Hargeysa International Book Fair 2023

Hargeysa International Book Fair 2023 starts July 22.

The Hargeysa International Book Fair 2023 will be in hosted venues around Somaliland from July 22 – 27, 2023. The festival country partner is Morocco and the theme is “Resilience.”

The Hargeysa International Book Fair, first hosted in 2008, has grown to become the biggest literary extravaganza on the Horn of Africa and one of the biggest on the African continent. It has hosted some of the leading writers, journalists, academics, publishers, artists, journalists, and other professionals from dozens of nations in the last decade and a half.

The 16th edition is set to be one of the most ambitious with over fifty book launches, poetry readings and recitals, concerts, panel discussions, and loads more planned. Local artists like painters, sculptors, traditional dancers, musicians, singers, poets, and of course writers will feature in one way or another in over 130 parallel sessions between Berbera and Gebiley, while programs at the Hargeisa Cultural Centre continue. Creative Writing Training, Scriptwriting for film production, and professional photography have been running this week and the one prior to the book fair.

This is an event that has the full support of the state of Somaliland so expect a reception for guests by the President of the republic. The opening ceremony will include participation by among others Vice President Abdirahman Abdallahi Ismail Saylici, the Mayor of Hargeysa City Abdikarim Ahmed Moge, and a keynote by Professor PLO Lumumba.

Visitors can expect including local guests over forty-two international guests coming from New Zealand, UK, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Uganda, Cameron, France, Bahrein, UAE, USA, The Netherlands, Germany and the country partner Morocco. These are people in a variety of disciplines from the literary arts to politics, media, and other disciplines.  Some of these will be Dr Emmanuel Osuteye, Sadia Muse, Rooble Abdi Muse, Farah A Hersi, Abdirahman Y Artan, Dr Saad A Shire, Rooble Mohammed, Dr Asmaa Achtaich, Karima Rhanem, Karim Wafa, Abdilahi Omer, Zahra Jibril Amina Farid, Suad Carmiye, Suad Ibrahim, Sadia Muse, Yukunoamlak, Hafsa Omer, Tirsit Yetbarek, Abdifatah Mohamed Abdi, Dr. Amina-Bahja Ekman, Abdulqani Ali Elmi, Michael Walls, Dr Wale Okediran, Muna Ahmed, Hassan Kawa, Abdiaziz Guud Cadde, Dr Asmaa Achtaich, Idris Elmi, Dr Edna Aden, Amina Ferid, Nafisa Yuusuf Mohamed, Sahra Abdi Hassan, Abdirahman Ali Omer, Dr Yohannes Adigeh, Prof Merciel Santos, and Salma Shiekh.

If you are in Somaliland, your chance to attend one of the most epic cultural extravaganzas in your country is here. Don’t miss it.

Comments

6 responses to “Hargeysa International Book Fair 2023 starts July 22.”

  1. Prof Mnguember Vicky Sylvester avatar
    Prof Mnguember Vicky Sylvester

    This is one of those festivals I would love to attend

  2. Nkwetatang Sampson Nguekie avatar
    Nkwetatang Sampson Nguekie

    Wonderful international literary event. I wish I could be there.

  3. Lily Nyariki avatar

    I am the Focal Point for Books and Learning Materials in the Association for the Development of Education in Africa – ADEA.

    Are there chances that I could get support to attend?

    Best regards

    1. James Murua avatar
      James Murua

      Hello Lily, Thank you for the comment. I do not know how this would work, I suggest you get in touch with the organisers directly.

  4. James Varney Dwalu avatar
    James Varney Dwalu

    Good evening from Monrovia Liberia.
    I am a children’s book author and focal person on ichildten’s book and ntellectual property at the Liberia Association of Writers.
    How do I get an invite?

    1. James Murua avatar
      James Murua

      Hello James. I suggest that you get in touch with the organisers directly.

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