Margaret Busby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Margaret Busby
CBE, Hon. FRSL
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Busby in February 2019
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Margaret Yvonne Busby
1944 (age 80–81) |
| Other names | Nana Akua Ackon |
| Alma mater | Bedford College, London University |
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Notable work
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Daughters of Africa (1992) New Daughters of Africa (2019) |
| Relatives | Moira Stuart (cousin) Phyllis Christian (cousin) Clara Marguerite Christian (aunt) Essi Matilda Forster (aunt) Kathryn Busby (niece) |
Margaret Yvonne Busby (born in 1944) is a famous publisher, editor, writer, and broadcaster. She was born in Ghana but lives in the UK. She is also known as Nana Akua Ackon.
Margaret Busby made history in the 1960s. She became Britain's youngest and first black female book publisher. She started a company called Allison and Busby with Clive Allison. She also put together two important book collections: Daughters of Africa (1992) and New Daughters of Africa (2019). These books feature writings by women of African descent. She has received many awards for her work, including the Benson Medal. In 2020, she was named one of the "100 Great Black Britons". In 2023, she became the president of English PEN, a group that supports writers.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Margaret Yvonne Busby was born in 1944 in Accra, which was then called the Gold Coast. Today, it is known as Ghana. Her parents, Dr. George Busby and Mrs. Sarah Busby, had family ties to the Caribbean. Her father, Dr. Busby, was a doctor who studied in Britain. He was friends with important figures like Kwame Nkrumah and C. L. R. James.
Margaret's parents sent her and her siblings to school in England when she was five. She attended schools in the Lake District and Bexhill-on-Sea. She finished her O-levels at 14 and her A-levels at 16. After a year in Cambridge, she started studying English at Bedford College at London University when she was 17. She edited her college's literary magazine and wrote her own poetry. She graduated with honors at age 20.
Starting a Publishing Company
While still at university, Margaret met Clive Allison. They decided to start their own publishing company together. After graduating, Margaret worked briefly at another publishing house. She was also busy setting up Allison and Busby (A & B). Their first books came out in 1967. This made Margaret the youngest publisher in the UK at the time. She was also the first African woman to own a book publishing company in Britain.
Margaret believes it's important to inspire others. She hopes her work encourages more people to enter publishing. She wants them to learn from her experiences and do even better.
For 20 years, Margaret was the Editorial Director at Allison & Busby. She helped publish many important authors. These included Sam Greenlee, C. L. R. James, Buchi Emecheta, and Chester Himes. Her company published a wide range of writers from different backgrounds.
After Allison & Busby, Margaret worked at Earthscan. She then became a freelance editor, writer, and critic. This means she worked for herself, taking on various projects.
Writing, Editing, and Broadcasting Work
Margaret Busby is also a journalist. She has written for many major newspapers like The Guardian, The Observer, and The Independent. She often writes book reviews or articles about artists and activists. Her articles appear in both general newspapers and special journals.
In 2023, it was announced that a collection of Margaret Busby's own writings would be published. This shows how important her contributions to literature are.
Daughters of Africa Books
One of Margaret Busby's most famous projects is Daughters of Africa: An International Anthology of Words and Writings by Women of African Descent from the Ancient Egyptian to the Present. This book came out in 1992. It was a huge success and included writings from over 200 women. Many people called it a "landmark" book. It helped show the world the rich history of African women writers.
In 2019, Margaret released a follow-up book. It was called New Daughters of Africa: An International Anthology of Writing by Women of African Descent. This new collection featured more than 200 additional writers. Reviewers praised it for bringing important African voices to light. These books help make sure that women's voices are heard and celebrated.
To support new talent, the "Margaret Busby New Daughters of Africa Award" was created. This award helps African women students study at SOAS, University of London. The first student to receive this award later won a major writing prize.
Other Book Projects
Margaret Busby has also contributed to many other books. She has written parts for collections like Colours of a New Day: Writing for South Africa. She also co-authored a book about the Notting Hill Carnival in 2014. This book shared the history of the famous festival through photos and stories.
She has written introductions for many classic books. These include A Question of Power by Bessie Head. She also helped edit books about important figures like C.L.R. James. Her work helps bring important stories and ideas to new readers.
Radio and Stage Work
Margaret Busby has been involved in radio and television since the 1960s. She hosted shows like London Line and Break For Women. She has appeared on many BBC radio programs, discussing books and current events.
She has also adapted books for BBC Radio. For example, she turned C. L. R. James's novel Minty Alley into a radio play. This play won an award in 1999. In 2003, her five-part radio series Yaa Asantewaa was broadcast. This series told the story of a powerful African queen.
Margaret has also written plays for the stage. Her play An African Cargo was about the Zong massacre, a sad event in history. It was performed in 2007 to mark 200 years since the end of the slave trade.
In 2014, she wrote a special tribute show for the late Maya Angelou. It featured many famous artists and celebrated Angelou's life and work. In 2021, Margaret was a guest on the popular BBC Radio 4 show Desert Island Discs.
Working for Diversity in Publishing
Margaret Busby has always worked hard to make the publishing world more diverse. In the 1980s, she helped start a group called Greater Access to Publishing (GAP). This group pushed for more Black people to be involved in all parts of publishing. She believed that the industry needed to encourage more diverse voices.
She also supported Independent Black Publishers (IBP). This group helped Black publishers share ideas and work together. Margaret said that it was important to "document and celebrate the achievements of many of our Black creatives." She wanted to make sure their stories were not forgotten.
Margaret has spoken at many literary festivals around the world. She has interviewed famous writers like Toni Morrison and Maya Angelou. She has also judged many important literary prizes, including the Booker Prize in 2020. Her work helps discover and promote new writing talent.
She serves on the boards of many cultural organizations. These include English PEN and the Royal Literary Fund. She is also a trustee for Tomorrow's Warriors, a jazz education group. Her involvement helps support arts and literature for everyone.
Awards and Recognition
Margaret Busby has received many honors for her amazing work.
- 1970: Society of Young Publishers Award.
- 1993: Pandora Award from Women in Publishing.
- 1999: Race in the Media Award for her radio play Minty Alley.
- 1999: She was given the traditional title of Nana Akua Ackon in Ghana.
- 2004: Received an Honorary Doctorate from the Open University.
- 2006: Awarded the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to literature.
- 2015: Received the Henry Swanzy Award for her contributions to Caribbean literature.
- 2017: Elected as an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
- 2017: Awarded the Benson Medal by the Royal Society of Literature for her lifetime achievements.
- 2019: Received the first Africa Writes Lifetime Achievement Award.
- 2020: Voted one of "100 Great Black Britons".
- 2021: Received the London Book Fair Lifetime Achievement Award.
- 2021: Awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for her services to publishing.
- 2022: Received an honorary doctorate from the University of Exeter.
- 2023: Appointed president of English PEN.
Many people see Margaret Busby as a pioneer. She has inspired a new generation of publishers and writers. Zadie Smith, a famous author, said that Margaret has been a "cheerleader, instigator, organiser, defender and celebrator of black arts for the past 50 years." Her work has truly changed the world of books and arts.
See also
- Jessica Huntley
- John La Rose
