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Livre en Folie: the great book festival in HaitiHaiti
Livre en Folie: the great book festival in Haiti
Haiti
  • August 13, 2024
  • | 1

Livre en Folie: the great book festival in Haiti

Livre en Folie, this annual event long awaited by literature enthusiasts in Haiti, will be held on Thursday, August 15, 2024 at the Caribe Convention Center hotel in Juvénat. Indeed, Le Nouvelliste, in collaboration with its usual partners, invites the Port-au-Prince public to come and celebrate, for the thirtieth time, the great intellectual wealth of Haitian writers and other thinkers, in this great annual book fair. This year, the entrance fee is set at 1,000 gourdes, which will be returned to you in the form of coupons, in order to be able to buy books once inside.

Thirty years after the first edition, livre en folie has become a pillar of Haitian literary life and a highlight of the Haitian year. This year, it will take place in a particularly difficult context for the country, both economically and in terms of security, but will still have the merit of bringing together thousands of Haitians around the subject of the book.

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The difficult environment

Haïti is going through one of the worst periods in its history, with the painful experience of a country completely delivered into the hands of a swarm of bad luck that only thinks of destroying it, dreaming only of tearing apart life in its midst, tearing out its soul.

This situation is aggravated by persistent political instability, fueling the economic crisis and facilitating the omnipresent presence of armed gangs that have brought the center of Port-au-Prince to its knees, while undermining the cultural and media infrastructure of the capital. Reference is made to the national library of Haiti, vandalized, to the national press, targeted by attacks, and even to the premises of the newspaper Le Nouvelliste, organizer of the event for 30 years, which was ransacked and looted.

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A strong symbol of resilience

Despite this chaotic situation, the holding of the book fair represents a strong symbol of resilience. It is intended to be a vibrant call to life, a way of showing that culture and books can be powerful tools to resist the surrounding darkness. This event is a bold statement: even in the face of difficulties, books continue to shine like beacons in the storm.

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A celebration of literature

This year, the great Haitian Book Fair promises to be, as usual, an exceptional gathering place. The event will highlight the works of 165 authors, with the presence of 84 writers still living. It is an opportunity to celebrate the richness of Haitian literature and to shine the country’s intellectual culture, even in these difficult times.

The Port-au-Prince Book Fair announces the opening of author registration for its second edition

The Port-au-Prince Book Fair is a literary initiative of the cultural organization Port-au-Prince Book Fair (OCSLP), based on the desire to promote Haitian culture in general, with a particular focus on literature. The organizers of the event have just announced the registration of authors, who will number 20, and those of publishing houses, who will number 5 for the second edition, which will take place on Friday, December 13, 2024, in the premises of the French Institute in Haiti. The registration deadline is Thursday, October 10 of this year. Please note that the first to arrive who have met the required criteria will be eligible to take part in this second edition of the event, according to the organizers’ admission. This rigorous and restricted selection of only 20 authors aims to guarantee an enriching experience for authors and the public, thus promoting authentic exchanges around the works presented. Independent authors and publishing houses interested in registering their authors to participate in this second edition of the fair are invited to submit their application via this link: https://form.jotform.com/louirardjohn8/salon-du-livre-de-port-au-prince. For publishing and distribution houses planning to exhibit on the day of the event, you can register by clicking on this link: https://form.jotform.com/242596699603068. You are requested to contact them at the following address: salondulivre2023@gmail.com in case of difficulties. The Port-au-Prince Book Fair remains faithful to its philosophy, which is to offer a platform to young authors and to promote the richness of Haitian literary production, by supporting new authors who contribute to its growth. This event is a continuation of the first edition, aimed at allowing the emergence of an environment conducive to exchanges, where young authors can meet, share their experiences and engage in dialogue with readers and book professionals. According to the organizers of the event, your participation as a young author will be essential to enrich the fair and offer a diverse experience to visitors. The invitation to join this noble initiative is extended to young authors who have not yet published 5 books. You who are concerned, the ball is now in your court. Do not hesitate to go and make this day, December 13, 2024, an unforgettable day for all book lovers.

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Embodied Hope

Beyond the simple celebration of literature, this fair represents a message of hope and solidarity towards all the actors who make up the Haitian literary world. By bringing together publishers, writers and such a large audience in one place, the event allows contemporary Haitian literature to exist in its local version, and reminds us that, even in the darkest moments, culture and education remain sources of victories for the human soul. Because books, as witnesses of human thought and life experiences, are precious allies in facing crises and building a better future.

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About the Author
Moise Francois

Journalist editor, poet and apprentice lawyer.

See other articles from Moise Francois
Esther Medgine Charles

Merci
Ce très bien.

August 15, 2024 - 07:50:01 PM
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First black nation to free itself from slavery and gain independence from France in 1804 and influenced other liberation movements around the world, inspiring struggles for freedom and equality.

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