The first edition of the Comoros Book Festival, "Uonezi na tarehi," was held in Wani over two days, featuring exhibition stands, book sales, slam sessions, and book signings. The event brought together public figures, elected officials, representatives of the University of Comoros, authors, professors, students, and pupils. The festival's theme was "A Look at History," and it was attended by notable figures including journalist Kamel'Edine Saindou, Dr. Anssoufouddine Mohamed, former governor of Ndzuani island Anissi Chamsidine, Idrisse Moussa, and the Soirhane club from Mirontsi.
The festival included a series of conferences at the Clac de Wani and the Patsi university center. The first conference was led by author Saindoune Ben Ali on the topic "Comorian Literature Today: State of Play and Challenges. The Role of the Comorian Writer." The second conference focused on "Women and Literature," a discussion between Sittou Raghadat Mohamed and Coralie Frei, moderated by journalist Kamal Eddine Saindou. Oubeid Maeva's conference, "From Hadith to Writing: Transmitting Our Memory to Future Generations," concluded the day.
Linguist and writer Mohamed Ahmed Chamanga emphasized the central role of the literary event in transmitting culture. He stated that the festival's goal was to make Wani a hub of knowledge, literary creation, and idea-sharing. Chamanga highlighted the importance of the book as a bridge between generations, a window to the world, and a mirror for a nation to contemplate its culture and dreams.
Ndzuani Governor Dr. Zaidou Youssouf called for increased support for local literary production and the maternal language in his speech. He stressed that culture is the heartbeat of a nation, the cement of unity, and the guiding light towards emergence. Youssouf noted that access to Comorian authors' works remains a luxury inaccessible to the majority of citizens and emphasized the need to facilitate access to books to preserve national identity.
Patrice Abdallah, editor and author, insisted on creating local meeting spaces for writers, editors, and the public to bring books closer to their intended audience. He highlighted the difficulties of accessing books and the lack of interest in reading, which led to the idea of the Book Festival. Abdallah warned that if the population is disconnected from its own literature, it risks losing its cultural identity and knowledge.
Dr. Ibrahim Saïd Ali, director of the Patsy university center, announced the University of Comoros' intention to create a national reference library. He stated that the university is willing to acquire any book published by a Comorian author or about Comoros, wherever it is published. Ali called on Comorian authors from the diaspora and elsewhere to deposit their works in the library, which will serve as a collection of national reference.
The Book Festival "Uonezi na tarehi" demonstrated the importance of literature and culture in Comoros. The event provided a platform for authors, publishers, and the public to come together and celebrate the written word. Key points from the festival include the need for increased support for local literary production, the importance of facilitating access to books, and the creation of a national reference library to preserve Comorian literature and culture.
Key points
- The festival's theme was "A Look at History," and it featured a series of conferences and discussions on Comorian literature and culture.
- The event highlighted the importance of literature and culture in Comoros and the need for increased support for local literary production.
- The University of Comoros plans to create a national reference library to preserve Comorian literature and culture.
