Paris: Opening of the 30th edition of “Maghreb books” with the participation of Moroccan writers – Media7

Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 8:39 p.m.

Paris – The 30th edition of “Maghreb Books”, a cultural event intended to bring together editorial productions, novels, essays, beautiful books and comics by authors from the Maghreb opened its doors on Saturday at Paris City Hall, with the participation of Morocco.

More than thirty Moroccan authors, writers, researchers and artists are present at this two-day meeting, organized by the “Coup de Soleil” Association in partnership with the city of Paris and with the support of the Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad (CCME), which honors “Moroccan Letters”.

“The Maghreb Books is a regular event which attracts many visitors to the Paris region. For us, it is important to participate, given the importance we give to culture in our activities,” indicated, in a statement to MAP, the president of the CCME, Driss El Yazami.

“The CCME’s participation in this event aims to highlight Moroccan writers and novelists from the diaspora,” said Mr. El Yazami, adding that the Council also seeks to encourage Moroccans in the Paris region to discover these authors and their works, particularly new literature.

“Our support includes in particular the care of around twenty Moroccan writers coming from Morocco. We also contribute to the programming by suggesting names of authors for the debates,” he said.

This “large bookstore” is also an opportunity for the Moroccan writers who participate to present their new works. “Today, I am here to present my second novel + Remember the Bees +,” said Moroccan writer Zineb Mekouar.

“This is my second participation, the first being two years ago for my first novel + The Hen and Her Cumin +”, recalled the young novelist, who said she was “very proud” to take part in this 30th edition. of the “Maghreb of books” which highlights Moroccan letters.

For his part, the writer Abdellah Baïda indicated that he is participating in this edition with his work “Le Monde d’Edmond” which collects interviews with the Moroccan writer, journalist and intellectual Edmond Amran El Maleh.

“This participation also coincides with the release of my new novel + Sacred character +, which I am delighted to present to the public,” said Mr. Baïda.

The writers also participate in leading debates focused on various themes such as “popular cultures”, “culture and sciences”, “surviving in exile” or even “the landing of the African Army (August 1944). “Feminine literature”, “Maghreb architecture”, “Moroccan women writers”, are also among the subjects which will be debated during this cultural event.

In addition to the book and the authors, this edition of the “Maghreb of books” offers exhibitions of painting and calligraphy.

“I am here for an exhibition of my abstract paintings, a work that I have been doing for a long time,” indicated the Franco-Moroccan painter Nora Hattab who exhibits her paintings in the space dedicated to this purpose in the prestigious salons of Paris City Hall.

The painter also said she was “delighted” and “honored” to represent Morocco at this exhibition. “I am also proud to share this space with writers and other Maghreb artists,” she said, stressing that her goal is to “make art accessible to all, because it is the expression of us -themselves”.

Many personalities from the world of culture, arts and publishing, as well as diplomats including the Moroccan ambassador to Paris, Samira Sitaïl, visited the different pavilions of this cultural fair and met the writers who came to present and sign their works.

This 30th edition of Maghreb Books pays tribute in particular to the Tunisian writers Abdelwahab Meddeb, and French of Russian origin, Nicole de Pontcharra.