Magabala Books is an Indigenous publishing house based in Broome, Western Australia.[1]

It started in the late 1980s[2] and early 1990s.[3][4][5][6][7][8]

The name Magabala is a Yawuru, Karrajari and Nyulnyul word for the bush banana.[9] In 1990, Magabala Books became an independent Aboriginal corporation.[10] Magabala's stated objective is "restoring, preserving and maintaining Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures".[11]

Many prominent Australian Indigenous authors have been published with Magabala Books,[12] including Anita Heiss,[13] Ali Cobby Eckermann, Jimmy Pike, Alexis Wright, Bronwyn Bancroft, Jack Davis, Bill Neidjie, Stephen Hagan, Jack Davis, Jimmy Chi[14] and Bruce Pascoe.[15][16]

The literature ranges from Aboriginal lore,[17][18] children's books,[19] various picture books,[20] as well as oral history of indigenous culture.[21][22]

Magabala Books won the small publisher of the year award at the 2020 Australian Book Industry Awards.[23]

Magabala Fellowship edit

In August 2020 it launched a mid-career fellowship, valued at A$10,000, for First Nations writers who have had at least one book published.[24]

Winners edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ It has also been known as the Magabala Books Aboriginal Corporation, see - Sims, Bruce (September 1996), "Transition [A move for Penguin Books Australia Limited, Ringwood, to Magabala Books Aboriginal Corporation, Broome]", Publishing Studies (3): 35–36, ISSN 1324-7662
  2. ^ Magabala Books (1988), Magabala Books Aboriginal publishing, Magabala Books, retrieved 9 July 2014
  3. ^ Lands, M (1991), "Magabala Books: the beginning of a publishing house", Lu Rees Archives: Notes, Books and Authors (13): 27–28, ISSN 0725-7015
  4. ^ Austlit. "Magabala Books: (author/organisation) | AustLit: Discover Australian Stories". www.austlit.edu.au. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  5. ^ Rule, Rosemary (August 1989). "Publishing in Broome [Magabala Books]". Editions (Potts Point, NSW) (1): 6–7.
  6. ^ Ross, Iain (June 1993), "Magabala Books: an indigenous perspective", Classroom, 13 (5): 10–12, ISSN 0727-1255
  7. ^ Magabala Books: celebrating culture and survival. 1991. p. 32. ISSN 0310-2939.
  8. ^ Gierck, Michele M (2006), "Spreading seeds of culture [Magabala Books, the Broome-based publishing company.]", Eureka Street, 16 (1): 34–35, ISSN 1036-1758
  9. ^ "Our Name | Magabala Books". www.magabala.com. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  10. ^ "History | Magabala Books". www.magabala.com. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  11. ^ "Magabala Books and the importance of Indigenous YA literature — Kill Your Darlings". www.killyourdarlingsjournal.com. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  12. ^ Austlit. "Magabala Books: (author/organisation) | AustLit: Discover Australian Stories". www.austlit.edu.au. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  13. ^ Heiss, Dr Anita (7 August 2012). "Anita Heiss Blog: Happy 25th Anniversary Magabala Books!". Anita Heiss Blog. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  14. ^ Austlit. "Bran Nue Dae : A Musical Journey | AustLit: Discover Australian Stories". www.austlit.edu.au. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  15. ^ "History | Magabala Books". www.magabala.com. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  16. ^ Laurie, Victoria (29 March 1994), "Consenting authors. -Magabala Books, a Broome (WA) based Aboriginal publishing company-", Bulletin (Sydney) (29 Mar 1994): 97–98, ISSN 1440-7485
  17. ^ "Stunning showcase for Aboriginal lore". The Canberra Times. 21 August 1993. p. 52. Retrieved 9 July 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ Traditional Healers of Central Australia: Ngangkari. Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Women's Council Aboriginal Corporation. 2013. Magabala Books.
  19. ^ Holton-Ramirez, Tracey; Ramirez, Angela., (ill.); Magabala Books Aboriginal Corporation (2013), The little corroboree frog, Magabala Books, ISBN 978-1-921248-81-8{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ "MAGAZINE: BOOKS Feeling as well as seeing the Great Sandy Desert". The Canberra Times. 9 June 1990. p. 27. Retrieved 9 July 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ^ Marshall, Paul (1986), Interviews forming source materials for Raparapa Kularr Martuwarra – stories from the Fitzroy River drovers published by Magabala Books, retrieved 9 July 2014
  22. ^ Wright, Mary (October 1988). "Recording and remaking history". Fremantle Arts Review. 3 (10): 10–12.
  23. ^ "'Bluey: The Beach' wins 2020 ABIA Book of the Year". Books+Publishing. 13 May 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  24. ^ "Magabala announces fellowship for mid-career writers". Books+Publishing. 21 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  25. ^ "Magabala announces winner of inaugural fellowship". Books+Publishing. 12 January 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  26. ^ a b "McPherson and Green recipients of 2021 Magabala fellowship". Books+Publishing. 11 January 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  27. ^ "Magabala 2022 fellowship and scholarships recipients, inaugural AIC grant winners". Books+Publishing. 9 December 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2023.

External links edit