Literature : the African Book Fair of Paris pays tribute to Nelson Mandela and Ousmane Sembène
For the second edition of this biennial literary event, the City Hall of the 6th arrondissement of Paris, which organizes the event, has chosen to focus on the former South African president and the Senegalese writer.
By editorial staff
The 6th arrondissement of Paris, which has organized this biennial event since 2021, will host the second edition of the African Book Fair of Paris (SLAP) from March 17 to 19, 2023. The activities will take place in the context of a tribute to Nelson Mandela on the tenth anniversary of his death. The former President of South Africa (1994-1999), born on July 18, 1918 in Mvezo, Cape Province, died on December 5, 2013 in Johannesburg at the age of 95. The centenary of the birth of Ousmane Sembène, the Senegalese writer, director and screenwriter, who was born on January 1, 1923 in Ziguinchor and died on June 9, 2007 in Dakar, will also be celebrated. The organizers have also decided to make Guinea the guest of honor.
Most of the exhibitors come from French-speaking African countries. Panel discussions, lectures and book signings on African literature will be on the agenda.
« This fair has made the invisible visible”
SLAP is an initiative of the Mayor of the 6th arrondissement of Paris, organized every two years. It is a three-day event that brings together authors, publishers, booksellers, media and institutions with all those who love African literature and culture, including a large part of the diaspora living in Paris and the Ile-de-France region. More than 200 authors and 60 publishers and booksellers are expected to attend the second edition.
For the record, the first edition of SLAP took place from September 24 to 26, 2021, still at the 6th arrondissement town hall. More than sixty publishers were present. Among them were Présence africaine, Karthala, which celebrated its 40th anniversary, Gallimard, l’Harmattan, as well as African publishers from 35 countries on the continent. For Xavier Audrain, managing director of Karthala, « this fair has made the invisible visible. Thanks to this synergy between all cultural operators, we have had a wonderful event, a very good fair.”
Find out more: https://www.salondulivreafricaindeparis.com/
