African author on the roll

Author of the bestselling Africa's Greatest Entrepreneurs and the publisher of the latest version, SA's Greatest Entrepreneurs, compiled in partnership with the Gordon Institute of Business Science and launched last week, Moky Makura is on a mission to capture Africa's stories and prevent the continent's history and heritage from being eroded.

By Matebello Motloung

15 Sep 2010

"There's something that's just magical about books. I believe if you want to leave a legacy, write a book. With books, history can be passed on from one generation to the next," says the Nigerian-born SA media personality.

Makura is the founder and owner of MME Media SA, a publishing company with two aspects to it: sponsored or branded books; and, recently, Nollybooks, a mass-market fiction imprint, which has launched a genre called "chic lit" in SA.

These easy-to-read "bookazines" are aimed at encouraging reading and book clubs among young women. The books include a glossary of words, discussion topics suggested by a sassy character called Sis Nolly, and interviews with celebrities on books that changed their lives.

Makura says Nollybooks was born out of a need to create relevant and entertaining content for the mass market, written by SA authors, many of whom have never been published.

A part-time actress who launched her Morningside, Johannesburg, company with her own money, Makura says income margins are tight and success "does not happen overnight".

Source: Financial Mail