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Somaliland:Hargeisa’s Annual International Book Fair Kicks Off With Huge Fan Fair

July 22, 2011   ·   2301610 Commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fsomalilandpress.com%2Fsomalilandhargeisa%25e2%2580%2599s-annual-international-book-fair-kicks-off-with-huge-23016Somaliland%3AHargeisa%E2%80%99s+Annual+International+Book+Fair+Kicks+Off+With+Huge+Fan+Fair2011-07-22+19%3A35%3A43Mo+Guledhttp%3A%2F%2Fsomalilandpress.com%2F%3Fp%3D23016

HARGEISA(SomalilandPress)–Hargeisa’s annaul International Book Fair began today at the city’s Freedom Park ground with the exhibition of hundrends of books and several noted publishers. This yearly event that has grown each year tremendously was co-organized by Redsea Online, Kayd and Ilays and is to last until the 26th of this month.

This year the theme for the fair is ‘Collective Memory”, the week long event is designed to kick start a debate around the topics of collective memory for a society and in particularly for Somaliland. Leading panels, renowned poets, scholars and universities will use arts and literary as a ‘vehicle of change’ to explore the theme. The organ

Friday being a weekend holiday thousand of enthusiast book lovers flocked to the opening session from all regions of Somaliland and neighbouring Djibouti. SOSCA a local cultural group was also invited to perform traditional songs and dancing at the ceremony. The five day literary festival will be attended by local and international authors, artists and scholars including; re-known author and United State based Yaasmin Mohamed who will be discussing her novel Nomad Diaries.

Also present at today’s kick off was SomTel Communication which was the only company that took part of the Hargeisa International Book Fair. SomTel a local telecommunication operator that recently signed the historic Interconnection agreement of Somaliland telephone operators that will allow consumers to call out of network coverage without having to change SIM cards or phone number showcased their 3G technology to the book fair audience.

The overall objective of Hargeisa International Book Fair is to promote open discussion, Somali culture and education including lifting the literacy levels by encouraging the children to begin reading at early ages. Since Somaliland restored it’s sovereignty in 1991 from dictator Mohamed Siad Barre’s regime, literacy levels have gone up from 20 per cent to 49 per cent and the country plans to hit 75 per cent literate by 2015.

Source:SomalilandPress

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By Mo Guled

Tags: Books in Hargeisa, Hargeisa International Book Fair, Moving Library, Red Sea Online, Somaliland, Somalilandpress, SOMTEL