Algeria Hosts 29th International Book Fair

The 29th International Book Fair in Algeria came to a close on November 7, with a ceremony attended by Culture Minister Malika Boudoua and other high-profile guests. The event, held under the patronage of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, took place at the Algiers Convention Centre. Minister Boudoua highlighted the fair's success, stating it had become a major cultural and public event in Algeria and the region. This year's event saw a record-breaking 6.27 million visitors.

The book fair, which ran from October 28 to November 7, featured 1567 publishing houses from 51 countries, showcasing nearly 300,000 titles. Minister Boudoua announced plans to transform the fair into a professional platform for the publishing industry, focusing on digitalization and e-books. She also revealed that Oman would be the guest of honor at the 30th edition of the book fair. The minister expressed her gratitude to Saudi Arabia for its participation as the guest of honor at this year's event.

The ceremony included the presentation of several awards, including the "My First Book" prize, which was awarded to Mrowa Ziane for her Arabic-language book "Lafina". Dihya Hamitouch won the prize for the best book in the Amazigh language for her novel "Ighisi Nu Ouragh". The Translation Prize was awarded to writer and translator Mohamed Sari. Saudi Arabia was awarded the prize for the best stand at the fair.

The "My First Book" prize, now in its third year, received 70 entries in Arabic, Amazigh, French, and English. The jury, chaired by writer and critic Incharah Saadi, decided not to award prizes in the French and English categories, citing a lack of entries that met the required standards. Minister Boudoua emphasized the importance of the book fair in promoting Algerian culture and literature.

The book fair has become a major event in the region, attracting visitors from across the world. This year's event saw a significant increase in attendance, with 6.27 million visitors, a record high. The fair featured a range of activities, including book signings, author talks, and workshops. It provided a platform for publishers, writers, and readers to come together and celebrate literature.

The event also highlighted the importance of translation and digitalization in the publishing industry. Minister Boudoua emphasized the need for Algerian publishers to engage with international partners and to explore new formats for book production and distribution. The book fair has become an essential event for the Algerian publishing industry.

The 30th edition of the International Book Fair will take place in 2027, with Oman as the guest of honor. The event is expected to continue to grow and attract more visitors from around the world.

Key points

• Algeria's 29th International Book Fair attracted a record 6.27 million visitors.
• The event featured 1567 publishing houses from 51 countries.
• Oman will be the guest of honor at the 30th edition of the book fair.