Welcome to Bula Buka Publishers! Founded in 2014, we are a fully-fledged and growing publisher and book distributor based in South Africa.

We take pride in being the pioneering publisher and funder of the “diary chronicle” book genre.

Our adventurous outlook in publishing drives us to select captivating authors and titles, supported by persistent marketing and quality partnerships.

Since 2014, we have been entrusted with several other publishing services, such as catalogue management, project management, advisory, and marketing.

Our roster includes notable books such as actress Rami Chuene’s We Kissed the Sun and Embraced the Moon, former YFM CEO Kanthan Pillay’s How to Fix South Africa, former Springbok player Gcobani Bobo’s Rise of the Dagger, Bakhe Dlamini’s The Naked Truth About Men, Mike Maphoto’s Diary of a Zulu Girl, Lesego Maake’s Diary of a Side Chick Makhwapheni, Mutshidzi Mutshinya’s Chronicles of a Slay Queen, Londiwe Xaba and Siphelele Masango’s Diary of a Cheating Wife, Rinus le Roux’s Passport to the Future, Lenah Mochole’s Walking a Mile in Your Shoes, and Tiisetso Maloma’s Future of Township Economies.

Pioneering Publisher of “Diary Chronicle” Books

The “diary chronicle” genre has amassed millions of readers across South Africa, neighboring countries, and as far as Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Europe, and North America.

This genre, which emerged around 2013 and 2014 in South Africa, is characterized by stories written in the style of fictional diary-like posts on Facebook. These works chronicle the unconventional lives of young adults, marked by brisk pacing, diary-esque narratives, vivid intimate scenes, and surprising plot twists.

The main characters document their actions and relationships during the era of social media, exploring themes such as blessers, blessees, slay queens/kings, players, and indulgence in expensive champagne and whiskey. The term “diary chronicle” was coined by our founder, Tiisetso Maloma, along with publishing colleague Lesedi Setlhodi.

Background

Bula Buka’s inception involved providing publishing services and consultation to authors and publishers.

The business model later evolved to encompass the acquisition and publication of captivating book titles. The company was co-founded by entrepreneurs and authors Mr. Tiisetso Maloma and Ms. Bonolo Rakumakoe in 2014.

“Bula Buka” means “to open a book” in the Sepedi and Sotho languages of South Africa.