Oujda Hosts the Fifth Edition of the Maghreb Book Fair Under the Motto “To Establish Ourselves in the World and Write It”
Last night, the events of the fifth edition of the Maghreb Book Fair “Maghrebian Literature” were launched in Oujda, held under the high patronage of King Mohammed VI, and will continue until October 12, carrying the slogan “To Establish Ourselves in the World and Write It.”
This cultural event, organized by the Eastern Region Development Agency in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication, the region’s Wilaya, and several public institutions, aims to reinforce Oujda’s position as one of Morocco’s most important cultural hubs, leveraging literature and knowledge as engines for development and openness.
The opening ceremony, attended by the Wali of the Eastern Region, Khalid Hebil, along with officials and intellectual personalities, symbolized the renewal of engagement among intellectuals and writers from diverse backgrounds. Hebil emphasized that the fair has become, since its inception, “a Maghreb intellectual beacon that shines each year, establishing bridges for dialogue and cultural exchange,” adding that culture “is no longer just an intellectual luxury but has become a driving force for economic and social development and a vital area for creating job opportunities and innovation, especially for youth.”
For his part, the president of the fair, Mohamed Mbarki, stated that this edition’s slogan “carries a philosophical dimension calling for reflection on the human position in the world and transcending cultural and geographical boundaries towards a broader human horizon,” affirming that writing “remains a fundamental tool for understanding transformations and reconstructing collective consciousness, liberating imagination from the constraints of reality.”
Meanwhile, the Deputy President of the Eastern Region Council, Alaâ Barkawi, stressed the region’s continuous commitment to supporting cultural initiatives, noting that the intellectual dynamism in Oujda “embodies a clear vision of linking development with culture and enhancing the vital role of books in building an open and creative society.”
This edition features the participation of over 150 writers and thinkers from the Arab world, Africa, and Europe, alongside 26 publishing houses and 17 national and regional institutions, in a space spanning more than 4,000 square meters, comprising pavilions for books, discussions, and areas dedicated to youth and children. The program includes intellectual seminars, creative workshops, and art exhibitions, as well as meetings hosted by universities and educational and penitentiary institutions, aiming to establish culture as a shared right and space for human interaction.
The Maghreb Book Fair in Oujda continues to assert its status as an intellectual platform gathering creators from both sides of the Mediterranean and the Maghreb space, solidifying the city’s image as the capital of books and dialogue, and a cultural interface for Morocco in the Euro-Mediterranean space.
