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Join on Telegram Rabat – The inaugural Marrakech English Book Festival (MEBF) is taking place between the 25th and 27th of November in Morocco’s red city Marrakech. The festival’s first day featured a range of English language literary events as well as talks and discussions with literary professionals.
MEBF seeks to promote the use of English in Morocco, and the importation, publication, and distribution of English-language books in the country, as well as to celebrate and develop cultural and educational ties and exchanges between Morocco and Great Britain.
The festival’s first day was held at Kssour Agafay in Marrakech – a 16th century riad of outstanding architectural significance. The opening day featured a speech by Moroccan author, broadcaster and cultural commentator Yassin Adnan who serves as the festival’s chairman.
Speaking to Morocco World News about the impetus for the festival’s creation, Adnan emphasized the challenges Moroccan authors face when attempting to publish and distribute books; it was out of these challenges that the festival was born.
Moroccan author, broadcaster and cultural commentator Yassin Adnan
“Let’s do this event, we will give an opportunity to Moroccan writers,” Adnan said.
“The festival aims to celebrate Marrakech and Morocco as a location in literature but also, more importantly, try to push reading in English in Morocco and also writing in English in Morocco,” said Nick Cherkas, a member of the festival’s organizing committee.
Nick Cherkas, a member of the festival’s organizing committee
Discussions with literary professionals
The festival’s first day featured a speech delivered by Philip Brebner, a British author who divides his time between Porto in Portugal, and Marrakech, which was the inspiration for his murder mystery Shadows of Marrakech.
Young Moroccan author, poet and novelist Zakaria Aitouraies provided insight into the behind-the-scenes of self-publishing. The young author is one of the pioneers of English-language self-publishing in Morocco.
Speaking with MWN, Aitouraies discussed his self-publishing journey. He recalled the challenges he faced while attempting to self-publish his books, particularly the financial aspect and finding an audience willing to read the books.
The young author took a year off from school and work to focus on branding himself on social media to promote his works.
Moroccan author, poet and novelist Zakaria Aitouraies (right)
The Night Sleeps, his debut collection of short stories and poems, was released in 2019. His first novel, It Pleased to Kill, was released in January 2021. He is currently working on his third novel, which is set primarily in a Moroccan Riad.
English writer James Von Leyden discussed his detective novel, A Death in the Medina. Another Moroccan-themed crime thriller by Leyden, titled Last Boat from Tangier, was released in 2020.
English writer James Von Leyden during the Marrakech English Book Festival
Leyden first visited Morocco in 1995 and immediately fell in love with the country. Ever since, he has been coming to Marrakech at least six times a year. Leyden is attempting to familiarize foreign readers with Marrakech through his writings.
The festival’s last event featured poetry discussions and readings by Moroccan poet Houda El Fechtali.
Over the course of the weekend, the festival will host four different types of events, including talks, interviews of fiction and non-fiction authors, talks and discussions, cookery classes, children’s book events and a day of professional forums for authors, publishers, distributors and book sellers.
The festival will feature 17 authors and guests from Morocco, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere.
Dreams of Butterflies by Moroccan author Rachid Khouya
The festival will also host a fund-raising gala dinner in aid of Education For All Morocco, a charity that helps rural girls complete their secondary school education.
MEBF 2022 is organized by the Marrakech English Book Association, chaired by Yassin Adnan and aided by a multinational team of volunteers.
The British Business Association Morocco and the British Moroccan Society are co-hosting the inaugural festival, along with the British Academy School in Marrakech, the British Embassy in Rabat, Cadi Ayyad University, and the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University.
