A 76-year-old bookseller who has dedicated more than 50 years to preserving and sharing Black literature is calling on the public to help save what has become one of Britain's most significant collections of Black books.

Baba Pepukayi has spent decades sourcing, distributing and selling books by Black authors, long before they became widely available through mainstream retailers. Since beginning his work in 1972, he has helped schools, libraries and communities across the UK gain access to stories, histories and voices that many readers may never otherwise have encountered.

Over the years, that commitment has grown into an extraordinary collection of more than one million Black books, spanning history, politics, literature, education, children's books, religion, biography and culture from Africa, the Caribbean, Europe and the Americas.

Speaking about the collection, Baba said:

"We have over a million books. Selling black books is not the only thing I do but it is one of the most important things I'm doing."

However, the future of that collection is now at risk.

According to the newly launched Save 1 Million Black Books campaign, repeated break-ins at the Maa Maat Centre in Tottenham, North London, alongside Baba's declining health, two major operations and years of financial pressure, have left the building unable to safely operate. As a result, the vast collection remains inaccessible to the public while efforts are made to secure the premises.

Reflecting on the battle to preserve everything he has built, Baba admitted:

"It hasn't been easy. In fact, it's been hard. I mean really hard."

The campaign, launched by the Black British Book Festival in partnership with Maa Maat CIC, aims to raise an initial £25,000 to secure the building and begin protecting what organisers describe as one of Britain's most remarkable Black bookselling businesses.

Despite the challenges, Baba insists the mission has always been about something much bigger than himself. He said:

"This has never been about me. It's always been about making sure our stories are available. Every book on these shelves has the potential to change someone's life. I've dedicated my life to making Black books accessible, and I hope future generations will continue to benefit from them."

Organisers say the long-term ambition stretches far beyond simply safeguarding the books. Once the building has been secured, plans include cataloguing the entire collection, reopening the Maa Maat Centre to visitors and creating a sustainable future for one of the UK's longest-serving Black booksellers. The hope is that schools, families, researchers and readers will once again be able to browse, discover and purchase books from the collection.  

Selina Brown, founder of the Black British Book Festival, described the moment she first visited the collection as unforgettable. She said:

"Walking into the Maa Maat Centre was overwhelming. Shelf after shelf of Black books, more than one million of them, built through one man's determination over five decades."

She continued:

"I kept thinking, how can a lifetime of work like this be at risk?"

Explaining the importance of the campaign, Brown added:

"This campaign isn't simply about protecting books. It's about making sure future generations can continue discovering them. Baba has spent more than 50 years serving our communities. Now our communities have an opportunity to stand with him."

The campaign is encouraging members of the public, businesses, publishers, philanthropists, schools and community organisations to get involved by donating, volunteering, introducing potential partners or simply helping spread awareness. Every contribution will help move the project one step closer to reopening the doors of the Maa Maat Centre.

News of the campaign has prompted an outpouring of support online, with many praising Baba's decades of dedication to preserving Black literature and culture. One person commented:

"A lifetime spent preserving Black history, literature, and culture should never end with uncertainty about what happens to such an invaluable collection."

Another wrote:

"We as a black community need to come torrent for this!!"

A third added:

"They’re going to try and pull the books and regenerate more falsehood via AI. Buy, keep and entrust your books by passing them on!"

Founded in 2021 by award-winning author Selina Brown, the Black British Book Festival has become Europe's largest celebration of Black literature, championing Black writers while delivering programmes in schools, libraries and communities across the UK. Organisers say the campaign reflects that wider mission of ensuring Black stories remain visible and accessible for generations to come.

For Baba Pepukayi, protecting the collection is about much more than preserving books on shelves. It is about safeguarding decades of history, culture and storytelling, ensuring that the work of countless Black authors continues to educate, inspire and empower readers long into the future.