Join the 26th Algeria International Book Fair as it celebrates the enduring legacy of Nelson Mandela, champion of the anti-apartheid struggle, with a rich cultural program and international participation.
Algeria International Book Fair Celebrates the Legacy of Anti-Apartheid Leader Nelson Mandela
The 26th edition of the Algeria International Book Fair has dedicated a special tribute to the late South African leader Nelson Mandela (1918-2013), who devoted his life to the fight against the apartheid regime. This year’s fair, which features 1,283 publishing houses, honors African culture with exhibitors and intellectuals from 61 countries, including 19 African nations, showcasing the latest literary and scientific publications.
Under the theme “Africa Writes Its Future,” the fair organized a commemorative event to honor Mandela’s tenacious struggle and his humanitarian persona, marking the tenth anniversary of his passing. Academics and cultural figures presented the exceptional journey of this great activist, who was deeply committed to justice, freedom, and reconciliation.
Professor El Hadji Songdi Diouf from Senegal, a philosopher, emphasized that Nelson Mandela represented a leader who, through his fight for just causes in Africa, embodied universal human values, especially reconciliation and coexistence. He praised Mandela’s commitment to the rights of the downtrodden and the African peoples’ struggle for freedom.
Algerian university professor Ben Ouda Badai, a specialist in African literature during and post-colonization, reflected on how the Algerian struggle for independence greatly inspired Mandela. He discussed Mandela’s political path within the African National Congress and his stance against violence in his country, noting Mandela’s acute sense of respect for others.
Mexican anthropologist Veronica Gonzalez Laporte highlighted Mandela’s struggle for racial reconciliation (between blacks and whites) and democracy, which has made him a global figure in the fight against racism and the most popular leader of the twentieth century.
Cameroonian novelist and publisher Victor Boudjeko touched upon Mandela’s “struggle” path, which he committed to from a young age in defense of the oppressed.
During the event, Legodi Koboro Bernard, the cultural attaché at the South African Embassy in Algeria, lauded the anti-apartheid leader’s struggle, affirming that Mandela was an “inspiration” for freedom fighters worldwide against colonial domination and oppression. He also mentioned Algeria’s support for Mandela in his fight against the apartheid system in South Africa.
Mandela, the first president of South Africa post-apartheid, was a staunch advocate for Palestinian liberation on the international political stage.
In addition to celebrating Africa, the fair’s commissioner, Mohamed Igerb, previously stated that the fair features a special cultural program in solidarity with Palestine and its resilient people. This includes the creation of “Gaza Space,” which hosts lectures, seminars, meetings, and poetry evenings, as well as “Tassili Space,” dedicated to discussions related to Palestinian literature and culture in general.
The 26th Algeria International Book Fair is set to conclude on November 4th, marking another successful chapter in its history of fostering cultural exchange and honoring the voices that have shaped our world.
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