By Eden Soughton, Mishelle Kennady, Frankie Harnett, and Natalie Klinkenberg
The Sharjah International Book Fair, which spans eleven days and features more than four hundred literary events, is known as one of the largest book fairs in the world. In 2023, it reported 1.2 million attendees and expects to surpass that number in 2024. The event hosts numerous publishers from around the world. Events include author signings, workshops, panels and cultural showcases – there are even live cookery stations to demonstrate the preparation of Arab cuisine.
The fair was initially created in 1982 by HH. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, a Member of the Supreme Council and the Ruler of Sharjah, to create a nation of readers and he has continued to serve as the event’s chair ever since. The event has run every year since its inception, with the 43rd fair beginning on 3 November 2024. The fair has grown far beyond its initial scope and now stands as what it is – a titan in the literary world.
During SIBF 2023, various interactive events and workshops celebrated reading, writing and artistry. Sharjah Public Libraries was a notable participant and expanded upon its mission to engage and inspire youth by providing a broad spectrum of interests. The Green Warrior was one such activity that highlights environmental impacts and fosters awareness of positive change in climate justice. They also held a Korean Handheld Fans workshop, allowing individuals to immerse themselves in cultural art and learn about ancestral traditions through craft-making. Specially curated workshops such as Step by Step in Developing Writing Skills for Youth and Travel Among the Stars shed light on the importance of reading, writing and knowledge-seeking by diving into the benefits of each whilst sharing encouraging tips to hone skills in writing and overall creativity. SIBF also invited talented illustrators from across the globe to teach diverse techniques like “drawing with aromatic stones, leather illustration, comic colouring, digital comics, 3D sketching, e-games, website design,” etc. Themes such as the social evil of bullying and its consequential mental challenges were also addressed through the Emirati-produced play, Barcode Prison. The performance explored isolation in a world where humans were given barcodes instead of names, following incarcerated individuals awaiting their undetermined fate.
Taking place between 6 November and 17 November, this year’s Sharjah International Book Fair is celebrating 2024 with a lively array of activities and has welcomed Morocco as this year’s guest of honour. Designed to cater to all ages, the book fair has devised a thrilling children’s program to stimulate children and allow parents to explore their own lectures and workshops. With interaction at the centre of this program, children are encouraged to explore their creativity through embroidery, storytelling, robotics and weaving workshops. There is also a strong focus on cultural heritage, with Moroccan practices taking the spotlight this year through workshops encouraging children to grow their knowledge of Moroccan cities and the Moroccan musical and dance tradition, featuring the performances of the Gnawa band and a Taskiwin show.
This year’s programme for adults is no less impressive. For those looking for an informative experience, the book fair hosts a variety of lectures and symposiums, such as Dr Hala Alablam’s “Bibliotherapy”, which delves into the necessity of reading for mental and emotional well-being through a scientific lens, encouraging participants to adopt it in their daily lives. For others looking for a more creative activity, poetry and musical evenings showcase the works of writers like Ammar Hassan Saad El-Din and Ayed bin Khatroush by intertwining them with soothing music for a moving celebration of poetry. For aspiring and established authors, Alham Mosteghanemi’s discussion of what it means to be a writer today offers a fascinating reflection on the trials of creativity in the age of social media.
During the SIBF, the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) offers grants to publishers acquiring rights during the book fair. Their grant program, Publisher’s Weekly stated, aims “to facilitate cross-culture exchange and offers various levels of funding support to Arab and foreign publishers” to be able to translate works into a variety of languages. So far, the SBA has funded roughly 500 books from publishers around the globe – which is around $300,000 worth of grants every year.
The SIBF awards cover categories like Best Emirati Novel, Best Arab Novel and Best Local Publisher, to name a few. However, an award the SBA began offering in 2016 is the Sharjah Translation Award or the Turjuman Award. The award aims to encourage translators and publishers to pick up more Arabic titles, allowing them to promote these stories to wider global audiences, which organisers stated will “[contribute] to global appreciation of Arabic literature and enhancing cross-cultural communication.” International publishing houses that have published a translation of Arab literature are allowed to enter more than one work each year for consideration to earn a prize of AED 1.3 million, which is split 70/30 between the foreign publishing house and the Arab publishing house that published the first edition, respectively.
This year, the Sharjah International Book Fair occurred from November 6–17 while its Publisher’s Conference occurred from November 3–5. With over 400 literary events hosted, there is something for everyone to enjoy. With millions of books to browse to give authors and publishers from across the globe a chance to connect, the SIBF is undoubtedly an impactful part of the book publishing industry.