The first Zanzibar Book Fair, with Nobel Laureate Prof Abdulrazak Gurnah as headliner, will be hosted in Tanzania from October 20 – 22, 2023.
The Zanzibar Book Fair, organised by the Zanzibar Renaissance Literary Society, is the newest literary extravaganza in East Africa. It will be a celebration of Zanzibari literature setting a meeting place for local and global writers to exchange ideas, be inspired, and peruse thousands of books.
The fair aims to engage the general public of students, teachers, book lovers, as well as members of the book trade including publishers, heads of cultural institutions, educational directors, head librarians, booksellers, and journalists. Through a comprehensive programme spread over three fun-filled days, it promises to be an awe-inspiring celebration of Zanzibari literature, arts, and culture.
The headliner for this inaugural edition will be Prof Abdulrazak Gurnah, Nobel Laureate in Literature 2021. The homecoming for this beloved son of Zanzibar will feature the launch of Peponi, a Swahili translation of his 1994 novel, Paradise. The translator is Dr Ida Hadjivayanis, Senior Lecturer in Swahili Studies, SOAS University of London.
There you have it folks. If you ever needed a good reason to head to Zanzibar, here is a wonderfully literary one. For more information on how to register for the fair or any other information, please click here.
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