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56th Cairo Book Fair: 'Read… In the beginning was the word'

The 56th Cairo International Book Fair opened to the public to the usual fanfare on 24 January at the Egypt International Exhibition Centre in New Cairo. It runs till 5 February. This year's round carries the title 'Read… In the beginning was the word', carrying obvious religious overtones; the first word in the Qur'an is the order to 'Read', and the first sentence in the gospel of St John is 'In the beginning was the Word'. The connotation: reading is close to a sacred activity. Fun day The Cairo International Book Fair (CIBF) has, over its 56 years, become a major event on the calendar of Cairenes, much more than a 'book fair' strictly the premise of publishers and authors. For families with children, it has become a very special event. Parents take their children for an outing or even picnic to the fair which is open daily from 10:00am to 8:00pm, with extended hours until 9:00pm on Thursdays and Fridays. Visitors spend a day or more browsing the galleries for books to buy for every member of the family; children play games, snack or picnic, gather with friends, and altogether have a splendid fun day. For adults, there are numerous activities to participate in: seminars, workshops, exhibitions, artistic shows, and others. This year, the CIBF cultural programme offers more than 600 events. The wide range of fair activities takes place in various halls, including the Main Hall, the International Hall, the Cultural Salon, the Thought and Creativity Hall, the Poetry Hall and the Presentation Hall, as well as a dedicated children's area and numerous artistic events. Million books The first day of the Book Fair this year saw 400,942 visitors, as announced by the Ministry of Culture; the first five days saw an attendance of more than 1.8 million visitors. The 2025 CIBF features 1,345 publishing houses from 80 countries and 6,150 exhibitors, reflecting its growing international significance. New participants include Chile, Belgium, Congo, Bulgaria and Austria, adding to the event's cultural diversity. The Sultanate of Oman is the guest of honour for this edition, and Egyptian scholar Ahmed Mostagir has been named the fair's personality of the year. Children's book writer Fatima Al-Maadoul is also recognised as the Children's Fair personality. This year, the Ministry of Culture launched the 'Million Books' initiative, aiming to donate a million books to various regions in Egypt, targeting different age groups and categories. The initiative is designed to enhance public awareness and cognitive skills, making reading material more accessible to a wider audience. Connecting cultures The official opening of the CIBF took place on 23 January. The fair is organised by the General Egyptian Book Organisation (GEBO). It was opened by Culture Minister Ahmed Hanno, with participation of Ahmed Baheieddin who heads GEBO, senior State officials, and ambassadors of the countries participating in the fair. Mr Hanno visited the various stalls in the fair, including those of the ministries of culture and defence, that of the artefacts of the Egyptian southern regions of Halayeb and Shalatin, and those that offer publications that focus on the environment. He also visited the stalls of other participating countries. The Minister stopped at the stall of the CIBF's guest of honour, the Sultanate of Oman, which sprawls over a spacious area that showcases Omani heritage, literature, and arts. He was welcomed by Abdullah bin Nasser Al Harrasi, Oman's Information Minister, other Omani senior officials, and Abdullah bin Nasser bin Musalam Al Rahbi, Oman's Ambassador to Cairo. The Omani delegation gifted Mr Hanno with a miniature replica of Sultan Qabous Mosque. Mr Hanno thanked everyone who was involved in organising that major cultural event, saying that he was proud of the international cultural gathering which not only represents a major intellectual event, but also stresses Egypt's role as a bridge that connects cultures and civilisations. Watani International 29 January 2025 Comments comments Tags: 56th Cairo Book Fair 2025Cairo Book FairMervat Ayad