The Elshot sisters on their bookstore, self-publishing, and the importance of black-owned spaces like theirs - For Mosaiko Magazine

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The Bijlmer Bookstore was founded in 2019 by Nathifa and Zuwena Elshot, who started the initiative after noticing the lack of diversity and representation in local bookstores. After the last bookstore in their area closed, they started to display their own collection of books from and for the African diaspora. The Elshot sisters argue that access to literature with representation is of the most important for the development of black children, and say reading would be a lot more fun for them if they could recognise themselves in the stories. The Bijlmer bookstore consists of a well-curated collection from black writers. Ranging from children’s books to adult novels, cookbooks, and poetry collections from published and unpublished writers.

Read more about their story on Mosaiko Magazine