Sharjah International Book Fair celebrates the power of the word
"Spread the word'. This is the slogan chosen for the 41st edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair, organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), which will be open to the world from today until 13 November. And word has spread because hundreds of people have come to the Sharjah Expo Centre on its first day to enjoy the great literary spectacle. A very varied public in which groups of children and young people accompanied by their teachers have stood out. In fact, they also became the protagonists, as the Fair organisers have designed an extensive programme with numerous activities aimed at inculcating and encouraging reading among children and young people.
In total, and surpassing the figures of previous editions, 2,213 publishers from 95 countries, with more than one and a half million books, will be present at this fair founded in 1982 by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Sharjah, who was in charge of inaugurating this edition. During the opening ceremony, Al Qasimi highlighted the event as "an opportunity for children, youth and families in the UAE to enrich their learning in arts and sciences, and forge close connections with cultures around the world through books of various genres".
The Sharjah ruler also highlighted the 19 volumes of the Arabic Language Historical Corpus that have been launched this year, bringing the total to 36 volumes along with those of last year's edition. These volumes, he said, "document nine letters of the Arabic alphabet".
The event was also addressed by His Excellency Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, president of the SBA, who said that this fair is the largest in the world in terms of buying and selling copyrights in 2022; the Sudanese historian, Yusuf Fadl Hasan, who has received the title of "Cultural Personality of the Year" in recognition of "his invaluable contribution in the field of history and documentation for the development of the nation in the political, cultural and scientific fields", as reported in a press release; and the Italian ambassador Lorenzo Fanara, because if last year Spain was the "guest of honour", on this occasion it is Italy. Authors such as Alessandro Baricco, Viola Aedone, Fabio Volo and Giuseppe Catozzella together with influencers, artists, actors and chefs from the European country form part of a wide and specific cultural range that will take place during these days.
Sharjah, considered the cultural, art and literary capital of the Arab Emirates, not only does not disappoint, but more than proves itself worthy of such consideration. This fair is more than just a great showcase of literature, where writers, publishers and representatives of the world of culture from a hundred countries offer us the possibility of approaching a magical world through books, but also workshops, conferences, meetings... It is a great stage in which coexistence and exchange of ideas and experiences stand out, an open space in which the power of the word rules. Books as a union of peoples and civilisations, hence, perhaps, the importance of instilling a love for them from an early age.
Strolling through the Sharjah Expo Centre, observing each stand, its design, its origin, its works, the public that approaches and is interested, like the children lining up so as not to get lost, also becomes a magical adventure, because over the course of twelve days on these walks we can meet from Geetanjali Shree, this year's International Booker Prize winner, to the Chinese writer Marie Lu, author of bestsellers, or Lincoln Peirce, American cartoonist, author of the comic strip Big Nate. It is interesting to note the meetings that many of these writers will have with the students. There will also be theatre, music, gastronomic tastings, cinema, workshops... More than 200 activities to suit everyone's tastes.
It is no coincidence that this emirate was awarded the distinction of Cultural Capital of the Arab World in 1998, Capital of Islamic Culture by UNESCO in 2014 and World Book Capital in 2019.
Let the word spread, because this fair, which is growing every year and is considered the most important in the Arab world, has a lot to offer.
