Arts, Design, Media & Creative Industries
Editor (Books / Publishing)
Editorial oversight of written content
What this life looks like
You shape the books that shape the world. Editors work with writers to develop and improve their manuscripts — offering structural guidance, line-by-line feedback, and the sharp eye that transforms a good draft into a great book. Publishing is one of the most intellectually satisfying careers available, and Africa's growing publishing industry needs skilled editors who understand African literature, languages, and readers.
What she actually does
You evaluate manuscripts and proposals, acquire books you believe in, work with authors through developmental editing (structure and concept), line editing (prose and style), and copyediting (accuracy and consistency), manage the production process through to publication, develop the list of books your publishing house produces, and build long-term relationships with the authors you champion.
Where you can work
| Sector | Places in Africa |
|---|---|
| African Publishers | Cassava Republic (Nigeria), Jacana Media (SA), Ouida Books (SA), Kachifo/Farafina (Nigeria) |
| International Publishers | Penguin Random House Africa, Pan Macmillan (SA), Bloomsbury Africa — all employ African editorial staff |
| Educational Publishing | Oxford University Press Africa, Cambridge University Press Africa, Longman Africa — huge market |
| Digital & Self-Publishing | Freelance editing for independent authors, digital-first publishers — a growing market |
Why it matters in Africa
African publishing is growing — Cassava Republic, Jacaranda Books, Ouida Books, Jacana Media, and a new generation of African-owned presses are building publishing houses that put African stories first. The African children's book market is particularly fast-growing, as demand for books featuring African children and stories surges. Skilled editors who understand African writing are essential to this expansion.
Your pathway in
- Study English, Literature, Languages, or Communications at university
- Read voraciously — editors who read widely and deeply are better at their jobs
- Gain practical experience: proofreading, copyediting, and editorial assistant roles are common entry points
- Develop skills in the Chicago Manual of Style and stylistic editing — the technical foundations of editorial work
- Build a deep knowledge of African literature and publishing — the most valuable African editors understand what makes African writing distinctive
Skills you will need
- Structural and developmental editing
- Line editing and copyediting
- Literary taste and judgement
- Author relationships
- Manuscript evaluation
- Publishing business knowledge
A woman in this field
Bibi Bakare-Yusuf
Nigeria
Bibi is the co-founder and publisher of Cassava Republic Press — one of Africa's most important independent publishers, with offices in Lagos and London. She has championed African women's fiction, African children's literature, and African genre fiction, building a list that includes internationally celebrated titles like 'Freshwater' by Akwaeke Emezi and children's books that put Nigerian children at the centre of their stories. She is one of the most important figures in contemporary African publishing.
Take your first step
- Read the submission guidelines for three African publishers (Cassava Republic, Jacana Media, Kachifo) — understanding what publishers are looking for is the starting point for an editorial career
- Offer to proofread or edit for a school or community publication — practical editing experience starts anywhere
- Study 'The Elements of Style' by Strunk and White alongside a good African style guide — both are foundational editorial references
- Research the African Books Collective at africanbookscollective.com — it is a distribution cooperative for African publishers and shows you the landscape of African publishing
Careers close to this one
- Author/Fiction Writer
- Non-Fiction Writer
- Copywriter
- Journalist
- Literary Agent