The death of Chief Joop Berkhout has created a huge vacuum in the nation’s book industry. The naturalised Nigerian, who came from Netherlands, died on February 10 in Ibadan at the age of 94. He was the pillar of book publishing in the country, as well as a cultural icon. He had lived most of his life in Nigeria. He was born in Amsterdam on March 31, 1930. Berkhout contributed immensely to the Nigerian book industry and education sector by providing publishing opportunities for Nigerian writers. He was awarded a national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) in 1992 by the Nigerian government in recognition of his impact and long service to the Nigerian publishing industry. He also bagged the chieftaincy title of Okun Borode of Ife.
Berkhout managed three major publishing houses in Africa. From serving as the founding Managing Director of Evans Books, he established Spectrum Books Ltd in 1978 and Safari Books Limited in 1991. He also mentored some publishers in Nigeria. He played a great role in the higher education sector and served as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, Agbarha, Delta State.
Like Ulli Beier, the naturalised Nigerian from Germany, who made a mark in the arts and culture circles by promoting Nigerian books and culture, Berkhout made indelible marks in the promotion of Nigerian culture and knowledge industry through publishing. He encouraged Nigerian writers through prompt payment of royalties and extensive promotion of their books. He devoted his life to reading and publishing and selling of great books. He loved stories, history and other subjects. Books fascinated him and as an avid reader, he knew a lot about Nigerian history.
Despite attempts to portray Nigeria in bad light by some foreigners, Berkhout made Nigeria home for 59 out of his 94 years on earth. His sojourn in Africa began with Zambia, where he worked briefly with Evans Books before moving over to Nigeria to establish the Nigerian branch of the company. He did not hide his love for Nigeria. In an interview with a national television, Berkhout said: “I like the atmosphere, weather and people of Nigeria.”
In his tribute to the great publisher and great Nigerian, President Bola Tinubu said: “Chief Berkhout lived a remarkable life in Nigeria. He was a doyen of publishing for over 50 years, shaping the industry and inspiring many Nigerian writers. He immersed himself in our culture and tradition such that he bagged a chieftaincy title as Okun Borode of Ile-Ife. Though he hailed from the Netherlands, his heart belonged wholly to Nigeria.”
His demise has attracted comments by some Nigerian scholars and writers. According to Nigerian novelist and literary scholar, Prof Okey Ndibe, Berkhout was a consequential player in Nigeria’s domestic publishing scene. Spectrum Publishers under him was a publishing dynamo that introduced readers to memorable literary titles, as well as important books in other fields. Former ANA president and current PAWA president, Dr Wale Okediran, said that Berkhout paved the way for him to be recognised as a writer.
We urge other publishers to emulate the shining example of Berkhout, who ensured that writers were duly paid their royalties. Berkhout has also been applauded for his strategies in book promotion. At Spectrum Books, where he worked for three decades, he introduced readers to ground-breaking biographies, autobiographies, literary texts and text books in the humanities and social sciences. He also published over 600 titles with Spectrum Books, including Princess Elizabeth Bagaya’s Elizabeth of Toro, Frederick Forsyth’s Emeka, Olusegun Obasanjo’s Nzeogwu and Kole Omotoso’s Just Before Dawn.
At the end of the Nigerian Civil War, the intervention of Spectrum Books and others ensured that the Nigerian publishing industry remained afloat. Using his contacts, Berkhout assisted in organising book launches for writers. Without doubt, Berkhout’s legacy will surely outlive him. We commiserate with the Berkhout family and the nation’s book industry over the irreparable loss.
His love for Nigeria and Africa is beyond doubt. Many Nigerian youths striving to jet out of the country at the slightest opportunity should learn a lot from the exemplary life of Berkhout and his love for the country and the book industry. For his immense contributions to the nation’s publishing sector and promotion of Nigerian education and culture, we enjoin the Federal Government to name one national edifice after him.