African Christian Authors – ACABA by CLC Kenya
Recognising, Celebrating & Promoting Quality in Christian Authorship in Africa
AWiP is a growing network connecting, mentoring, equipping and amplifying African women working across the Christian publishing ecosystem.
“We strategically stumble into God’s purpose —
then
hold the door for the sisters with us.”
African Women in Publishing brings together women serving throughout the book and publishing value chain across Africa.
The network creates opportunities for mentorship, professional growth, collaboration, continental partnerships and greater visibility for women contributing to the publishing industry.
To create a continental community where African women in publishing can connect, learn, mentor one another, collaborate and develop sustainable opportunities that strengthen Christian publishing in Africa.
AWiP is creating a growing network of African women who are publishing, editing, writing, leading, mentoring, designing, bookselling, printing and building the wider book ecosystem.
We create space for women in Christian publishing to find one another, build genuine relationships, share knowledge, create opportunities and intentionally support the women coming behind them.
The story began in 2023, when Dr Muthoni Omukhango was nominated by Ramon Rocha of Media Associates International (MAI), USA to speak at ECPA PubU that November.
It was through that opportunity that she first discovered the ECPA Emerging Leaders Mentorship Program and subsequently applied to be part of it.
The following year, in 2024, she was selected for the program and paired with Joyce Dinkins of Publishing In Color as her mentor.
What followed was a full year of intentional, hands-on mentor-mentee relationship. Each month, they spent approximately two to four hours together, creating space for deep conversation, publishing insight, leadership development, reflection, practical guidance and engagement with the realities of Christian publishing.
The mentorship became more than professional development. It demonstrated what can happen when one woman intentionally invests her experience, access and wisdom in another woman.
After experiencing this first-hand, a larger question emerged:
What could happen if more African women in publishing had access to this kind of intentional mentorship?
That question helped inspire mentorship for African women in publishing and contributed to the wider vision of AWiP: women who have been strengthened intentionally creating room for other women to grow, lead and flourish.
The AWiP principle is simple: We strategically stumble into God’s purpose, then hold the door for the sisters with us.
The ECPA Emerging Leaders Program invests in promising Christian publishing professionals through industry training, meaningful connection and year-long mentorship .
Participants receive opportunities to grow through ECPA PubU and are paired with experienced industry mentors who walk with them through an intentional season of professional and leadership development.
Learn About the Emerging Leaders ProgramPublishing In Color works to grow ethnic diversity in Christian publishing by creating opportunities for connection, professional development, mentorship and greater representation across the publishing industry.
Joyce Dinkins is passionate about growing ethnic Christian content through Publishing In Color. Her publishing career has included leadership and editorial roles with David C. Cook, NavPress, New Hope and Our Daily Bread Ministries, where she served as executive editor of Our Daily Bread and founding editor of VOICES.
She has also served the Academy of Christian Editors, the Evangelical Christian Publishing Association (ECPA), and writers' conferences across the United States.
David Dinkins co-directs Publishing In Color and serves as content advisor, illustrator and media lead. His work includes website development, writing, editing, sensitivity reading, public speaking and visual art.
An ECPA Emerging Leader, David has spoken at Publishing In Color conferences and the Evangelical Press Association annual convention, while his illustration work has appeared in publishing and fine-arts settings.
Joyce Dinkins became owner of Publishing In Color in 2023 after serving the initiative since 2017. She delivered a keynote at its first conference in 2018 and has continued building connections across the United States and internationally.
Through ECPA, Joyce has helped cultivate opportunities including Open Door internships and Emerging Leader mentorship. It was through this mentorship programme that she mentored Dr Muthoni Omukhango in 2024, an experience that helped inspire the vision for intentional mentorship among African women in publishing.
David Dinkins has been part of Publishing In Color since its early years, becoming an advisor in 2023 and Assistant Director in 2025. Together, Joyce and David continue to strengthen PIC's programming, technology, content and connections.
Visit Publishing In ColorThe AWiP story continues to unfold through relationships, opportunities and spaces where African women in publishing can connect with one another and with the wider global publishing community.
Dr Muthoni Omukhango's 2024 mentorship through ECPA's Emerging Leaders Mentorship Program became one of the seeds behind the vision to create intentional mentorship opportunities for African women in publishing.
The journey continued into Publishing In Color, Fall 2025, creating space for connection, learning, visibility and growing relationships within the wider Christian publishing community.
View the Facebook PostOne mentorship created room for wider connection, shared learning and the intentional multiplication of opportunity for African women in publishing.
AWiP 1.0 began in Fall 2024 with five women from Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria and Uganda, marking the first step in multiplying the mentorship that had been received.
Freely we receive, freely we give. One mentorship is becoming a doorway for other African women in Christian publishing!
Reflections from African women in Christian publishing who connected, learned and shared their work through the Publishing In Color conferences in 2024.
Attending the Publishing in Color Spring Conference in 2024 was an enriching experience, as I connected with publishers in the USA dedicated to uplifting voices and stories from coloured and Hispanic communities.
Coming from Africa, I resonated deeply with their vision and felt right at home. It was a great honour to be a main speaker, a privilege extended by my mentor, Joyce Dinkins, through the ECPA Emerging Leaders Mentorship Program, USA.
I hope more African publishers can register, connect, and expand their networks as I did.
I am deeply grateful for the incredible opportunity to attend the Publishing in Color 2024 Fall Conference through Dr Muthoni Omukhango.
The workshops were enlightening, and the networking lunch hour stood out as my personal highlight. Joyce Dinkins, our gracious host, ensured we had a wonderful experience, introducing us to other remarkable women in publishing.
This conference was a pivotal moment in my journey as a rising publisher.
I am immensely thankful to Dr Muthoni Omukhango for introducing me to Publishing in Color (PIC).
It was a good experience, offering me the privilege of sharing the ACABA Program with publishers in America. This platform not only opened doors to public speaking opportunities but also strengthened my confidence to amplify the African publishing agenda.
A special thanks to Joyce Dinkins for her heartfelt support in championing this vision. I encourage more leaders to join the next conference.
“It’s a stepping stone for birthing more books in Africa and for Africa.”
Attending the Publishing in Color 2024 Fall Conference was a defining moment of my year. The event was rich with insights into the publishing landscape, especially in the USA.
I was particularly fascinated by the crucial role of literary agents, a stark contrast to the Ugandan trade book industry, which thrives on self-publishing.
The daily networking sessions were a standout for me. These freestyle, prayerful conversations about writing, editing, and publishing were both inspiring and enriching. I also had the honour of sharing my journey and highlighting the work I do in Ugandan publishing.
I am profoundly grateful to Joyce Dinkins and Dr Muthoni Omukhango for making this experience possible.
The Publishing in Color 2024 Fall Conference was the crowning achievement of an exceptional year for me. Opportunities like these are rare for publishers in Africa, and I’m deeply thankful to Dr Muthoni Omukhango for her recommendation.
Led by Joyce Dinkins, the conference was a platform to realign my vision, broaden my understanding of publishing within the diaspora, and rekindle my commitment to excellence in publishing.
A million thanks to the incredible facilitators and speakers. I left the conference better equipped, energised, and inspired.
Building on the foundation laid by AWiP 1.0 in 2024, AWiP 2.0 continued the journey of connecting African women in publishing with one another and with the wider Christian publishing community.
AWiP provides a platform for African women to build relationships, receive mentorship, sharpen their skills and participate more meaningfully in the publishing industry.
Build meaningful relationships with publishers, editors, booksellers, writers, designers, printers and other publishing professionals across Africa and beyond.
Create intentional mentor-mentee relationships where experienced publishing professionals can invest their knowledge, experience and wisdom in emerging women leaders.
Access training, industry conversations, resources and professional development opportunities relevant to publishing in Africa.
Increase the visibility of African women, their organisations, their books and their contribution to the wider publishing industry.
We encourage partnerships that cross borders, languages, publishing traditions and markets throughout Africa.
We believe mentorship creates multiplication. As women grow in knowledge, leadership and experience, they can intentionally create pathways for other women to grow.
Strong networks, shared knowledge and intentional collaboration can strengthen individual publishing professionals and the wider African book industry.
AWiP seeks to connect African women with the wider global publishing community while ensuring that African voices, experiences and perspectives have a meaningful place at the table.
Become part of a growing continental community of women committed to mentorship, collaboration, learning and building a stronger publishing ecosystem for Africa.
Please note: Submitting this form is an expression of interest only. It does not guarantee admission to AWiP or the award of a scholarship. All applications will be reviewed, and feedback will be communicated to applicants.
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