• Surfing the Web: Exploring Networks of African Small Presses, 1960s–70s

In 2025 UCL Special Collections celebrates 60 years of collecting small press publications and alternative presses. Join us in this exciting collaboration between UCL Special Collections and MA Public History students, open to everyone!

In this interactive workshop, you will explore the interconnected world of African small presses from the late 1960s and 70s through both physical and digital materials.

The session will begin with a short lecture providing historical context on African literature and small press movements during this vibrant, post-colonial/early independence period. This will build up into a hands-on exploration of key publications - Zuka, Busara, Lotus, Transition, and Black Orpheus. By closely examining editorial styles, advertisements, and contributors, you will gain insights into the diverse and creative voices that have filled the African literary scene. Taking what you have explored in the magazines, you will navigate a dynamic digital mind map, tracing the intricate networks of writers, publishers, and intellectuals who shaped these publications. Using hyperlinks to Wikipedia entries, you will be able to follow trails of influence, revealing the rich ecosystem of literary and political exchange.

The workshop will conclude with a discussion on the role of digital tools such as mind maps and Wikipedia in preserving and presenting histories of African publishing. You will reflect on the possibilities and limitations of these platforms in making literary heritage accessible to contemporary audiences.

The in-person event will be held at the IOE Library Teaching Room on our Bloomsbury campus; we will be on hand to guide you to the space if you're unsure where to go.

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Everyone can access UCL Special Collections digitally or in person. Our collections of rare, unique and historic archives & books cover themes including history of UCL, education, arts and sciences. To find out more please visit our website.