Thousands of young Somalis packed a hotel in Mogadishu to attend the launch of the third annual Mogadishu Book Fair on Wednesday morning.
For three days, authors, poets, playwrights, academics from across the Somali landscape will rub shoulders and share their work with thousands of enthusiastic readers who have travelled from all over Somalia and beyond.
Thousands of books from comedy, drama, history, and romance to satire will be put on display for readers to purchase as well as literary panels where readers can engage with their favourite authors
The event is a platform for over 40 writers, including Dr. Abdirahman Abdullahi ‘Baaciyow’ (Making Sense of Somali History), Dr. Mohamed Dahir Afrah (Maana-faay), Mohamed Haji Ingiriis (The Suicidal State in Somalia: The Rise and Fall of the Siad Barre Regime, 1969 – 1991) ,Fauzi Haji Adan (Geeddi-nololedkii Yusuf Haji Adam), Fartumo Kuso (Tale of a Boon’s Wife), Boniface Mwangi (Unbounded), Dr Hamdi Mohamed (Gender and the Politics of Nation Building: (Re)Constructing Somali Women’s History), Muna Ahmed Omer (Baadidoon), Garaad Yonis Gajoome (Caroog), Abdirahman Mohamed Ali (Dal Dadkiisu Wada Dhoof Yahay) to share their work and inspire a new generation of writers to pick up a pen and share their story.
The book fair was opened by Mohamed ‘Diini’ Sheik-Ali Ahmed, the founder and organizer of the event, who said that the purpose was to promote reading, Somali culture and heritage by bringing together literary creatives and young people who themselves may be budding authors in their own right.
The audience was noticeably young with most of them being in their late teens and early twenties. A promising result for an event that aims to promote a reading culture and preserve the Somali language.
The book fair’s first panel discussion was focused on ‘Pillars of Somali Literature’ and included former foreign minister Fauzia Haji Aden, Dr Mohamed Dahir Afrah and Mohamed Haji Ingiriis and was moderated by Mohammed Abdullah Artan.
Mogadishu hosted its first book fair in August 2017. Despite having no public library or commercial bookstore, the city managed to hold a three-day event that brought together 30 writers, 3,000 people, and over 3,000 books.
Book Fairs have become extremely popular in Somalia as safety returns to the region. Somali’s share an enthusiasm for literature that stretches from Hargeisa to Garowe to Mogadishu and most recently Kismayo.
Hargeisa has been hosting a book said since 2008, and since then it has grown to an acclaimed event that hosts writers from all over Africa.
The festival runs from 13th, 14th and 15th of this month.
