middleeast.in-24.com october 2021
Algerian novelists Ahlam Mosteghanemi and Yasmina Khadra are participating in the 40th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair in the United Arab Emirates. It will be held from 3 to 13 November.
The 40th edition of the Sharjah Fair will be attended by 85 writers from 22 countries, including international creators, over an 11-day period. The most important of them is the Tanzanian novelist Abdel Razzaq Garnah, who recently won the Nobel Prize for Literature. His participation in the exhibition is his first international presence after receiving the award.
1566 publishing houses from 83 countries will participate in this cultural event, which is held under the slogan “Here.. you have a book.” Of which 929 are Arabic and 637 are foreign, all of which will display 110,000 book titles in various languages.
Spain will be the guest of honor for this edition, in the presence of 41 Spanish writers, artists and creators. This edition will also celebrate Kuwaiti novelist Taleb Al-Rifai as the exhibition’s “Cultural Personality of the Year.” This is “in recognition of his creative career” in writing novels and short stories as well as literary criticism.
The fair will present 440 cultural events, along with other activities for children, plays and dance performances. As well as lyrical symphonies, a cooking corner and another for painters, designers and directors. In addition to other cultural events on social media platforms, a conference for publishers and another about libraries.
This cultural event, as in previous editions, will also be awarded a number of prizes. Among them is the award for the best Arabic novel. The award for the best foreign book and the award for the best Emirati, Arab and foreign publishing house, in addition to a translation award.
The exhibition is being held this year in light of precautionary measures against the Corona pandemic, including physical distancing. Wearing a mask and distributing volunteers to the entrances and exits of the halls to guide the public. As well as providing masks, hand sanitizers and sterilizers for books, as well as distributing thermal cameras at the entrances.
