33rd Havana International Book Fair Kicks Off with the Theme “Reading is Growing”
This year’s Fair will expand its reach beyond the main venue, bringing books and literary events to neighborhoods, hospitals, schools, and libraries. Feb 13, 2025 Photo: Cubadebate
February 13, 2025 Hour: 10:01 pm
The event features nearly 2.4 million printed books and over 2,600 digital titles, attracting more than 400 international guests from approximately 40 countries.
Related:
Havana International Book Fair to Host 400 Guests from Over 40 Countries
On Thursday, February 13, the 33rd Havana International Book Fair officially began in Havana, inspired by the motto “Reading is Growing,” a phrase rooted in the teachings of José Martí.
The inauguration ceremony, presided over by Miguel Díaz-Canel, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, honored two distinguished intellectuals: Francisca López Civeira and Virgilio López Lemus, to whom this year’s Fair is dedicated.
The event features nearly 2.4 million printed books and over 2,600 digital titles, attracting more than 400 international guests from approximately 40 countries. This year, the Republic of South Africa holds the distinction of being the guest of honor.
Juan Rodríguez, head of the Cuban Book Institute and chair of the Fair’s organizing committee, highlighted the Cuban government’s unwavering support for the event, despite ongoing challenges and resource limitations. He reiterated the commitment to fostering national culture through book production and the subsidization of publications.
The Deputy Minister of South Africa’s Department of Sports, Arts, and Culture, Bertha Peace Mabe, shared her enthusiasm for being part of what she called “a dynamic celebration of ideas and storytelling.”
She remarked that “literature serves as a powerful bridge, uniting people across cultures and geographies. It allows us to exchange experiences, hopes, and dreams. In South Africa, our writers, poets, and playwrights capture the spirit of our journey toward freedom, equality, and justice, reflecting the struggles and victories that shape our identity,”
This year’s Fair will expand its reach beyond the main venue, bringing books and literary events to neighborhoods, hospitals, schools, and libraries. Provincial publishers will play a significant role in these activities. The Fair will conclude on March 23 in Santiago de Cuba.
The theme, “An Entire Country in Books,” commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Territorial Publishing System.
Additionally, the event pays tribute to the 130th anniversary of the death of Cuba’s National Hero, José Martí, who fell in combat in 1895.
Autor: MLM
Fuente: Prensa Latina - Cubadebate
