On Monday in Panama City, the Moroccan pavilion was inaugurated as the guest of honor at the current edition of the Panama International Book Fair, an event that combines culture, art, and literature, highlighting the kingdom’s status in the cultural landscape of Latin America.
The opening ceremony was attended by prominent Panamanian officials, including the Minister of Security, along with the Ministers of Culture, Education, and Social Affairs, as well as the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Moroccan Ambassador to Panama, Bouchra Boudechich, and Ghazlan Drouss, Director of Books, Libraries, and Archives at the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, were also present, reflecting the significant importance that Rabat attaches to this event.
The Moroccan pavilion spans an area of 135 square meters, showcasing a rich collection of Moroccan literature in Spanish, in addition to research and literary works about the kingdom, under the slogan “Let’s Weave Dialogue.” This participation represents the culmination of a long history of cultural cooperation between Morocco and Panama and serves as an opportunity to enhance cultural exchange and emphasize Morocco’s contributions to dialogue among peoples.
During their speeches, the Ministers of Culture and Education and the Chairwoman of the Chamber of Books praised Morocco’s cultural diversity, considering this initiative a chance to deepen cultural ties between the two nations and embody the fair’s slogan, “Let’s Weave Dialogue.”
Ambassador Boudechich confirmed that Morocco’s participation in the fair reflects King Mohammed VI’s vision of cultural dialogue and cooperation, emphasizing that the kingdom has placed culture at the core of its development project. She explained that the pavilion provides a platform to introduce Moroccan artistic and literary creativity, especially in Spanish, and demonstrates the commitment to strengthen relations with Panama across various fields.
The opening ceremony included Moroccan and Panamanian musical and artistic performances, featuring singer Nabila Ma’an and the Gnawa music band, delighting the audience. Additionally, the pavilion organized children-oriented activities, such as “Story Hour” and art workshops inspired by Moroccan heritage, along with book signings by prominent Moroccan authors in literature and Latin studies.
The artistic program continues throughout the fair with musical performances by Nabila Ma’an accompanied by musician Tarek Hilal, and presentations by the Gnawa band showcasing rhythms from Moroccan musical traditions. The program also includes academic symposiums on shared Andalusian heritage, the openness of Moroccan literature to universality, as well as poetry readings and a dialogue between the U.S. Ambassador to Panama and the Moroccan Ambassador about 250 years of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
This participation, which runs from August 11 to August 17, is organized in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication and the Moroccan Embassy in Panama, in collaboration with the Panamanian Ministry of Culture and the Chamber of Books, reaffirming the kingdom’s leadership role in promoting cultural dialogue and highlighting its artistic and literary creativity on the international stage.
