Second edition of the Marrakech African Book Festival (FLAM) celebrates two years of Literary Excellence
The second edition of the Marrakech African Book Festival (FLAM) kicked off on Thursday at the “Les Etoiles de Jemâa El Fna” sociocultural center in the city, with the presence of prominent Moroccan and foreign personalities, particularly from the African world of arts, culture, and literature.
Founded by Mahi Binebine (writer and visual artist), Fatimata Wane-Sagna (journalist), Hanane Essaydi (academic), and Younès Ajarraï (cultural entrepreneur), FLAM is a significant gathering of writers, thinkers, and intellectuals from Africa, its diasporas, and descendants.
Organized by the «We Art Africans» association, FLAM aims to celebrate African literature and culture.
Open to all audiences and age groups, the festival, which runs until February 11th in the “Red City,” is free to access at all hosting sites.
The goal is to bring culture and art closer to both enthusiasts and those who may
feel distant from it.
In a speech for the occasion, FLAM’s General Delegate, Younès Ajjarrai, expressed his joy at the second edition of the festival, intending to be a moment of reunion and exchange among intellectuals, writers, and thinkers from various backgrounds.
He emphasized that this edition was designed to highlight young Moroccan writers, with a program aimed at reaching the entire population of Marrakech.
A highlight of the morning session was a debate session called “Palabres,” focusing on the theme “Religions, Spiritualities, and Politics in Africa.”
Moderated by Souleymane Bachir Diagne, Sophie Bessis, and Bariza Khiari, the session delved into the complex relationship between religion and politics. The participants emphasized the humane and humanistic nature of religion, urging it to signify “encounter” rather than “war” in shared humanism.
The FLAM 2024 program includes literary cafes, interviews, book signings, a temporary bookstore, and a youth program with educational activities. The festival evenings will be enriched with musical performances, readings, and poetry. Writers and the public will have various daily formats for gatherings, fostering a vibrant literary and cultural exchange.
