2026 Publishing Prize Jury Unveiled Ahead of Creative African Nexus (CANEX) WKND in Lagos, Nigeria

The CANEX Book Factory, a publishing incubator by Afreximbank's ( www.Afreximbank.com ) Creative African Nexus (CANEX) Programme, has announced a three-member jury for the 2026 CANEX Prize for Publishing. This announcement comes ahead of CANEX WKND 2026, taking place from 5–8 November in Lagos, Nigeria. Renowned Nigerian author and academic Professor Aderemi Raji-Oyelade will chair the jury, alongside South African literary scholar, Professor Polo Moji, and Kenyan poet-broadcaster, Khainga O'Okwemba. The panel will review all eligible entries and select the winning publisher from a competitive longlist. Professor Aderemi Raji-Oyelade’s chairmanship brings decades of literary expertise to the competition. His leadership will sharpen the conversations on the role of publishers of Global African ideas in reclaiming the narrative, ultimately boosting Africa's valuation and accelerating sustainable development across the diaspora and beyond. In his comments, Professor Aderemi Raji-Oyelade said : “It is an honour to chair this distinguished jury and to experience the breadth and quality of publishing from Africa and its diaspora," said Professor Raji-Oyelade. "The CANEX Prize offers an i