The 18th edition of the Foire internationale du livre et du matériel didactique de Dakar (FILDAK) is set to take place from October 15 to 19, 2026, with the theme "Bibliothèque, transmission et souveraineté". As Senegal prepares to celebrate its literary culture, a pressing question arises: what kind of book policy does the country want to implement? According to the latest UNESCO report, Africa has a vast editorial and cultural potential, but it remains under-exploited due to inadequate public policies and weak distribution networks.
Senegal is no exception to this paradox. Despite having a rich literary tradition, recognized writers, and a long publishing history, the country's book industry is relatively underdeveloped. In 2023, UNESCO reported 51 active publishing houses, 125 titles published annually, ten bookstores, and around 500 public libraries, with the sector employing approximately 2,250 people. However, these numbers reveal a contradiction: a country with international literary reach has a very narrow book industry. The distribution of books is also limited, with only a dozen bookstores, mostly in urban areas.
The Senegalese government is not entirely absent from the book industry. The Direction du Livre et de la Lecture has various responsibilities, including creation, publishing, printing, diffusion, and distribution of books. Additionally, the Fonds d'aide à l'édition, established in 2009, had a budget of 750 million CFA francs in 2023 to support publishing, book purchases, libraries, and literacy initiatives. However, the problem lies in the dispersion and inadequate articulation of these instruments, as well as the lack of a genuine industrial and national book policy.
A striking example of Senegal's limitations is the absence of a national ISBN agency. Publishers must rely on the Agence francophone de la numérotation internationale du livre. Furthermore, the Conseil supérieur du livre, created in 1972, is reportedly not operational, and the Bibliothèque nationale, established by law in 2002, remains in the planning stage. In contrast, Morocco has a more developed book industry, with around 450 publishing houses, 1,493 titles published, 1,248 bookstores, and 640 public libraries.
Morocco's experience can serve as an example for Senegal. The Moroccan government has implemented a more structured approach to the book industry, with a national ISBN agency, a comprehensive legal framework, and programs to support publishers and libraries. The country's book distribution network is also more developed, with over 1,200 bookstores, compared to Senegal's dozen. Morocco's experience shows that a book policy cannot be limited to financing authors or organizing literary events; it must structure the entire value chain.
Senegal has significant assets, including historical and emerging publishing houses, a dynamic youth publishing sector, digital actors like NENA, internationally renowned writers, and production in Wolof, Pulaar, Sérère, and other national languages. The country also has a reputable school like EBAD and around twenty active professional or cultural associations in the book ecosystem. However, the ecosystem remains fragile, with Senegal importing around $7.19 million worth of books in 2023, while exporting only $141,830.
This situation raises concerns about cultural sovereignty. How can Senegal promote its national literature if the economic circulation of its books remains limited? How can the country talk about democratizing knowledge when access to books is unequal across regions? The linguistic issue is also crucial, with UNESCO highlighting the existence of national language production in Senegal, but its measurement and sustainability are uncertain. A genuine national book policy should consider national languages as markets, patrimonies, and creative spaces.
Key points
- Senegal's book industry is underdeveloped despite its rich literary tradition and recognized writers.
- The country's lack of a national ISBN agency and ineffective Conseil supérieur du livre hinder its book policy.
- Morocco's experience in developing its book industry can serve as an example for Senegal.
