APA-Marrakech (Morocco) The second edition of the ‘Festival du Livre Africain de Marrakech’ (FLAM) opened its doors on Thursday at the ‘Centre socioculturel’ “Les Etoiles de Jemaa El Fna” in Marrakech, in the presence of a host of eminent Moroccan and foreign personalities, notably Africans from the worlds of the arts, culture and literature.
Founded by Mahi Binebine (writer and visual artist), Fatimata Wane-Sagna (journalist), Hanane Essaydi (academic) and Younes Ajarrai (cultural entrepreneur), FLAM is a must-attend event bringing together writers, thinkers and intellectuals from Africa, its diasporas and its descendants.
Supported by the “We Art Africains” association, FLAM is a vibrant celebration of African literature and culture, open to all audiences and all ages, and running until February 11 in Marrakech, with free access to all venues. The aim is to bring culture and art closer to the general public, whether enthusiasts or the simply curious.
In his opening address, Younes Ajjarrai, General Delegate of FLAM, expressed his delight at this second edition, underlining its role as a moment of reunion and exchange between intellectuals, writers and thinkers from diverse horizons. He also emphasized the desire to give a special place to young Moroccan writers, with a varied program
designed to reach out to the entire Marrakech public.
One of the highlights of the first day was the “Palabres” discussion session on the theme of “Religions, spirituality and politics in Africa”, hosted by Souleymane Bachir Diagne, Sophie Bessis and Bariza Khiari. The speakers underlined the complexity of the relationship between religion and politics in Africa, highlighting the potential of
religion to foster union and dialogue in a spirit of shared humanism.
The FLAM 2024 program includes literary cafés, interviews, book signings, an ephemeral bookshop, as well as programming for youngaudiences including educational activities and interventions in university and school environments. The evenings of the festival will be enlivened by musical performances, readings and poetry, offering moments of exchange and conviviality between writers and the public.
This second edition of FLAM will focus on themes reflecting the latest scientific and editorial developments in Africa, while devotingparticular attention to reactivating and consolidating the memoriesand ties that unite all Africans, wherever they may be.
FLAM will welcome several major figures in African literature,including Jose-Eduardo Agualusa (Angola), Leila Bahsain (Morocco),Abdelkader Benali (Morocco), Souleymane Bachir Diagne (Senegal), AliBenmakhlouf (Morocco), Sophie Bessis (Tunisia), Siham Bouhlal(Morocco), Boum Hemley (Cameroon), Yasmine Chami (Morocco), Touhfa Mouhtare (Comoros), Fanta Drame (Mauritania), Wilfried N’Sonde(Republic of Congo), Saad Khiari (Algeria), and Mia Couto(Mozambique).
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