What?

The idea of The Hargeysa International Book Fair, 2008, is to launch it the first time as a pilot project, but in the future to try and maintain it as a major yearly cultural event in Somaliland. We invited several Somali-speaking and non Somali-speaking authors to present their latest books in Hargeysa. We (insha'allah) will take there about 200 titles, books published in the Somali language that are currently in commercial circulation. We will also take there for display other books in foreign languages. These books are currently available from several distribution channels, so people will be able also to buy them during the event. We will also take there, only for display, books about Somaliland that are out of print, written both in Somali and in foreign languages. We expect approximately 1000 visitors a day mainly from the young generation.

When?

21-22/08/2008
The book fair period will be two days, 21-22 August, the place is the "Guriga Shaqaalaha", the city center of Hargeysa.

The Program: Not to be missed events

Panels

21/08/2008
10.30 - 12.30 Panel: Higher Education Offer in Somaliland: Challenges and Opportunities
Panel Chair and Coordinator: Abdi Haybe Elmi, University of Hargeysa
Participants: Amoud Unversity, University of Buroa, Berbera College of Fishers and Marine Studies, Edna Adan Maternity and Teaching Hospital, NU, IHU.

22/08/2008
10.30 - 12.30 Panel: Readers: vis-a-vis with writers
Panel Chair and Coordinator: Boobe Yuusuf Ducaale, APD
Authors, poets, play-writers, readers (a selected group of young readers)

Plenary speakers

21/08/2008
09.00 - 10.00 Abdishakur A Jawhar, Article 32, Toronto, Canada
Presenting "Gobannimo bilaash maaha", Jaamac Muuse Jaamac, 2007

22/08/2008
08.30 - 09.30 Edna Adan Ismael, Edna Adan Maternity and Teaching Hospital
What the Youth Can Do To Support Their Country

22/08/2008
14.30 - 15.00 Iqbal Jhazbhy, UNISA, Johansberg, SA
"Somaliland's Post-War Nation Building and International Relations"

other events

21/08/2008
15.30 - 15.45 Assigning literary award "sheeko iyo shaahid"

21/08/2008
14.30 - 15.30 "Darandoorri: ila dheh adna na dhegayso". Reading together "Aanadii Negeeye".

22/08/2008
17.00 - 17.45 "Darandoorri: ila dheh adna na dhegayso". Reading together "Ladh".

a guided tour for visitors by HRC - several times a day.

Author's angle: meeting with the author.

Web: http://www.hargeysabookfair.com/hibf-eng.html