Bridgevision Chief Executive Officer Joe E. Sully said Africa has considerable literary talent but lacks sufficient investment in the systems needed to turn written works into commercially viable books, businesses and employment opportunities.
He was speaking on November 6, 2026, during the third edition of the Radiate Rwanda Literary Excellence Awards in Kigali.
Sully said Bridgevision intends to help mobilise funding, partners and investors to support the growth of the creative economy.
“We will do everything possible to play our part by seeking more partners, funding and investors to help build a thriving creative economy driven by talent and creativity,” he remarked.
He added that the organisation’s ambition extends beyond recognising outstanding writers through awards to helping establish a publishing industry that can contribute to Rwanda’s economy and that of the wider African continent.
Sully said positioning Kigali as a centre for publishing and books in Africa would require coordinated efforts involving parents, schools, the media, government institutions, financial institutions and other stakeholders.
Such partnerships, he argued, would also be essential to building a stronger reading and writing culture.
Dr. Callixte Kabera, Vice-Chancellor of East African University and chairperson of the awards’ judging panel, said African writers should produce work that reflects their cultural identities while engaging with the challenges facing the continent.
He noted that successful writing requires research, extensive reading, knowledge and skill.
“An African writer should therefore have ideas that reflect their culture and address the challenges facing Africa,” he said.
Ishungure Parfait, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Youth and Arts, highlighted that the publishing industry has an important role in education, job creation, talent development and the expansion of the creative economy.
He called for stronger participation across the publishing value chain, including writers, publishers, booksellers and readers.
“We need strong writers, publishers, booksellers and readers to build a robust and vibrant literary industry in Rwanda,” he said.
A 2025 UNESCO report on Africa’s book industry estimates that the sector generates nearly $7 billion annually across the continent, with the potential to reach $18.5 billion if supportive policies are introduced and sufficient investment secured.
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