As one of the largest book fairs in the Arab world opens on Wednesday in Algeria, an absence is noticeable. French-Algerian author Kamel Daoud, who won France’s most prestigious literary prize earlier this week, was not invited to this year’s event.
The winner of the Goncourt price and its French publisher Gallimarda regular participant, are among the people who will not be welcomed at the Algiers International Book Fair. The exclusion of several leading authors and publishers from this year’s event reflects the limits placed on the freedom of expression in Algeria.
Mr. Daoud’s novels and their subject matter often polarize opinions both Francewhere he lives, than in Algeria, where he was born. His third novel, Houriscrowned by the Goncourt prize, is centered on the memories of the victims of the “black decade” in Algeria. After the victory of the Islamists in the first round of the legislative elections of 1990, Algeria sank into civil war after the cancellation of the second round by the government supported by the army.
Although memories of this story are omnipresent, Houris will not be among the more than 300,000 titles available at the book fair, which is marketed under the slogan “Read to triumph” and which is advertised as focusing on history.
Ali Beyowner of the Third World Library in Algiers, said “ravi” of Daoud’s international recognition, but lamented that Algerian readers could not buy his novels.
Censorship is not limited to Daoud and Gallimard. Koukou Editions, an independent Algerian publishing house headed by the former political activist Arezki Ait Larbiwere also excluded from this year’s festival. Koukou, known for publishing works by essayists, novelists and journalists whose writings often challenge official narratives, was also not invited, Mr. Ait Larbi wrote in a Facebook post.
“Our publishing house is threatened with a total publication ban”he declared, accusing the censors of the Ministry of Culture of attacking his books.
