This chronological timeline sets out some of the key dates, events, and landmarks in the development of indigenous publishing in Sub-Saharan Africa. It also includes details of the major conferences, meetings or seminars on African publishing, held in Africa or at venues elsewhere, since 1968. An earlier version of this chronology first appeared in The African Publishing Companion: A Resource Guide, and has now been updated through to the period up to 2019, and considerably expanded to include publication of a number of benchmark studies, conference proceedings, journals, and reference resources on the African book world.

Whereas Africa's association with printing and literature goes back many centuries – indeed, many African countries have a long and prolific artistic and literary history – the beginning of publishing probably started with the advent of Islam in the seventeenth century.