Latest news with #SIEL2025
Ya Biladi
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Ya Biladi
Morocco Book Fair 2025 : More than 403,000 visitors and a 26% rise
The 30th edition of the International Book and Publishing Fair (SIEL 2025), which concluded on Sunday, attracted more than 403,000 visitors, marking a 26% increase compared to last year. In a statement, the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication noted that the event, held from April 18 to 27, brought together 756 exhibitors from 51 countries, offering nearly 100,000 titles. This edition placed a special spotlight on the Emirate of Sharjah (United Arab Emirates) and Moroccan writers from around the world. It further cemented SIEL's status as a showcase of Moroccan literary dynamism while positioning Rabat as a leading cultural destination, ahead of its designation as the World Book Capital in 2026. The Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad (CCME) praised the event's rich program, which featured more than sixty activities and over 170 guests from Morocco and 16 countries where Moroccan expatriate authors live. Across the SIEL spaces and beyond, including at a joint stand with the Ministry, these gatherings paid tribute to key figures in immigration literature, such as Abdellah Bounfour, Lalla Khiti Amina Benhachem Alaoui, Ahmed Ghazali, and Edmond Amran El Maleh, according to a statement. The Council also highlighted the special attention given to writer Driss Chraïbi, whose centenary will be celebrated in 2026. Other highlights included an exhibition featuring fourteen Moroccan photographers from around the world, screenings of ten pioneering films on Moroccan immigration, a multilingual poetry evening in Arabic, Amazigh, French, English, Italian, and Spanish with eleven poets, four philosophical roundtables, and twenty discussions around recently published novels and essays focusing on immigration themes. In addition, an immigration-themed bookstore offered more than 600 works showcasing the richness of Moroccan voices worldwide, including twenty new publications co-published by the CCME with Moroccan publishers. The Council also welcomed the launch of a new translation program, initiated by the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, aimed at translating the literary works of Moroccans around the world into Arabic.
Morocco World
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Morocco World
SIEL 2025 Draws 403,000 Visitors With Strong Turnout From Moroccan Writers Abroad
Rabat – The 30th International Publishing and Book Fair (SIEL) closed its doors on Sunday after welcoming more than 403,000 visitors, the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication announced. The turnout marks a 26% rise compared to last year, reflecting the fair's growing influence on Morocco's cultural calendar. Bringing together 756 exhibitors from 51 countries, SIEL offered readers access to nearly 100,000 titles, spanning literature, science, philosophy, and thought from across the world. This year, special attention turned to Moroccan writers living abroad, whose strong presence reflects the rising global popularity of Moroccan literature. This year's edition also honored the Emirate of Sharjah as guest of honor. The fair came to life through the efforts of the Ministry of Youth with support from the Rabat-Sale-Kenitra Regional Council and the local authorities. SIEL 2025 has further solidified Rabat's place as an important cultural capital. The city drew visitors and authors alike into conversations that crossed borders and generations, anchoring its role on the national and international stage. The fair also stood out as a true crossroads of cultures and ideas. It hosted a wide range of panels and debates discussing a great number of issues, ranging from human rights to new literary tendencies. The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) made a particularly strong appearance, engaging visitors in conversations around freedom of expression and cultural rights. Meanwhile, a dedicated space for children offered workshops and storytelling sessions, nurturing a love for books and imagination from an early age. Throughout the week, SIEL brought together voices from different horizons, turning Rabat into a lively meeting ground for readers, writers, and thinkers from across the globe. As the doors close on this year's edition with a bittersweet farewell, the anticipation for what's to come already begins to brew. Readers, writers, and culture vultures alike now turn their eyes to next year's festival, speculating about how SIEL will grow and thrill next. Until then, this year's fair's energy is certain to linger. Tags: Book fairMorocco SIELSIELSIEL 2025
Ya Biladi
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Ya Biladi
Rabat's rich history illustrated : Moroccan artists unite for World Book Capital 2026
A group of around ten Moroccan illustrators gathered from April 21 to 24 for an artistic residency at the Museum of History and Civilizations in Rabat. Over three days, they worked to enhance visually captivating pieces celebrating the beauty and cultural richness of the Moroccan capital. Held under the theme «Rabat, Capital of the World through Children's Book Illustrations», the residency took place in a studious and serene atmosphere as part of the 30th International Publishing and Book Fair (SIEL 2025). It brought together illustrators from diverse backgrounds to share experiences, techniques, and styles. The residency culminated in the creation of a collective comic strip illustrating the history of Rabat. In a statement to MAP, Mickaël El Fathi, a Franco-Moroccan author and visual artist, explained that the residency—organized as part of the Arab Youth Literature Forum—brought together young illustrators to create visuals for an original literary text titled «Rabat, Capital of the Book», which he authored. To support this imaginative narrative, which traces Rabat's history from antiquity to the present day, the story was divided into sections, with each illustrator responsible for adapting one part in their own artistic style. Designed as a space for research and reflection on the city's architectural, historical, and symbolic memory, the residency offered participants a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in Rabat's living history. They explored the role of illustration in transmitting knowledge, preserving memory, and evoking emotional resonance. Amina Alaoui Hachimi, illustrator and professional development manager at the Arab Forum of Children's Book Publishers, noted that the residency aimed to highlight the importance of mentorship and training in children's book illustration. Ilham Flouki, an illustrator and graduate of the National Institute of Fine Arts in Tetouan, expressed her enthusiasm for collaborating with fellow artists on a project that showcases Rabat's historical legacy. She emphasized how the experience enabled her to both apply and expand her skills, ensuring a seamless fusion of text and image. Organized as part of the celebration of Rabat's designation as World Book Capital 2026, the event was coordinated by Yasmine El Kaouakibi, editorial director at Yanbow Al Kitab publishing house. It was supported and proposed by the Arab Forum of Book Publishers, based in Sharjah, with the aim of fostering greater international visibility for Moroccan illustrators and strengthening their ties with children's book publishers across the Arab world and beyond.
Ya Biladi
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Ya Biladi
A tribute to Driss Chraïbi : Founding voice of Moroccan migration literature
Novelists Zineb Mekouar and Mustapha Kebir Ammi presented a joint reading of Les Boucs by Driss Chraïbi (1926–2007) on Wednesday during a gathering held in honor of the late author. Part of the International Book and Publishing Fair (SIEL 2025), which is being held in Rabat from April 18 to 27, the event also featured contributions from academic Kacem Basfao, the author's widow Sheena Chraïbi, the president of the Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad (CCME), Driss El Yazami, as well as several other writers. It was a moment of reflection and exchange that highlighted a foundational and timeless work on Moroccan and Maghrebian immigration in France. Published in 1955, the novel marks a turning point in Maghrebian literature written in French and remains one of the most important works in Chraïbi's oeuvre. More than just a tribute, the commemoration of seventy years since the novel's publication is seen by the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication and the CCME as a key opportunity to make the writer's work accessible to all generations — from the youngest readers to those who knew him. Author Zineb Mekouar praised Chraïbi's work for its striking relevance, both in its literary style and its themes addressing the relationship with the Other, particularly in Europe and France. «For me, Les Boucs is a masterpiece of international literature. Even today, there is this marginalization of otherness, and a way of speaking for the other, in the name of the other, as if we knew them better than they know themselves — and this work responds to that in many ways», the writer said. «This confinement within media or political narratives is extremely dangerous and it challenges us. In today's world, Driss Chraïbi was therefore at the forefront in responding to this urgent need for counter-narratives through writing — to make his voice heard and thus become an actor in his own space, rather than a passive object of an orientalist fantasy». Celebrating Driss Chraïbi at SIEL 2025 and Beyond In a similar vein, Driss El Yazami recalled that Les Boucs is one of the greatest novels written in French about immigration, set against the historical backdrop of the Algerian War, virulent anti-Maghreb racism, and systemic socio-political control. He also noted that it was not translated into Arabic until 2021. El Yazami further highlighted the novel's importance as a cultural contribution from Moroccans around the world. In the joint booth of the Ministry of Culture and the CCME at SIEL, an exhibition space has been dedicated to Driss Chraïbi. Its creator, Kacem Basfao, explained that the initiative was part of a broader inclusive approach aimed at promoting literature for all. «While bringing together relatives and intellectuals, a posthumous tribute should allow an author to be discovered by those who don't yet know them. I find this is what has often been lacking in some tributes to our great authors, like Fatema Mernissi», he told Yabiladi at the close of the event. «The presence of friends and family members in these tributes is essential, and I find it beneficial to include academics, other writers, and intellectuals as well», he stressed. But to keep this legacy alive, «we need to find the right way to reach new audiences — otherwise, these gatherings can feel like preaching to the choir», he added. «That's why we created the Driss Chraïbi space as an extension of the joint booth of the Ministry and the CCME — to attract younger generations and introduce them to an author they might not yet know. This space has been very successful among schoolchildren, high school students, and early university students who are discovering texts, photos, and foundational elements of Chraïbi's work in a format that's accessible to them. It even encourages them to cultivate curiosity, deepen their research, and — why not — go on to read his books». Kacem Basfao For Basfao, «this is the entire point of the space and this tribute: that it be inclusive, open to all, and reflective of who Driss Chraïbi was — someone deeply engaged with his society and ahead of his time, in ways that feel more relevant than ever. This is especially true of Les Boucs, which addresses Maghrebian immigration in France, but also racism and violence at every level». Indeed, the organizers affirm that Driss Chraïbi «is not an inaccessible author». Through this series of public events, they hope «to make sure that everyone — but especially young people — don't feel intimidated by an author's name, and are instead encouraged to explore his work, which offers a vast intellectual openness for self-development beyond the traditional academic route». Toward Chraïbi's Centenary in 2026 This edition of SIEL, which specifically honors Moroccan authors living abroad, also marks the launch of a new initiative by the Ministry of Culture to translate the works of Moroccan writers around the world into Arabic and safeguard this literary heritage. To extend the tributes, a special screening was held the same day at the initiative of the CCME at the La Renaissance cinema, as part of a retrospective of pioneering Moroccan films on emigration and immigration. Audiences were invited to discover Conversations with Driss Chraïbi (2007), a documentary by Ahmed El Maanouni, followed by a discussion with Sheena Chraïbi and Kacem Basfao. Looking ahead to the centenary of Driss Chraïbi's birth in 2026, Driss El Yazami announced that a major celebration is already in the works. It will include revisiting the author's archives, exploring his work through readings and academic colloquia, and reflecting on his contribution to critical conversations about identity, exile, and memory.
