Terms of Service

Welcome to BooksAfrrik. These Terms of Service govern your access to and use of BooksAfrrik's websites, digital platforms, publishing services, author services, reader services, events, programmes, content and related services.

BooksAfrrik is an African-focused literary and publishing platform with continental and global reach. Our services are intended to connect African authors, readers, publishers, literary organisations and creative communities across Africa and with audiences around the world.

1. About BooksAfrrik

BooksAfrrik is a literary and publishing platform focused on discovering, promoting, connecting and supporting African books, authors, publishers, readers and literary culture.

Our services may be accessed from different countries and regions. References to Africa, African literature or African literary communities do not limit BooksAfrrik's services to users physically located within Africa.

Users from other parts of the world may access BooksAfrrik and engage with content, authors, publishers, events and other services made available through the platform.

2. Acceptance of These Terms

By accessing or using BooksAfrrik, you agree to comply with these Terms of Service.

If you do not agree with these Terms, you should not access or use the relevant BooksAfrrik services.

If you are using BooksAfrrik on behalf of an organisation, company, publisher or other entity, you confirm that you have the authority to accept these Terms on that entity's behalf.

3. Eligibility

You must have the legal capacity required under the laws applicable to you to enter into these Terms and use the relevant BooksAfrrik services.

Certain services, programmes, competitions, events or features may have additional eligibility requirements. Where applicable, those requirements will be communicated separately.

If you are under the age required to independently enter into an agreement under the laws applicable to you, you should use relevant BooksAfrrik services only with the involvement or permission of a parent, guardian or other authorised adult where required.

4. BooksAfrrik Accounts

Certain BooksAfrrik features may require you to create an account. You are responsible for providing information that is accurate, current and not misleading.

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for activity conducted through your account.

You should notify BooksAfrrik promptly if you believe that your account has been accessed without your permission or that your credentials have been compromised.

BooksAfrrik may suspend or restrict an account where reasonably necessary to protect users, the platform, our services or third parties, or where an account is being used in violation of these Terms.

5. Using BooksAfrrik

You agree to use BooksAfrrik lawfully and responsibly.

You must not use the platform to:

• Violate any applicable law or regulation.
• Infringe another person's intellectual-property, privacy, publicity or other legal rights.
• Upload, publish or distribute content that is unlawful, fraudulent, defamatory, threatening or intentionally deceptive.
• Harass, intimidate, exploit or abuse other users.
• Impersonate another person or organisation.
• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to accounts, systems or restricted areas.
• Interfere with the security, availability or operation of BooksAfrrik.
• Introduce malicious code, malware or other harmful material.
• Scrape, harvest or systematically collect information from the platform without appropriate authorisation.
• Use BooksAfrrik to facilitate fraudulent or deceptive activity.

6. User-Submitted Content

BooksAfrrik may allow users to submit, upload, publish or otherwise provide content, including author biographies, photographs, book information, manuscripts, descriptions, reviews, comments, recommendations and other materials.

You remain responsible for content that you submit to BooksAfrrik.

By submitting content, you represent that:

• You have the necessary rights, permissions or authority to submit the content.
• The submission does not knowingly infringe another person's intellectual-property or other legal rights.
• The information you provide is not intentionally false or misleading.
• You have obtained any necessary permission to provide personal information or materials relating to another individual.

7. Licence to Display Submitted Content

When you submit content for publication, promotion, display or distribution through BooksAfrrik, you grant BooksAfrrik the non-exclusive permission necessary to host, reproduce, display, format, distribute and promote that content as part of the relevant BooksAfrrik service.

This permission is intended to allow BooksAfrrik to operate the services for which the content was submitted. It does not transfer ownership of your underlying intellectual property to BooksAfrrik.

Where a separate written agreement applies to a particular publishing or commercial arrangement, that agreement may govern the relevant rights and obligations instead.

8. Intellectual Property

BooksAfrrik and its licensors retain ownership of the intellectual property contained in the BooksAfrrik platform, including, where applicable, our branding, logos, designs, software, interfaces, original editorial materials, graphics, text and other proprietary materials.

Except where expressly permitted, you may not reproduce, modify, distribute, sell, license, publicly display or create derivative works from BooksAfrrik's proprietary materials without appropriate authorisation.

The names, trademarks and intellectual property of authors, publishers, literary organisations and other third parties remain the property of their respective owners.

9. Books, Authors and Publisher Information

Information displayed on BooksAfrrik about books, authors, publishers, literary works, events or organisations may originate from users, publishers, authors, partners, publicly available sources or BooksAfrrik's own editorial activities.

While we may take reasonable steps to maintain the quality and accuracy of information presented on the platform, BooksAfrrik does not guarantee that every piece of information will always be complete, current or error-free.

Users should independently verify important information before relying upon it for legal, financial, professional or other significant decisions.

10. Editorial Content and Recommendations

BooksAfrrik may publish editorial content, reviews, interviews, recommendations, lists, features or other literary materials.

Editorial content and recommendations represent the views or editorial decisions applicable to the relevant content and should not necessarily be interpreted as endorsements, guarantees or representations of suitability.

The inclusion of a book, author, publisher, organisation or service on BooksAfrrik does not automatically constitute an endorsement unless expressly stated.

11. Events, Programmes and Author Services

BooksAfrrik may provide or participate in literary events, author programmes, publishing initiatives, workshops, interviews, live sessions, competitions and other activities.

Particular activities may have additional terms, eligibility rules, participation requirements, deadlines or cancellation policies. Where additional terms apply, they may supplement these Terms.

12. Payments and Paid Services

Some BooksAfrrik services may be offered for a fee.

Where a service requires payment, the applicable price, payment terms and any additional conditions will be communicated before the transaction is completed.

Unless otherwise stated, fees may be subject to applicable taxes, transaction charges or other costs imposed by payment providers or applicable authorities.

Payments may be processed through third-party payment providers. Such providers may have their own terms and privacy policies.

13. Refunds and Cancellations

Refund eligibility may vary depending on the service purchased, the nature of the transaction, the applicable cancellation terms and the laws applicable to the transaction.

Where a specific service has separate refund or cancellation terms, those terms will apply to that service.

Nothing in these Terms is intended to exclude or restrict mandatory consumer rights that cannot lawfully be excluded or restricted.

14. Third-Party Services and Links

BooksAfrrik may integrate with or provide links to third-party websites, applications, payment services, social platforms, technology providers and other external services.

Third-party services are operated independently from BooksAfrrik. Your use of those services may be governed by their own terms, privacy policies and other rules.

BooksAfrrik is not responsible for the availability, security, content, policies or practices of independent third-party services.

15. Privacy

Your use of BooksAfrrik is also subject to our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use, protect and otherwise process personal information.

Our Cookie Notice explains how cookies and similar technologies may be used on our digital platforms.

16. Availability of the Services

BooksAfrrik aims to keep its services available and reliable, but we do not guarantee that the platform will always be available, uninterrupted, secure or free from errors.

Services may occasionally be unavailable because of maintenance, upgrades, technical problems, security incidents, third-party dependencies, network conditions or circumstances beyond our reasonable control.

BooksAfrrik may modify, suspend or discontinue a feature or service where reasonably necessary.

17. No Guarantee of Results

BooksAfrrik provides platforms and services intended to support literary discovery, publishing, promotion, networking and communication.

However, we do not guarantee any particular commercial, publishing, readership, sales, career, publicity or professional outcome from using BooksAfrrik.

Any examples, projections, recommendations or promotional statements should not be interpreted as guarantees of future results.

18. Disclaimers

To the extent permitted by applicable law, BooksAfrrik provides its platforms and services on an "as available" basis and does not guarantee that the services will always meet every user's individual requirements.

We do not guarantee that information available through the platform will always be accurate, complete, current or suitable for a particular purpose.

Nothing in these Terms excludes any representation, warranty, obligation or consumer protection that cannot legally be excluded under the laws applicable to you.

19. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, BooksAfrrik and its directors, officers, employees, contractors, partners and service providers will not be liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, special or punitive losses arising from or relating to your use of the platform.

This may include loss of profits, business opportunities, goodwill, data or anticipated savings, except where such limitation is not permitted by applicable law.

Nothing in these Terms is intended to exclude or limit liability where such exclusion or limitation would be unlawful.

20. Indemnification

To the extent permitted by applicable law, you agree to be responsible for losses, claims, liabilities and reasonable expenses arising from your unlawful use of BooksAfrrik, your violation of these Terms or your infringement of the rights of another person.

21. Suspension and Termination

BooksAfrrik may suspend, restrict or terminate your access to all or part of the platform where reasonably necessary, including where you materially violate these Terms, create a security risk, engage in unlawful activity or misuse the services.

You may stop using BooksAfrrik at any time.

Provisions that by their nature should continue after termination, including provisions relating to intellectual property, disclaimers, limitations of liability and dispute-related matters, may continue to apply.

22. Reporting Inappropriate Content

If you believe that content on BooksAfrrik violates these Terms, infringes your rights, is unlawful or otherwise requires review, please contact us with sufficient information for us to investigate the matter.

Where appropriate, BooksAfrrik may review reported content and take reasonable action, including removing or restricting access to content.

23. Copyright and Intellectual-Property Complaints

If you believe that content available through BooksAfrrik infringes your copyright or other intellectual-property rights, you should provide us with information sufficient to identify:

• The work or material you believe has been infringed.
• The content on BooksAfrrik that you believe infringes your rights.
• Evidence or information supporting your claim of ownership or authorisation.
• Your contact information so that we can respond to the complaint.

BooksAfrrik may take appropriate action in accordance with applicable law and the circumstances of the complaint.

24. Changes to These Terms

BooksAfrrik may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in our services, business operations, technology or applicable legal requirements.

When material changes are made, we may provide an appropriate notice through our website, services or other communication channels.

The updated Terms will become effective on the date specified in the revised version unless otherwise stated.

25. Applicable Law and Local Rights

BooksAfrrik serves users across multiple African countries and internationally. Laws governing online services, consumer rights, privacy, intellectual property and digital transactions may differ between jurisdictions.

These Terms are intended to operate subject to mandatory laws and rights applicable to the user and the relevant BooksAfrrik service.

Where a provision of these Terms conflicts with a mandatory legal requirement that applies to a particular user or transaction, that mandatory requirement will prevail to the extent of the conflict.

26. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable, that provision will be interpreted or limited to the extent necessary, and the remaining provisions will continue to apply to the extent permitted by law.

27. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with applicable policies and additional terms expressly incorporated into them, constitute the applicable agreement governing your use of the relevant BooksAfrrik services.

28. Contact Us

If you have questions about these Terms of Service, please contact BooksAfrrik.