Leading Nigerian Publishers Purple shelves to publish I, Eric Ngalle
Parthian Books, an independent publisher based in Wales seals a deal with leading Nigerian publishers Purple Shelves who are to publish Eric Ngalle’s critically acclaimed memoir I, Eric Ngalle in 2021.
Amarachukwu Chimeka, the CEO and founder of Purple Shelves commented:
Eric Ngalle Charles’s session at #HayFestivalDigital in May 2020 spoke to me profoundly, especially as I am a Nigerian living in a country that is currently witnessing mass emigration, and which is also a hub for human traffickers. I believe that sharing Eric Ngalle’s story is a way to spread awareness and lend a voice to all the numerous agencies fighting human trafficking in all its forms in sub-Saharan Africa.It is interesting to see and read of the lemonades that Eric Ngalle has made of the lemons of his experience. I, Eric Ngalle is the story of every young African who desires better quality of life but has been conditioned to believe that such can only be found outside Africa. I see it as a story of resilience and hope. Where best do we tell this story than in our own continent, Africa?
Ngalle commented:
It is a dream for an African writer to make it into the Nigerian book market, my dream has come into fruition … Thank you, Purple Shelves and Parthian Books, for making this happen.
I, Eric Ngalle, is the story of the challenges and experiences of one man’s journey crossing continents from Africa to Europe. Eric Ngalle was selected by Jackie Kay as one of the UKs most exciting BAME writers in 2019 as part of an international showcase.
His book was described by Ifor Ap Glyn, the National Poet of Wales, as ‘powerful and challenging’.
Parthian’s publishing director Richard Davies commented:
We are delighted to working with Amarachukwu Chimeka and Purple Shelves to bring Eric’s work to a wider readership in Africa. We hope it is the start of more cooperative literature projects between Wales and Nigeria.
Eric will be speaking online this Sunday 18th October at Pa Gya! A literary festival in Accra, Ghana.
