Alger, carrefour des cultures !

Algiers, crossroads of cultures!

Thanks to SILA

“The book, crossroads of cultures” is the theme chosen this year for the 28th edition of the Algiers International Book Fair (SILA), which means that the book is naturally at the center of this event organized at the Exhibition Center (Algiers), from October 29 to November 8, under the patronage of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, and whose official inauguration ceremony was chaired, this Wednesday, by the Prime Minister, Sifi Ghrieb. This ceremony took place in the presence of members of the Government and senior state executives, as well as representatives of national institutions and organizations. The 28th edition, whose guest of honor is Mauritania, is being held with the participation of 1,254 publishing houses from 49 countries, presenting more than 240,000 titles covering all literary and scientific genres in several languages, all on an area of ​​23,000 m2.
“The SILA program is not limited only to books, but also opens perspectives on contemporary history and the fight against French colonialism. It pays particular attention to issues of liberation and justice, from Palestine to Western Sahara, while addressing neocolonialism and its challenges,” explained Mohamed Iguerb. SILA commissioner.
In this sense, the Book Fair also reflects Algeria in its fight against neocolonialism.
“In addition, it should become a platform for discussion on the values ​​of citizenship and coexistence, messages that the world needs more than ever today,” added Mohamed Iguerb. He affirmed that the fair is no longer just a cultural event, but has become a major social, economic and tourist phenomenon, eagerly awaited every year by Algerians and Arabs.
He added that books are not simple goods, but also a message through which Algeria reaffirms its role as a cultural beacon, dialogue and openness to the world, as illustrated by this year’s theme: ”The book: a place of meeting of cultures”.
During his appearance in the program ”L’Invité du Matin” on Channel I of Algerian Radio, yesterday Wednesday, Mohamed Iguerb announced that the Salon will be open to the public and visitors from Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. He indicated that the Fair welcomed five million visitors last year and that this year, everything suggests that a new record will be broken, because it will be a major national event, especially since it coincides with the start of the celebrations commemorating the 71st anniversary of the glorious November 1 Revolution and vacation days on this occasion for school children, which will allow them to easily go to the Fair with their parents.
According to the SILA commissioner:
“The Algiers International Book Fair returns for a new edition, confirming once again that books are still as alive, that culture is capable of bringing together what politics and geography have divided, and that it will remain an unmissable annual event, a meeting place between civilizations, ideas and generations.” He believes that the Algiers Book Fair has become the largest cultural event in the Arab world and the Mediterranean basin.
Concerning the cultural program, he mentioned the remarkable and expected participation of around 250 Algerian and international writers, who will contribute to stimulating and enriching seminars and intellectual meetings. The culmination of these events is an international symposium entitled ”Algeria in civilization”, which will be held at the El Aurassi hotel on November 4.
For Mohamed Iguerb, this symposium aims to highlight the historical role of the Algerian people as the driving force of human civilization and to present the intellectual, scientific and literary figures who have illuminated the path of humanity. He also revealed that the event will pay tribute to notable figures of Algerian creation, affirming that it will be one of the most anticipated moments of the show. Among these, the celebration of the centenary of the birth of the great novelist, the late Abdelhamid Benhadouga, who is the author of the first novel written in Arabic, ”Le Vent du Sud”, published in 1971. He also wrote several other novels and short stories. Mohamed Iguerb also mentioned a tribute to the famous writer Rachid Boudjedra and to several writers and personalities from the literary world during the Salon events.
Lakhdar A.