Trinta Zero Nove (Thirty Zero Nine) – A beacon of access to the world

An independent publisher invested in translation, defied silence and let its voice echo in the country and beyond its borders, proving that it is possible to open new pages in the timid Mozambican publishing market.

With less than 10 years of existence, Trinta Zero Nove stands out publishing short stories, novels, poems and children’s works. Founded in 2018, it has envisioned horizons never before seen. On the wings of innovation, the publisher’s catalog expands, having been, among other things, the first publisher from Portuguese-speaking African Countries (PALOP) to win the Excellence Award at the London Book Fair. Furthermore, Trinta Zero Nove stood out among the 100 best startups in Africa during the 3rd edition of Access Bank’s Pitch-a-thon. What’s more, it saw two of its works on the list of five finalists in the Jabuti Prize, the biggest literary competition in Brazil.

All this success has a name behind it: Sandra Tamele. With a degree in Architecture, a diploma in translation and accredited by the Institute of Linguists Educational Trust in the United Kingdom, Sandra Tamele created the first independent publisher dedicated to translations in the country. Trinta Zero Nove, a name inspired by the 30th of September, International Translation Day, stands like a beacon in the midst of the Mozambican editorial gloom. “We still don’t have a publishing market in Mozambique”, says Sandra Tamele, making it clear that it’s possible to make it florish in concrete, just with work, persistence and more work. In a country where only 27 publishers insist on telling stories in books for 31 million souls, Tamele stands out. She designs bilingual trails for the Mozambican reader, building bridges between languages and cultures. “The publisher seeks to publish books in bilingual editions, such as Portuguese-Macua, Portuguese-Changana and Portuguese-Sena, as we want to reach more readers in Mozambique”, she states, making it clear that it’s still a challenge to translate dreams into local languages. But there are still many challenges, one of which is the sustainability of publishers, which have tiny print runs, which are not always sold in full.

For Tamele, there are countless opportunities for independent publishers led by young people. It indicates that it’s necessary to invest in new technologies and give a voice to unknown authors, making them reach the general public. Furthermore, she pointed out that it is also necessary to give minorities a voice. For example, at the beginning of the year the publisher launched a call for the publication of children’s books, short stories or novels by all Mozambican women (cis, trans and non-binary). The idea is to look for new female authorial talents. Regarding the future, the publisher hopes to open a bookstore in Marracuene, selling books 40% cheaper to increase inclusion and diversity. While the idea remains on paper, Trinta Zero Nove promotes reading in this place through its recently created reading club, M’thini wa Wutivi.

This year, Trinta Zero Nove intends to continue opening new horizons, challenging and conquering its space, one translated word at a time.

Edição 82 JAN/FEV| Download.