Community supports Durban Book Fair
Durban is one of more than 160 cities from 72 countries that currently makes up the network.
THE Durban Book Fair is one of the annual highlights on the City’s literary calendar.
The fair, which is hosted on a monthly basis, was held at Mitchell Park.
According to the district manager of Libraries and Heritage at the eThekwini Municipality, Renu Rabilall, the fair takes place on the first Sunday of every month.
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“It is a time when booksellers, writers, and publishers are invited to set up stands to market their books, at no cost, in a beautiful garden setting. The objective of the fair is to develop a reading and writing culture among the broader public. It encourages local writing and provides space for self-published authors to showcase their books and to promote new authors,” she said.
Rabilall added the fair has become more than just an event.
“It is one of the few spaces where people from all walks of life engage and enjoy each other’s company and share ideas. There are book signings and panel discussions on issues of common concern for writers and emerging publishers. Through the fair, we hope to restore the balance between marginalised and dominant voices in the publishing world. In the age where each book is battling for screen space, book fairs give a chance to authors and publishers to showcase their books,” she said.
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Rabilall also added that Durban is one of the first cities in Africa that has been designated as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) City of Literature, under the auspices of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
“Durban has an exciting combination of vibrant literary events, as well as having library programmes and a large selection of book stores, cultural centres, educational programmes, and editorial initiatives.
“In essence, it is the extent to which literature and the love of reading plays an integral role in the urban environment and, so far, the only city on the continent of Africa to have earned this status is Durban,” she said.
According to Rabilall, eThekwini boasts more than 100 libraries that offer an array of programmes throughout the year.
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