Rabat’s 28th annual International Book Salon opened on Friday with a rich and diverse selection of publishers, authors, and book enthusiasts, and English as the unofficial guest of honor this year.

Rabat’s 2023 International Book Salon Debutes with Stellar English Lineup

Rabat – Rabat’s 28th annual International Book Salon opened on Friday with a rich and diverse selection of publishers, authors, and book enthusiasts, and English as the unofficial guest of honor this year.

Organized in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Regional Council of Kenitra-Sale-Rabat, the renowned literary event is bringing together exhibitors from around the world, including universities, embassies, and authors.

Running from June 2nd to 11th at the OLM Souissi space in Rabat, the book fair will celebrate cultural dialogue, foster creative exchange, and highlight the significance of literature in our ever-changing world.

A Showcase of Global Literature

With an impressive selection of over 120,000 titles, the book fair brings together 737 exhibitors from 51 countries. Among them are 287 direct exhibitors and 450 indirect exhibitors, representing a broad spectrum of literary works.

The event this year features a strong presence of English literature, offering a lineup of distinguished authors, poets, and intellectuals from various linguistic backgrounds

In commemoration of the sixtieth anniversary of diplomatic relations between Morocco and Canada, the event extends a warm welcome to Canada as a special guest. The participation of Canadian writers, publishers, and creators will enrich the literary landscape, providing a unique opportunity for visitors to discover the vibrant literary scene of Quebec and deepen their understanding of Canadian culture.

With 221 events scheduled, including workshops, discussions, and lectures, attendees will have the chance to engage with renowned authors, poets, and intellectuals. The interactions will address the pressing challenges and multiple facets facing the book industry, offering valuable insights and fostering professional growth.

Celebrating Moroccan culture and beyond

At the heart of the book fair’s cultural programming is the theme “My Morocco.” Through a rich offering of documentaries, literary presentations, and artistic showcases, the event aims to celebrate Moroccan culture while promoting cross-cultural dialogue. The fair serves as a bridge, allowing visitors to discover Moroccan literature, engage with global cultures, and cultivate a sense of fraternity and tolerance.

Among the many exhibitors, English books are strongly present this year, with titles spanning all literary genres and spheres, a testament to Morocco’s newly found taste for the international language.

Interview with Moroccan Importer and Distributer of English books

On the sidelines of the event, Morocco World News spoke to Rachid Chafi El Alaoui, the Managing Director of Brookline, a leading English book-distributing company in Morocco, to discuss the growing prominence of English language literature in the country.

Commenting on the significant growth in demand for English books, El Alaoui said that “Morocco is changing, and society in this country, along with its readers, is changing. The rise in the popularity of English can largely be attributed to the internet.”

“In recent years, people have come to realize that the majority of online content is in English. Around 80% or slightly less of research material is available in English. Consequently, it has become necessary to have proficiency in the language,” El Alaoui explained.

For Bookline’s managing director, the growing popularity of English books is also driven by the political shift of heart the Moroccan people are undergoing. “There has been a shift in sentiment towards the French language.”

“While we were colonized by the French, we are now striving to break away from that cultural heritage. Young readers, in particular, have opened their eyes to the wider world through the internet and discovered alternative cultural perspectives beyond the French language,” he continued, adding that Moroccans “are keen to learn from the Americans, the English, the British, and the English-speaking world as a whole. Our aspiration is to become an English-speaking country in the coming decades.”

Making English books accessible and affordable in Morocco

The past decade was revolutionary for the Moroccan English publishing industry. In the span of 10 years, English books have become increasingly available in major cities, with the average price falling as a result of the increasing supply.

Addressing the market trends, El Alaoui, a London-based entrepreneur, told MWN that he first founded his company when he noticed the scarcity and high cost of English books in Morocco. “I realized that these books were simply not readily available. So, I decided to search for affordable books and make them accessible. That’s what I have been doing since 2010.”

For companies like Bookline, the shift toward English meant more business, especially as Morocco’s young demographics started to gravitate towards the best-selling fiction novels genre.

“I get a lot of requests for books that have just appeared in bookshops or have just been announced that actually they will be published,” he explained while recalling an incident when a Moroccan bookstore requested to receive a shipment of a best-selling book on the day of its release, similar to the biggest libraries in Oxford Street in London. “It’s amazing, it’s amazing, but again it’s the younger generation.”