Mukana means “opportunity” in Shona, a language spoken in Southern Africa. Our Press was formed out of a desire to give writers from underrepresented communities the opportunity to share their work. We seek to champion authors from Africa, South America, The Middle East, and Asia. In a world where publishing hubs are predominantly in the west, minority writers the world over often lack access. Our mission is to increase representation and diversity among published authors.
The publishing industry can be difficult to navigate, especially for debut minority authors. Far too many exceptional stories lie fallow merely because the writer lacks resources to get their manuscript “submission ready.” At Mukana, we actively seek and pursue not only established but also fledgling writers. Even if you’re still working on honing your craft; if you have a unique story, the kind that casts a bright light on the diverse cultures and sub-cultures of our rich world, then we would like to work with you. When we believe in a story, we provide one-one mentoring and feedback, working with emerging authors to get their manuscripts in the best possible shape. Mukana publishes only 4 – 5 titles a year, allowing us to give each author and book the best possible chance of success. We are deeply passionate about helping the world see through different lenses and learn from varied voices.
Our team seeks to make the road to getting published simpler. We invest not only in the works we publish but also in the authors we sign. We offer advances, unlike most small presses, more favorable royalties structures, provide publicists and move a lot faster than the traditional publishing houses.
Our team comprises African writers, poets, and journalists living in the United States, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, and Kenya.