The Karibu Books chain which has been specializing in books for African Americans is closing down after 15 years of generous promotion of black authors, it was announced this week.

The Karibu Books chain, based in the Washington D. C. area and comprised of five stores, will shut down by Feb. 10. The chain's store in Pentagon City in Virginia closed last month, with the remaining four to follow.

Karibu founder and CEO Simba Sana wrote a farewell e-mail to the chain’s customers as follows: “We sincerely thank each and every one of you for your patronage and support. We are optimistic that our mission to empower and educate through a comprehensive selection of books by and about people of African descent will continue to resonate within the communities we proudly served.”

Sana explained to the Baltimore Sun that mounting financial problems had led to the chain’s demise. He said the company owed vendors thousands of dollars and planned to file for bankruptcy.

“The blame falls squarely on myself and others in the company,” Sana told the Sun. “The financial position was a downward spiral. I would need a miracle to pay back all the debt now.”

Karibu maintained its success throughout the years, despite the increasing competition independent bookstores have been facing from superstore chains and Internet sales. The Sun chronicles the chain’s debut in 1993, as a kiosk in Prince George's Plaza and a pushcart at the former Landover Mall, in Hyattsville, Prince George's County, Maryland.

Best-selling author Zane told the Associated Press that she was shocked to hear the news. She said Karibu had been the only store willing to stock her books when she was an unknown writer and that later, when she became successful, she made it a point to begin each of her author tours with a signing at one of the Karibu stores.

“I had been talking to them about my next book and knew there was something wrong because they couldn't schedule me,” she told the AP. “Karibu was such an important store for me and authors looking for a chance to break through.”

For more details, go to www.karibubooks.com.