Salon africain du livre

Historically, Africa has been perceived – both in the visual and written form – through a prism of joy and laughter. But what if all this cheerfulness is just the reverse side of a great melancholia?  This year Le Salon africain invites you to reflect on this very idea, with its 2017 edition featuring the ‘Melancholy of Barbarians’ by Ivorian playwright Koffi Kwahulé.

Also coming from this year’s World Book Capital, Conakry, Guinea will be showcasing its finest – with a special tribute to Williams Sassine, as well as the author of Tropical Circle, Alioum Fantouré, and Hakim Bah, winner of the RFI prize for his Tachetures collection, on site.

Marking the launch of film director Ousman Willian Mbaye’s documentary on Cheikh Anta Diop, the spotlight will also turn to this great Senegalese historian.

And just like every year at the fair, publishers from all over Africa will be joining us under the iconic Baobab tree where you can unearth books and budding talents as yet unpublished in Europe.

The Kourouma Prize will also be awarded to an African author of outstanding clarity of vision and insight.

Le Salon africain, which promotes authors and publishers from Africa, is supported by the SDC and is part of the Geneva Book and Press Fair.