The Sixth Hargeisa International Book Fair - Day One

This year's Hargeisa International Book Fair is bigger than ever. The theme is 'Journey'. Kenya is the guest country. There are Somali authors, academics, poets, singers, dancers, photographers and artists in abundance. Plus those from many other parts of the world
including Nigeria, Djibouti, Kenya, Holland, Italy, and the UK. And a supermodel from Czechoslovakia. 

Click this link to see the programme of events: Hargeisa Book Fair 2013 

The first day started with the national anthem and a welcoming speech by the organiser of the fair, Jama Musse Jama. And the Nigerian author, Chuma Nwokolo, noticing what some of the Somali men were wearing: A Sartorial Hargeisa

There was standing room only as the great Somali poet, Hadrawi, recited Sirta Nolosha (Life's Essence).

Standing room only for Hadrawi

Hadrawi in full flow

Hadrawi

Some funny looking men appeared, thick set and wearing earpieces.

Confused looking man arrives at the book fair

Photographing the confused looking men

It turned out these confused looking men were bodyguards for the new British ambassador to Somalia, Neil Wigan, who turned up with a delegation from the British government's aid body DFID. He gave a speech in Somali.

He then spoke in English, talking about the deep links between Somaliland and the UK. He said the Somali community was one of the oldest in Britain, with its roots going back more than a century. He said "we in the UK are enormously proud of the Somaliland community", mentioning the journalist Rageh Omar, the runner Mo Farah and the author Nadifa Mohamed. He said the book fair was an example of the energy and talent in Somaliland, and its encouragement of reconciliation and cooperation across the region. He added that it gave a "hugely positive image" of Somaliland to the outside world.

Organiser of the book fair, Ayan Mahamoud, then stood up and said she had two requests, even though she understood that the ambassador couldn't give any comments.

1. The ambassador's support in resolving the crisis facing Somali remittance companies in the UK due to Barclays' decision to withdraw banking services.

(Someone in the crowd shouted out that Mr Wigan should comment on this issue, and there was a general sense of stirring in the room)

2. The ambassador's recognition of the peace and development in Somaliland.

The British ambassador speaks Somali

There's that confused looking man again

The Fifth Hargeisa International Book Fair - my Somaliland book launch.

FIFTH HARGEISA INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR

The Red Sea Cultural Foundation and its partners are pleased to announce that the Fifth Hargeysa International Book Fair (HIBF) will take place between 13^th and 18^th July 2012.

Jama Musse Jama, Director of the Hargeysa International Book Fair, says “The Hargeysa International Book Fair has grown exponentially over the past five years, both in size and significance. It not only represents the main platform for arts in Somaliland, but it is now one of the largest public celebrations of literature in East Africa”.

HIBF is proud to host and present the work of internationally based writers, journalists, scholars, independent thinkers and artists. We are excited to welcome to this year’s Book Fair Sheikh Maxamuud Sheekh Dalmar and Said Salah Ahmed. Said Salah Ahmed is a highly-esteemed playwright, poet and teacher who currently lives in Minnesota. Sheikh Mahamoud Sheikh Dalmar is a public intellectual, Islamic scholar and Radio and TV producer, who lives in the UK.

Last year, we were honoured to welcome to HIBF Yasmeen Maxamuud, author of Nomad Diaries. She delighted our many visitors with her talent for language and encouraged lively discussions around social taboos, which were featured in her book. This year’s programme will see a return of the critically acclaimed author of Black Mamba Boy, Nadifa Mohamed discussing her new book. We are also delighted to be hosting the Somaliland launch of the hard-hitting book Getting Somalia Wrong by BBC journalist Mary Harper, and welcome Dr Georgi Kapchits linguist and noted scholar on the Somali language together with many more other guests.

As visitors of the HIBF have come to expect, the week long discussions and events are centred around a theme. This year is no different - the book fair will explore the role of arts and culture in shaping our future. 

HIBF has, since its inception, been a creative space for visiting artists from neighbouring countries and this year we again see many prominent authors and artists from Somalia, Djibouti and Ethiopia present their work and contribute to critical thinking and artistic dialogue in the region.

The book fair consists of many exciting components including a return of the highly successful moving library tour which provides eager and engaged fans in the six regions of Somaliland with the unique chance to meet and access the visiting artists and books in their own cities and towns.

Because HIBF is committed to contributing to a culture of reading and writing in Somaliland, as part of its programming, we believe it is imperative to increase the skills and capacity of the many young and aspiring artists of Somaliland. In 2011 the book fair piloted a creative writing short course in order to increase the technical skills of participants and the outcome of the short course was such as resounding success that we are excited to provide it again to 18 young writers and journalist. We will undertake the second creative writing course to continue that spirit.

We are also pleased to announce that for the first time the book fair will be joined by Penguin Publishers who will contribute to the delivery of the creative writing course and provide aspiring authors with expert advice on publishing and the contemporary literary world.

Join us for a six day-long artistic production with book presentations, poetry recitals, plays and other performances of artistic expression.


For further information, please write to info@hargeysabookfair.com

(This is a press release from The Red Sea Cultural Foundation)