Indigenous Publishing in Botswana: the current situation and the way forward

Abstract

Book publications in indigenous languages within Botswana have a long tradition, despite the fact that the general patterns of publications in indigenous languages remain at its lowest ebb. Although the Setswana language is spoken by over 70 percent of the population in Botswana, few books are written in the language. This paper discusses the challenges of publishing books in indigenous languages in Botswana. Problems include low readership, low sales volume, absence of necessary incentives, illiteracy, lack of subsistence income, a culture of oral tradition, a language policy that tends to favour English and the absence of reading habits. Considers the prospects for the development of local language publications in the country.