Somalia has hosted its 4th anual of international literary festival in the capital Mogadishu, with three days of readings, films, art and exhibitions.
The country used to be known as the poet’s nation as it may be reclaiming its old title, as a land of words and wonder.
Authors, playwrights, poets, artists and musician have travelled from across the world to attend the three-day event that also featured Somali PM Hassan Ali Khaire as a guest.
“We held this fair to revive the culture of writing and reading in our country”, Hussein Mohamed Hussein, Book Fair orginazer said.
Hussein says the Book Fair event connects local writers with their counterparts from abroad, in a bid to exchange ideas.
“Hundreds of writers are gathered here. We brought more than 3,000 books to the event including books written by a talented 16-year-old author”, he said.
“The last day of 4th Annual Mogadishu Book Fair, it will bigger and better like never before”, according to Mogadishu Book Fair Twitter account.
Somali PM Khaire said the fair in the seaside capital might be expected to attract thousands of people on each of the three days.
However, United States says its Agency for International Development (USAID) had sponsored the Mogadishu Book Fair (MBF2018) for three years in a row in support of a Somali-driven campaign for literacy.
