MOGADISHU (Halbeeg News) – Thousands thronged the venue of the fourth annual Mogadishu Book Fair to attend the opening day of Somalia’s biggest exhibition of literary works.
For three days, authors, poets, playwrights, academics from across the Somali landscape will rub shoulders and share their work with thousands of enthusiastic readers who have travelled from all over Somalia and beyond.
The festival will run from 15th, 16th and 17th of this month.
Thousands of books from comedy, drama, history, and romance to satire will be put on display for readers to purchase as well as literary panels where readers can engage with their favourite authors.
Among the participants are a VOA journalist, Harun Maruf who authored INSIDE AL-SHABAAB (The secret history of Al-Qaeda’s most powerful ally), The CEO of Integration TV, Hodan Naleyah, and several well-known journalists and writers.
The book Fair which takes place at Sahal Terminal launches, signings, panel discussions and cultural entertainment will be held during the second and third days of the annual fair.
Mogadishu hosted its first book fair in August 2015. Despite having no public library or commercial bookstore, the city managed to hold a three-day event that brought together 30 writers, 3,000 people, and over 3,000 books.
Book Fairs have become extremely popular in Somalia as safety returns to the region. Somali’s share an enthusiasm for literature that stretches from Hargeisa to Garowe to Mogadishu and most recently Hargeisa.
Discussion about this post