David Philip Publishers was originally founded in 1971 by David Philip and his wife and business partner Marie Philip, with the aim of publishing “books that matter for Southern Africa” and that challenged the
apartheid regime. The company proceeded to publish many of the great figures of African and South African literature, including Nobel Prize laureates
Nadine Gordimer and
Wole Soyinka. Among the many renowned authors they published were
Mongane Wally Serote,
Ivan Vladislavic,
Alan Paton,
Miriam Tlali,
Pauline Smith and
Mandla Langa. One of the company's achievements was the groundbreaking Africasouth paperback series, a series devoted to republishing "important works of southern African literature that are at present ... not readily accessible"; the series included writers from "Africa south-of-the-Sahara", several recently unbanned books, and historical works dating back to 1911. By 1985, this series included titles by notable authors including
Stephen Gray,
Guy Butler,
Can Themba,
Todd Matshikiza and
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o. In 1992,
Nadine Gordimer stated: “David and Marie Philip started an independent publishing firm in South Africa during some of the darkest days of censorship. Their unintimidated aim was to publish good books. In spite of all odds, they have come of age as among not only the bravest but also the most highly regarded of our publishers. I am happy to be on their list.” Journalist, editor, a co-founder of New African Investments,
Zwelakhe Sisulu, became the major shareholder of the new publisher. The company is currently owned by the
Sisulu family. in memory of his late uncle. ==Imprints==