The Alexandrina International Book Fair 2016 was hosted in Egyptian town of Alexandria for ten days from March 21st to April 3rd 2016. The festival which first run in 2002 was hosted in cooperation with the Egyptian Publishers Association.
In parallel with the Book Fair, the organising committee and the Egyptian Publishers Association hosted a variety of cultural activities inviting renowned writers, thinkers and artists to give lectures. Book signing events will also be held for the latest publications.
One of the most high profile guests at this year’s fair was French politician and researcher of Algerian origin Azouz Begag. He has written over twenty books for adults and children like Le Passeport (2000), Le Marteau Pique-cœur, Éditions du Seuil, (2004), Un mouton dans la baignoire, Fayard, (2007), Ethnicity and Equality: France in the Balance (2007) translated and with an introduction by Alec G. Hargreaves.
Also making presentations was French author and journalist of Egyptian origin Robert Solé whose works of fiction include Le Tarbouche which won the Prix Mediterranée in 1992 and La Mamelouka.
Also on the seaside resort town’s fair was legendary Egyptian performer Farida Fahmy. She was the lead dancer in the Reba troupe. For her work there, she was awarded the Star of Jordan by King Hussein of Jordan, the Order of Arts and Science by Egypt’s President Nasser and the Order of Tunisia.
This year a highlight of the fair was the commemoration of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, and the works of Gamal El-Ghitani in cooperation with Akhbar Al-Adab newspaper.
“The fair allowed some young Alexandrian independent artists to introduce their amateur musical bands to the audience, one of the secrets of the Cairo Book Fair’s great popularity from the very beginning,’’ founder of Alexandria Media Forum Ahmed Esmat said to Daily News Egypt. “In my opinion, introducing a band like Oscarizma was one of the merits of the opening ceremony.”
Here is a video of the stands taken at the fair by Sajda Afifi
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