Fostering creativity, literacy and collaboration is a theme, if not perhaps in those exact words, that recurs again and again in the top-level Arab markets, and we (in western publishing) would all do well to take a step back and compare our own measures of success.


The inaugural Sharjah Festival of African Literature (SFAL) will be held 24-27 January 2025 at University City in Sharjah. Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority | هيئة الشارقة للكتاب and former International Publishers Association – IPA president Bodour Al Qasimi, this debut edition, themed “The Tale of Africa,” takes Sharjah’s commitment to global publishing to a new level.

Bridging Continents Through Literature.

Per the press release, Al Qasimi said: “The Sharjah Festival of African Literature stands as a testament to the profound capacity of literature to bridge continents and illuminate shared human truths. By celebrating the enduring legacy of African storytelling, we transcend cultural divides and honour the boundless creativity that defines our collective heritage. This festival opens new channels for cultural exchange, nurturing understanding and appreciation between Africa and the Arab world through the universal dialogue of self-expression.”

Celebrating Africa’s Literary Heritage

The festival will feature over 20 African authors and novelists, including Nobel laureates Abdulrazak Gurnah and Wole Soyinka, alongside leading Emirati writers.

A Cultural Platform for Global Dialogue

Ahmed Bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority, said the event demonstratws Sharjah’s commitment to “opening new literary horizons and redefining the map of global cultural engagements by highlighting the literature of African nations, deeply rooted in
humanity’s collective memory. The festival serves as an invaluable cultural platform, honouring African literature and uncovering its treasures and influence, and establishes a foundation for a global cultural dialogue that extends across continents.”

Comprehensive Cultural Agenda

The four-day cultural event will feature a diverse agenda, including:

Panel Discussions
Children’s Workshops
Musical Concerts
African Culinary Experiences
Art Exhibitions
Art Performances
Food Trucks

Yeah, I’m not sure what the last one means either.

Read more at Sharjah24.

Here just to note the press release for the Emirati news media went live on December 25, a reminder that the global publishing calendar cares nothing for our western partying and hangovers.

Let me leave you with this thought from the TNPS Christmas Message:

Fostering creativity, literacy and collaboration is a theme, if not perhaps in those exact words, that recurs again and again in the top-level Arab markets, and we (in western publishing) would all do well to take a step back and compare our own measures of success in our rights-obsessed book fairs and the celebrity-obsessed festivals, where we routinely pay lip-service to the interests of the authors and other creatives, but ultimately measure success only by the ker-ching of the cash register.


This ost first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.