Le livre au cœur du dialogue des cultures

The book at the heart of the dialogue of cultures

Sila 2025

The Algiers International Book Fair (Sila) opened its 28th edition in a vibrant atmosphere, combining cultural pride, digital ambitions and tribute to national memory. Placed under the theme “The book, a crossroads of cultures”, the event confirms, once again this year, its central role as a major intellectual crossroads in the Arab and African world.
From October 29 to November 8, the Algiers Exhibition Center is transformed into an immense space for meetings, literary discoveries and dialogues between writers, publishers, thinkers and audiences of all generations. An edition marked by an exceptional mobilization of public institutions, cultural circles, and a large loyal public, recalling the importance of books in the Algerian cultural landscape.

An inauguration under the sign of renewal and openness
The official opening, chaired by Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb, set the tone. Surrounded by members of the government, senior officials and representatives of national organizations, he walked the aisles of the Show with marked interest, multiplying discussions and encouragement.
His visit began symbolically with the pavilion dedicated to children, highlighting the strategic importance given to children’s reading. Stories, illustrated albums and novels for young readers remind us how the transmission of knowledge and a taste for reading remain at the heart of national educational priorities.
The Prime Minister then went to several institutional stands, notably that of the National People’s Army, rich in historical, scientific and documentary publications, then to that of the General Directorate of National Security, highlighting the efforts of institutions to encourage documentation, research and the popularization of knowledge.

Heritage, digital and cultural diplomacy
Among the notable stops of the visit, that of the stand of the Ministry of Culture and Arts aroused particular interest. The Prime Minister discovered an immersive experience there: the virtual tour of the Palace of the Bey of Constantine. By calling for this type of initiative to be generalized in all Algerian museums and even in airports, he reaffirmed the State’s desire to include culture in digital modernity. Promote museums, promote heritage and digitize works: a triptych which summarizes Algerian cultural ambition in the face of global technological transformations.
The diplomatic dimension was not left out. Mauritania, guest of honor, occupied a privileged place, illustrating the shared desire to deepen intellectual and historical ties between the two nations. Its pavilion exhibits manuscripts, heritage works and contemporary literary works, testifying to a rich Sahelo-Maghrebi cultural heritage.

A resolutely international show
As a reminder, this 28th edition brings together 1,254 publishing houses from 49 countries, including 290 Algerian, offering more than 240,000 titles. A considerable crowd from the early hours confirmed the status of SILA as a major event in the national cultural calendar. The public, made up of readers of all ages, students, families and enthusiasts, rushed to the stands as soon as they opened, attracted in particular by the diversity of publications: Arabic and universal literature, human sciences, school and extracurricular books, dictionaries, essays, and religious works. The presence of delegations from Qatar, Palestine, the United States, Italy and many other countries confirms the international appeal of SILA as a space for dialogue and dissemination of knowledge.

Tribute to revolutionary heritage and national memory
This edition coincides with the commemoration of the 71st anniversary of the outbreak of the Revolution of November 1, 1954. A strong symbolism, which recalls the place of the book as a tool of intellectual resistance and historical transmission.
As such, several institutional stands – including those of the Ministry of Mujahideen, the Association of Algerian Muslim Ulemas, as well as that of the Sahrawi Republic – highlighted works devoted to memory, the anti-colonial struggle and great historical figures.
The Prime Minister insisted on the need to digitize archives and ancient manuscripts, highlighting a strategic project: preserving memory while making it accessible to future generations.

The book, pillar of the nation
The opening of the literary program, chaired by the Minister of Culture Malika Bendouda, offered the opportunity to reaffirm the central place of the book in the national project.
“The book is the cornerstone of the Algerian civilizational project,” she recalled, emphasizing the fundamental role of culture in the construction of the State since independence. In her speech, the minister also insisted on several points, notably the digital transition in publishing, the development of audio books and digital reading platforms, the protection of copyright and the ambition to build a sustainable cultural economy looking to the future.

Mauritania, guest of honor
The Mauritanian presence at this show embodies a centuries-old fraternity and a shared cultural future. The Mauritanian Minister of Culture, through his ambassador, praised the depth of the ties uniting the two countries: “Culture is the bulwark of the identity and memory of the nation. »
This invitation is seen as recognition of Mauritania’s role in the Arab-African literary scene and as an opportunity to expand cooperation in translation, publishing and book industries.

A rich program and prestigious tributes
The show’s curator, Mohamed Iguerb, announced a dense cultural program, bringing together 250 writers and intellectuals from Algeria, Africa and the world.
One of the highlights was the tribute paid to the novelist and mujahid Rachid Boudjedra, a major figure in Algerian literature. A conference entitled “Rachid Boudjedra: 60 years of creative writing” explored his demanding, complex work, marked by “subjective writing, violence and even the condition of women, all ingredients which denounce social hypocrisies through stories often centered on the author’s desire to push his reader to their limits, in order to force him to think”.
This moment of homage testifies to the desire to celebrate the great pioneers who shaped the modern Algerian literary scene.

Nasri and Boughali visit the living room
Beyond the government, the presidents of the Council of the Nation and the National People’s Assembly, Azouz Nasri and Brahim Boughali, also visited the exhibition. Their presence underlines the strategic interest of the State in cultural issues.
Parliament highlighted its libraries and archives, recalling that it has more than 36,000 references.

An edition open to the future
SILA 2025 is part of a dual dynamic: memory and modernity. Between celebration of revolutionary heritage, the rise of digital technology, and growing openness to Africa and the world, the event illustrates the cultural transformation in progress.
The commitments expressed by the authorities – notably the facilitation of the export of Algerian books and the completion of the Artists’ Hospital project – demonstrate a desire to encourage creativity and support cultural actors.
But beyond the official speeches, it is popular enthusiasm which gives SILA its full dimension. The queues, the diversity of visitors, the exchanges with authors, the lively conferences: all signs of cultural vitality.
Algiers, literary capital for ten days, reminds us that the book remains a tool of emancipation, learning and universal dialogue.
The 28th edition of SILA confirms the unique role of Algeria as a cultural bridge between Africa, the Arab world and the Mediterranean area. It also testifies to a collective commitment: that of making the book an engine of knowledge, emancipation and openness. Between revolutionary memory, digital ambitions, international partnerships and literary excitement, SILA remains this unique space where the book continues to unite, inspire and build bridges between people. A crossroads of cultures, but also a crossroads of the future.
R.C.