Rabat: A dozen sub-Saharan African countries are participating in the 30th edition of the International Book and Publishing Fair in Rabat, aiming to build a cultural bridge with Morocco and promote their literary productions, AIB learned on Saturday. "We are here at the invitation of Moroccan cultural authorities to participate in this 30th edition of the International Book and Publishing Fair. It is a great pleasure, and the idea is to build a cultural bridge from a literary point of view between Morocco and our respective countries," said Serge Dontchueng Kouam, founder of the publishing house Les Presses Universitaires d'Afrique.
According to Burkina Information Agency, this is Mr. Kouam's first time attending the event in Rabat, although he has participated five times when it was held in Casablanca. He expressed appreciation for the enthusiasm of the public, keen to explore literary works from African countries. The African University Press, which he represents, has been in existence for 35 years.
Zakaria Traor©, deputy director of the Malian publishing house La Sah©lienne, highlighted his country's strategic interest in the fair. He emphasized the opportunity to promote Malian literary productions and authors. Traor© praised the professional organization of the fair and the welcoming atmosphere from Moroccans.
Mawuse Heka, general director of ‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬°ditions Awoudy du Togo, noted the fair's role in helping publishers discover new horizons and gain insights for improving their editorial projects. He acknowledged the scale of Morocco's publishing activities and described the fair as an educational experience for publishers like himself.
The International Documentation Center of the F©lix Houphou«t-Boigny Foundation for Peace Research also participated, with director Mathias Kouakou aiming to expand his network among publishers and book specialists.
Muriel Troadec from Congo-Brazzaville's Les Lettres Mouchet©es expressed satisfaction with the fair, highlighting interest in Congolese authors and books. The event also featured an exhibition and sale of magazines such as Femmes d'Afrique and Hommes d'Afrique, published in French and English. Publication director Samirat Ntiaz© emphasized the enduring value of reading on paper in the digital age.
Representing Burkina Faso, the Mercury publishing house and authors Thierry Millogo and Bernadette Sanou/Dao participated in the fair, which saw a visit from Burkina Faso's ambassador to Morocco, Mamadou Coulibaly. The participation of African publishers and member countries of the Alliance of Sahel States was notable.
Organized by the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, in partnership with local authorities, the fair runs from April 18 to 27. This year's edition, under the High Patronage of King Mohammed VI, celebrates Moroccans living abroad, with the Emirate of Sharjah as the guest of honor. The opening ceremony was attended by Prince Moulay Rachid and several international delegations.