“It’s a wonderful morning. How privileged I feel to be receiving this recognition from the University of Johannesburg – the first educational institution on African soil to honour me – on this extraordinary continent where I was born. This acknowledgement is special, something I will never forget.”
These were the emotional words shared by Margaret Busby after she was conferred with an honorary doctorate at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) for her dedication to critical African scholarship and publishing.
Busby was the first black woman, and youngest at the time, to become a publisher in the 1960’s in the United Kingdom.
While she has found the accolades she has received over the years heartwarming, becoming a publisher was something she knew she had to do.
“I did what I did because I couldn’t not do it. I thought it was a good thing that needed to be done. While historically, I might be the first to have done something considered worthwhile, I wouldn’t want to be the only. And the best reward for me is to have inspired others to believe they can do likewise,” said the 80-year-old.
A Publishing Powerhouse
In the 1960s, Busby teamed up with Clive Allison to start a publishing company, Allison & Busby.
They offered an independent publishing house for an array of texts — from crime and thriller series to erudite treatises on revolution and freedom. Allison & Busby challenged institutional racism to give generations access to fiction and nonfiction works from around the world.
Without her efforts, many critical and foundational texts, all of which are now central to university reading lists (on colonialism, neocolonialism, anticolonial struggle, African feminism, Black feminism, decolonisation, and equality), may not have been seen.
Busby was honoured with a Doctor of Philosophy in recognition of her reshaping the literary and intellectual landscape globally.
Busby serves on boards and advisory committees, such as English PEN, the Royal Literary Fund, the Caine Prize for African Writing, and Wasafiri Magazine. She judged preeminent literary prizes, including the Booker Prize, Caine Prize for African Writing, OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature, Commonwealth Book Prize, and the British Book Awards.
Her most prolific contribution is her 1992 edited collection, Daughters of Africa, and its sequel, New Daughters of Africa (2019) that convened together over 200 women writers from Africa and its diasporas writing across a rich diversity of genres.
In 2019, she was awarded the Africa Writes Lifetime Achievement Award by the Royal African Society and in 2020 was named one of the 100 Great Black Britons of the preceding 400 years. In 2021, she became Commander of the Order of the British Empire, a title awarded by the monarch of the United Kingdom for distinguished service or exceptional achievement.
Encouraging young minds of the future
Busby addressed the graduates, congratulating them on their achievement and sharing in their moment of joy.
“Today we are all firsts. For the first time ever, we are all gathered here on the 12th of June 2025, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the University of Johannesburg and the achievement of every single person in this room. Graduation is a moment to treasure.”
She reflected on how her parents in Ghana were unable to attend her first graduation ceremony due to the sacrifices they had to make to provide every opportunity for self-improvement for Busby and her siblings.
That same year she graduated at age 20, and began what became her lifelong career.
“I followed my dreams and did what I wanted to rather than pursuing a profession anyone else thought I should. The trajectory of my life was publishing – books, literature, words. I had no idea it would lead me here. I encourage you, graduates, to be brave about having that same mindset in the fields of your choosing. In the years since you began your studies, you’ve learned much, but there’s much more to learn. Keep an open mind. Try to learn something new each day and pass on knowledge to others. This is the beginning of the rest of your life.”
In closing, Professor Sehaam Khan, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic, encouraged the graduates, congratulating them on their tremendous achievement.
“Go out there and set an example as a graduate of this inspiring university. You are the best ambassadors – spread the word that UJ is an excellent place of learning.”
Watch the highlights below:
