17th Hargeisa International Book Fair

On Friday July 20, 2024, in the presence of officials and delegates from throughout the globe, the 17th Hargeisa International Book Fair was formally inaugurated at the Hargeisa Cultural Center.

The Hargeisa Book Fair, which showcases a single nation each year and chooses a specific theme as its tagline each year, will take place over six days, from July 20 to July 25, with various programs.

“TOGETHERNESS” is the theme of the 17th Hargeisa Book Fair, which started at the Hargeisa Cultural Center in 2024. This year’s special guest country is the nation of Tunisia in North Africa. A sizable delegation from the featured nation attends the exhibition, attired in regalia representative of their nation’s history, traditions, and culture, which will be on show at the fair.

The national anthems of both nations as well as other tunes celebrating Somaliland’s and Tunisia’s customs and cultures opened the event. The Vice President of Somaliland, Abdirahman Abdillahi Ismail (Sailici), the Deputy Mayor, the Minister of Internal Affairs, and the Chairman of the UCID Party were among those present. There were many more people in attendance, including Hargeisa politicians, diplomats, academics, authors, poets, and innovators

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Dr. Jama Muse Jama, the chairman of the Hargeisa Cultural Center, began by outlining the significance of this year’s theme, “Togetherness,” and the number of delegates that attending the 17th Hargeisa Book Fair, coming from about 14 different nations.

At the 17th Hargeisa International Book Fair, the featured nation and delegates from other countries were greeted by the Deputy Mayor of the host city, Hargeisa.

The 17th show of the fair was formally launched by Somaliland’s Vice President, Md. Abdirahman Abdullahi Ismail Saylici (SAYLICI), who praised the Chairman of the Hargeisa Cultural Center and the significance of the International Book Fair to the country’s transition to statehood.

Mohamed Kahin Ahmed, Somaliland’s Minister of Interior and Chairman of the ruling Kulmiye Party, discussed the significance of the Hargeisa International Book Fair (HIBF) for the country and further emphasized the benefits that the whole community would reap from the chosen slogan for this year’s 17th Book Fair – “Togetherness”

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Addressing the audience at the fair, Dr. Edna Adan Ismail expressed her joy at being a part of the 17th anniversary of the Hargeisa Book Fair. Having been invited to the exhibition’s inauguration each year, she was there when it first began.

Speaking in a variety of languages, Dr. Edna Adan greeted everyone to this year’s exhibition and discussed the history of Somaliland as well as the value of collaboration and coordination.

Speaking during the exhibition’s inauguration, Eng. Faysal Ali Waraabe, the chairman of the opposition party UCID, highlighted the advantages of the Hargeisa International Book Fair for the country and society.

At the HIBF show, Ilyas Manek, the head of the British diplomatic office in Hargeisa, described the true meaning of the term “togetherness” and asserted that it is the only action and mindset that can provide a solution to the problems the globe is currently facing.

The Hargeisa International Book Fair, which runs through Thursday this week, is a cultural event that annually brings participants from over 20 nations to debate topics pertaining to books, literature, art displays, and panel discussions.

The Hargeisa Book Fair, organized jointly by the Hargeisa Cultural Center and the Redsea Cultural Foundation, was first initiated in Hargeisa in 2008, and is the largest book fair in the Horn of Africa.