This cultural event was an opportunity to strengthen the cultural and artistic influence of Africa, through rich discussions and diverse events, as this cultural event was distinguished this year by a special focus on women's voices in Africa and the many ways they are reflected in world literature.
The edition saw the participation of the great writer and literary icon Ananda Devi, alongside the former Minister of Justice of the French Republic and tireless fighter for human dignity, Christiane Taubira, who shared with the attendees her social and political commitment and her passion for literature.
The festival program included a series of seminars and discussion sessions, covering multiple topics, including "Memory and African Identity and Cultural Transmission", "Women's Literature as a Mechanism for Social Transformation", and "Issues and Challenges of the African Feminist Movement", in addition to signing sessions for many new publications.
This edition was also marked by the organization of an exhibition by the Haitian artist Marie-Denise Douyon, as well as literary cafes, seminars, and evening events throughout the days of the festival, with a special focus on young people.
In a speech on this occasion, the General Delegate of the festival, Younes Ajarraï, said in a statement to the Maghreb Arabe Presse (MAP) agency that the third edition of this cultural event constituted "another year of success on several levels, especially through the quality of the speakers and the topics discussed, highlighting that the festival has managed to establish itself nationally, continentally, and internationally.
Ajarraï pointed out that the festival saw wide international participation, as it managed to gather participants from various countries and continents, which strengthened the international dimension of the festival and provided a space for discussion on issues of literature and culture on the Dark Continent.
The official added that this year's program gave special attention to young people, through the organization of writing workshops, training courses, and literary meetings at partner schools and universities, and involving young people in the cultural dynamic that the festival seeks to establish.
The final day of this event saw the presentation of the Marrakech High School Prize, which aims to encourage reading and writing among young people, and to strengthen the role of literature in developing their cultural awareness.
This prize aims to emphasize the social commitment of the festival foundation in sharing its knowledge and transmitting it to the rising generations, within the framework of a comprehensive vision aimed at strengthening cultural and intellectual action among young people.
In this regard, the writer and journalist Meriem Jabour, winner of the Marrakech Youth Prize for her novel "Betrayal", expressed her happiness at winning this prize, considering that it represents great encouragement and motivation for her to continue writing, especially since it comes from the youth category who showed a passion for reading and interacting with literature.
The writer also praised, in a statement to the Maghreb Arabe Presse (MAP) agency, the meetings she had during the festival with her young readers, where she felt their great cultural curiosity, intellectual openness, and their asking of deep questions, which made this experience, in her words, mutual and very rich.
It is noteworthy that the Marrakech African Book Festival, organized by the "We Art Africa" association during the period between January 29 and February 02, aimed to celebrate African literature and culture, and provide the opportunity for the public of all ages to participate in its events and access all sites hosting its activities for free, in order to bring culture and art closer to the participants.
The curtain fell on Sunday evening at the Njoum Jemaa El Fna Cultural Center on the events of the third edition of the Marrakech African Book Festival, with the participation of a group of Moroccan and foreign writers and intellectuals.