Smiling, determined and visionary, Ravaka Mihamina is not just a publisher. She is the one who decided to give Malagasy children back their love of reading, by turning every book into a work of art and a tool of freedom. A portrait of the founder of Éditions Karné, a leading figure in contemporary African publishing.
Nothing necessarily predestined Ravaka Mihamina to become one of the most influential publishers on the Big Island. But her observation was clear: children's literature in Madagascar lacked color, modernity, and above all, stories that reflect the children of today.
In founding Éditions Karné, she chose a name that reflects her own spirit: the "Karné" (notebook), that place where you dare anything, where you draw, where you cross things out, and where the greatest ideas are born. Her ambition? To make the book a companion on life's journey, not merely a school obligation.
For Ravaka, language is an identity, but also an opening to the world. Her deep conviction is that the Malagasy child should not have to choose between their culture and the wider world. That is why she made bilingualism the signature of her publishing house.
"We want our children to be proud to speak Malagasy, while being able to conquer the world in French or English," she often shares during her talks.
What strikes you about Ravaka Mihamina is her demand for quality. She compromises on nothing: not on grammatical precision (which she elevated in her work La virgule rebelle), not on paper quality, nor on the choice of illustrators. By working with talented artists, she has succeeded in raising Malagasy publishing to the highest international standards.
Her tireless work was crowned with success in 2025, when she received the African Youth Publishing Prize. This award recognized her boldness in tackling crucial social themes: inclusion, girls' rights, citizenship, and environmental protection. For Ravaka, a book should help children ask questions, not simply give them answers.
Despite her success and international recognition, Ravaka Mihamina remains a hands-on person. She is often seen at book fairs, in schools, or at reading workshops, her eyes lighting up the moment she sees a child marvel at an illustration. She embodies this new generation of Malagasy women entrepreneurs who make culture shine through knowledge and passion.
We are proud to collaborate with a woman of Ravaka Mihamina's caliber. By choosing a book from Éditions Karné on our platform, you are not just buying a book : you are supporting a vision and giving your child the excellence they deserve.
