Sunday July 21, 2024
Attendees enthusiastically wave Somaliland flags during the grand opening of the Hargeisa International Book Fair 2024 at the Hargeysa Cultural Centre. The event celebrates its seventeenth year with Tunisia as the partner country and the theme “Togetherness.” CREDIT / Ahmed Fais/ X
Hargeisa (HOL) — The Hargeisa International Book Fair, one of the most significant literary events in Africa, entered its second day on Sunday, showcasing a diverse array of books, historical photographs, traditional tools, and ancient artifacts reflecting the rich cultural heritage of Somaliland. Running from July 20 to 25, 2024, at the Hargeysa Cultural Centre, this year's event features Tunisia as the partner country with the theme "Togetherness."
The fair officially opened on Saturday, July 20, 2024, with an opening session at 9:00 AM. Since its inception in 2008 by founder and director Jama Musse Jama, the Hargeisa International Book Fair has grown from a modest gathering of 200 participants to a major event attracting over 10,000 attendees. The fair has become a cornerstone in the Horn of Africa's literary landscape, drawing writers, journalists, academics, publishers, artists, and other professionals from across Africa and beyond.
A unique aspect of the fair is its strong emphasis on the Somali language, ensuring local residents can fully participate. This focus helps promote a culture of reading and writing in the region, with high-quality Somali literature being produced and international classical works being translated into Somali.
The fair targets young audiences and engages broader sectors of society, aiming to foster cultural understanding, tolerance, democracy, and an appreciation of Somali culture and literature. It serves as a platform for artistic and creative writing, encouraging public engagement with authors and inspiring the community.
Parallel events, such as the Somaliland Moving Library, extend the fair's reach beyond Hargeisa. Held a week before the main festival, this initiative brings the ethos of the book fair—citizenship and creative freedoms—to aspiring writers and readers across Somaliland.
Over the years, the Hargeisa International Book Fair has featured various themes and partner countries, each contributing to its diverse program. Past themes have included freedom, censorship, citizenship, collective memory, and coexistence with partner countries ranging from Djibouti to Rwanda, Egypt, and beyond.