Paris Book Festival highlights Morocco's literary scene

The Paris Book Festival, set to open this Friday at the Grand Palais in the French capital, is honoring Morocco as a "major player" in African publishing, according to Pierre-Yves Bérenguer, the festival's director.

"Long reliant on European and Eastern publishing networks, Morocco today asserts itself as a significant force in African publishing, with a clear ambition to become a continental editorial hub," Bérenguer stated, explaining that Morocco's selection as this year's guest of honor is a recognition of the richness and diversity of its literary output.

"Francophone, Arab-speaking, Amazigh-speaking, and now Anglophone and Hispanic, Moroccan literature shines well beyond its borders," Bérenguer noted, adding that the festival also celebrates the cultural and historical ties between France and Morocco, united by a shared history and ongoing dialogue across the Mediterranean and the Atlantic.

The festival is set to feature 36 Moroccan publishing houses and 34 authors, blending established figures with emerging talents, as part of a special program titled "Letters from Morocco." This initiative includes 46 events showcasing the diversity of Moroccan literary production.

Notable authors such as Leïla Slimani, Tahar Ben Jelloun, Kaoutar Harchi, Rim Battal, Meryem Jebbour, Asma Lamrabet, Driss Jaydane, Kebir Mustapha Ammi, and Kaiss Ben Yahia have been invited to participate, creating a vibrant showcase of Moroccan cultural dynamism and highlighting the increasing importance of its authors and publishing industry on the international literary stage.

Designed as an immersive experience into the diversity of Morocco's literary and artistic scene, the program spans three days (April 11-13) and includes 28 discussions, 16 panels addressing literary and societal themes, 10 book presentations, two artistic performances (slam and theater), and an international panel on the "Atlantic destiny of France-Morocco," relating to this year's theme of "the sea."

"The choice of the sea theme resonates particularly with Morocco's history as a nation oriented towards the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, where exchanges have always been at the heart of its cultural and literary identity," he remarked, noting that the Moroccan pavilion has been conceived as "a space for exploration and dialogue, mirroring the country itself as a crossroads between tradition and modernity."

The literary agenda also features a documentary screening entitled "The Moroccan Caftan: A Journey Through the Hands of Its Artisans," youth activities with 15 workshops (creative weaving, zellige, quizzes), and a musical tale ("The Journey of Chickpea").

Additionally, three discussions will pay tribute to iconic figures in Moroccan literature: Driss Chraïbi, Edmond Amran El Maleh, and Mohamed Khair-Eddine.

The role of women in literature will also be highlighted through several meetings with key female authors from Morocco.

For the festival's organizer, this program reflects the "dynamism" of the Moroccan literary scene.

"Between established writers and emerging voices, this scene is continuously renewing and enriching itself," Bérenguer stated, mentioning notable figures like Leïla Slimani, the 2016 Prix Goncourt winner and "ambassador of Moroccan literature internationally," as well as Tahar Ben Jelloun, "one of the most translated Moroccan authors in the world," and Kaoutar Harchi, "a sociologist and novelist engaged with identity issues," along with Rim Battal, "a poet and artist with diverse writings."

These authors contribute to a Moroccan publishing industry that is expanding, seeking to assert itself on both African and international stages, with a wide thematic diversity ranging from intimate narratives and historical explorations to engaged essays and contemporary poetry.

Bérenguer also highlighted the role of the Moroccan diaspora in this dynamic, noting that it plays a fundamental part in disseminating Moroccan literature globally.

"As a bridge between cultures, diaspora writers address themes like exile, memory, identity, and cultural hybridity," he pointed out, adding that their dual roots allow them to make Moroccan culture accessible to a broader audience.

Among these diaspora authors who "amplify Morocco's voice" are Leïla Slimani, who "questions individual freedoms and relationships to origins"; Tahar Ben Jelloun, whose stories explore transmission and intergenerational ties; and Asma Lamrabet, who examines feminism and spirituality in the Muslim world.

"Thanks to this diaspora, Moroccan literature is exported and continues to foster a fruitful dialogue between France and Morocco," he remarked.

Covering 330 square meters, the Moroccan pavilion at the Paris Book Festival features five immersive spaces: the "Maritime History Space," diving into Morocco's maritime past with old maps and navigator tales; the "Hiwar Space," a forum for exchanges between publishers, authors, and the public; the "Dedications Space," for author signings; the "Youth Space," for storytelling and interactive workshops to foster a love of reading; and the "Publishers and Bookstore Space," showcasing the diversity of Moroccan publishing.