. But this delectable romance has Toby, manager of the Bar-Rage, winning over feisty mum and successful baker Adoo with his delicious pizza, suave good looks and his calm, confident demeanour. Soon, Adoo and Toby are enjoying spontaneous dates. Adoo loves how Toby treats her son, and is thrilled to find a man her son approves of. Will Toby and Adoo commit or will they only have A Taste of Love?

ISBN: Pages:

Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

9781911115199 172pp 2016 £5.99 World

T

Love’s Persuasion

by Ola Awonubi

hings are changing at Lagos firm City Finance. But for Ada Okafor, a bright and dedicated trainee, the only change worth noticing is the dashing, new British-trained assistant MD, Tony Okoli. Ambitious and determined, Ada ignores her feelings for Tony and focuses on juggling her work in accounts with studying. But the two are drawn together and they embark on a secret and passionate affair. Their love is truly tested as they fight to persuade themselves and the world that love, in the end, trumps social status.

“There’s definitely a need for diverse and different love stories – and Cassava Republic’s set of entertaining tales is a very good start.”

– The Sunday Times

ISBN: 9781911115205 Pages:

192pp Publication Date: 2016 Price: £5.99 Rights Held: World

I

The Elevator Kiss

by Amina Thula

t’s Christmas and Sindi has been invited to her friend’s stunning new apartment for dinner. She finds herself in the elevator with a handsome man in a dashing blue suit. Their impromptu kiss under the mistletoe ignites unanticipated desire. But Sindi is focused on rebuilding her life after a messy break-up. Edward is the last thing she needs. Or so she thinks. A steamy romance set in the beautiful city of Cape Town.

ISBN: Pages:

Publication Date: Price: Rights Held:

9781911115236 200pp 2016 £5.99 World

Cassava Republic Press: Autumn and Winter 2019 Order Form Page ISBN No.

Pub date Title

Author

Price

1

978-1911115885

17/09/19

Making Futures

Sangu Delle

£16.99

2

978-1911115540

03/09/19

Better Never Than Late

Chika Unigwe

£9.99

2

978-1911115861

08/10/19

The Whispering Trees

Abubakar Adam Ibrahim

£9.99

3

978-1911115908

05/11/19

On Ajayi Crowther Street

Elnathan John & Alaba Onajin

£15.99

4

978-1911115021

01/04/16

Born on a Tuesday

Elnathan John

£9.99

Sarah Ladipo Manyika

£9.99

4

978-1911115045

01/04/16

Like A Mule Bringing Ice Cream to The Sun

5

978-1911115007

20/05/16

Season of Crimson Blossoms

Abubakar Adam Ibrahim

£9.99

5

978-1911115458

03/07/17

When We Speak of Nothing

Olumide Popoola

£9.99

6

978-1911115519

08/05/18

The Hundred Wells of Salaga

Ayesha Harruna Attah

£9.99

6

978-1911115618

13/11/18

German Calendar No December

Sylvia Ofili & Birgit Weyhe

£15.99

7

978-1911115779

21/05/19

In Dependence

Sarah Ladipo Manyika

£11.99

7

978-1911115793

30/07/19

A Small Silence

Jumoke Verissimo

£11.99

Toni Kan

£9.99

8

978-1911115847

30/04/19

Nights of the Creaking Bed

9

978-1911115069

01/04/16

Easy Motion Tourist

Leye Adenle

£8.99

9

978-1911115632

12/09/18

When Trouble Sleeps

Leye Adenle

£8.99

10

978-1911115243

01/10/16

The Carnivorous City

Toni Kan

£8.99

10

978-1911115731

02/10/18

Lagos Noir

Chris Abani (ed.)

£12.99

11

978-1911115083

01/05/16

The Lazarus Effect

H.J. Golakai

£8.99

11

978-1911115397

06/08/19

The Score

H.J. Golakai

£8.99

Ellah Wakatama Allfrey (ed.)

£12.99

12

978-1911115168

07/05/16

Safe House: Explorations in Creative Nonfiction

12

978-1911115298

15/10/16

Highlife Giants

John Collins

£12.99

Yemisi Aribisala

£12.99

Emmanuel Iduma

£10.99

13

978-1911115267

15/10/16

Longthroat Memoirs: Soups, Sex and Nigerian Taste Buds

13

978-1911115496

16/10/18

A Stranger’s Pose

Qty

Page ISBN No.

Pub date

Title

Author

Price

14

978-1911115595

26/04/18

She Called Me Woman

Azeenarh Mohammed, Chitra Nagarajan & Rafeeat Aliyu

£12.99

15

978-1911115960

11/07/19

Be(com)ing Nigerian: A Guide

Elnathan John

£9.99

16

978-1911115106

01/09/16

What Sunny Saw in The Flames

Nnedi Okorafor

£7.99

16

978-1911115571

28/03/18

Sunny & The Mysteries of Osisi

Nnedi Okorafor

£7.99

17

978-1911115311

06/09/17

The Secret of the Purple Lake

Yaba Badoe

£7.99

17

978-1911115434

30/06/17

The Hidden Star

K. Sello Duiker

£7.99

Mylo Freeman

£6.99

18

978-1911115410

10/04/17

Princess Arabella Goes to School

18

978-1911115427

10/04/17

Princess Arabella and the Giant Cake

Mylo Freeman

£6.99

19

978-1911115120

01/04/16

Princess Arabella Mixes Colours

Mylo Freeman

£6.99

19

978-1911115137

01/04/16

Princess Arabella’s Birthday

Mylo Freeman

£6.99

19

978-1911115717

19/02/19

Princess Arabella is a Big Sister

Mylo Freeman

£6.99

20

978-1911115670

12/09/18

Hair, it’s a Family Affair!

Mylo Freeman

£6.99

20

978-1911115380

27/03/17

Every Girl is a Princess

Mylo Freeman

£9.99

21

978-1911115151

01/06/16

A Fun ABC

Sade Fadipe

£6.99

Lola Shoneyin

£6.99

21

978-1911115144

01/05/16

Mayowa and the Masquerades

22

978-1911115229

01/07/16

Black Sparkle Romance

Amara Nicole Okolo

£5.99

22

978-1911115212

01/07/16

Finding Love Again

Chioma Iwunze-Ibiam

£5.99

Oyindamola Affinnih

£5.99

22

978-1911115182

01/07/16

A Tailor-made Romance

23

978-1911115199

01/07/16

A Taste of Love

Sifa Asani Gowon

£5.99

23

978-1911115205

01/07/16

Love’s Persuasion

Ola Awonubi

£5.99

23

978-1911115236

01/07/16

The Elevator Kiss

Amina Thula

£5.99

Qty

School Visits If you would like a Cassava Republic representative to set up a book stand in your organisation or arrange for an author to visit your school, please contact us at info@ cassavarepublic.biz.

Follow Us Online We have several ways to keep you informed about what’s going on in our universe: You can ‘like’ us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CassavaRepublic, follow us on Twitter @CassavaRepublic and Instagram @cassavarepublicpress. You can also visit our website for the latest news on publishing, books and upcoming events: www.cassavarepublic.biz.

Contact Us Cassava Republic Press Unit C11, Mainyard Studios, 94 Wallis Rd, London E9 5LN Email: info@cassavarepublic.biz Website: www.cassavarepublic.biz

Sales – UK & Ireland Martin Palmer Publishing Services Ltd. 25 Webbs Way, Kidlington, Oxford, OX5 2EW Tel: +44 (0)7990 887175 jenniebriggs.mpps@gmail.com

Sales – Europe Durnell Marketing Ltd. 2, Linden Close, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN4 8HH Tel: +44 (0)1892 544272 Fax: +44 (0)1892 511152 Email: orders@durnell.co.uk

Distribution Central Books Ltd. 50 Freshwater Road, Chadwell Heath, London, RM8 1RX Tel: + 44 (0)20 8525 8800 / 0845 458 9911 Fax: + 44 (0)20 8599 2694 / 0845 458 9912 Email: orders@centralbooks.com

Rights For foreign rights enquiries, please contact: ila@ila-agency.co.uk

CONTACT U S London office: Unit C11, Mainyard Studios, 94 Wallis Rd, London, E9 5LN E-mail: info@cassavarepublic.biz www.cassavarepublic.biz