FILT 2024: Nine countries in spotlight at 2nd International Cultural Days

Tunis: Lebanon, Senegal, Argentina, Yemen, Egypt, China, Mauritania, Kuwait and Spain are in the limelight at the 38th edition of the Tunis International Book Fair (FILT 2024), held on April 19-28 at the Karam Exhibition Centre. For the second year running, the pavilion of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs is hosting an event called the International Cultural Days, with the participation of Tunisian and foreign speakers representing the nine countries in the limelight. The event is an opportunity to build communication channels with the other and to open up to cultures and civilisations, Coordinator of the International Cultural Days Ridha Kochtbene told TAP on Tuesday. He pointed out that this year's programme focuses on countries and cultures from various continents, with a view to establishing gentle cultural diplomacy through culture and knowledge. The event was opened by Argentina in the presence of its ambassador to Tunisia, followed by Lebanon and Egypt, with a focus on the cultural and artistic pro ximity of these two Arab countries to Tunisia. Senegal took centre stage on Tuesday, with an event dedicated to this country: "gateway to African culture and a meeting place for civilisations." The Negro literature was the focus of a talk by Tunisian poet, novelist and translator Jamel Jelassi, who dwelt on the work of founding fathers of the negritude literary movement, Léopold Sédar Senghor and Aimé Césaire. Mauritania will be honoured on Thursday in the presence of Mauritanian students in Tunisia for a meeting that will shed light on the similarities and differences between the Mauritanian and Tunisian heritages. The international cultural day devoted to Kuwait, scheduled for Friday, will highlight Kuwaiti culture and Tunisian-Kuwaiti relations through theatre and poetry. Spain's day is scheduled for Saturday, and will offer an opportunity to explore Spanish and Tunisian literature and their presence in academic circles in both countries, as well as the Andalusian heritage in Tunisia from the 12th cen tury to the present day. The closing session of the International Days will be dedicated to Yemen, for an immersion in the culture of this country on the Arabian Peninsula and its presence in the work of Tunisian historians. Publishers from 25 countries offering over 109,000 titles are taking part in FILT 2024. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse