The opening ceremony of this cultural event, organized under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI in partnership with the Wilaya of the Oriental region, the Council of the region and the council of the Commune of Oujda, the Mohammed 1st University, the Regional Academy of Education and Training and the Moroccan Foundation for the Promotion of Preschool Education, was enhanced by the presentation of prizes to the winners of the reading aloud competition, organized by the Oriental Development Agency for the benefit of primary school students.
The prizes were won by Aboubakr Tiganimine in the inclusive education category, Douaa Rizki in the Arabic language category, Yasser Bouhaji (French language) and Lina Bensaid (English language).
In a speech read on his behalf by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication – Department of Culture, Samira Malizi, the Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Mohammed Mehdi Bensaid, praised this cultural event “which is distinguished by its deep and promising content”, expressing his thanks to the organizers for “the interest they have in culture, intellect and books”.
The theme “Writing and Time” is an eloquent slogan to celebrate culture, “which outlines our relationship with time” and the writings that protect memory from oblivion, Mr. Bensaid stressed.
“Writing remains a geographical matter that challenges cultures, identities and aspirations,” he said, indicating that the Maghreb Book Fair, the city of Oujda and the Oriental region contribute to the cultural dynamics of the country by hosting a number of major events and eminent intellectuals.
For his part, the wali of the Oriental region, governor of the prefecture of Oujda-Angad, Mouad Jamai, reviewed the various cultural events taking place in the city of Oujda, specifying that this edition will pay a posthumous tribute to Abdelkader Retnani who had contributed to the creation of this exhibition.
For his part, the president of the Maghreb Book Fair, Mohamed Mbarki, stressed that the absence of the Fair over the past four years due to the Covid19 pandemic “makes us aware of the value of time”, noting that the 4th edition of this fair highlights the dialectical relationship between time and space.
Organized until April 21 at the Mohammed VI Theater and at the Place du 3 Mars, this event promotes the cultural influence of the city of Oujda and the Oriental region and is distinguished by the participation of writers, researchers, novelists, philosophers and poets from African, Arab and European countries, allowing 31 Moroccan and foreign publishing houses to present their new publications.
Like previous editions, this event will be marked by literary cafés, workshops for young people and children, poetry evenings and cultural activities “Outside the walls” in various spaces of the city, in university and educational establishments as well as in the premises of the civil prison.
In addition, the edition will be distinguished by a major exhibition of artists from the region and the African continent which will take place at the “Moulay Hassan” Art Gallery under the theme “Artistic writing and time”.
The Salon will also see the organization of multiple round tables in Arabic, Amazigh and French around various themes, including “Writing time”, “The time of Islam”, “Diasporas and migrations”, “The digitalization of the world” and “Decolonizing the mind to decolonize knowledge”.
2024-09-20 22:43:05