For its 12th edition, at the Palais de la culture, the event has chosen as its theme “ commitment to an active and sustainable African readership”. Because despite the presence of several bookstores and publishing houses in the Ivorian economic capital, interest in literature remains limited. Enough to encourage the emergence of citizen initiatives aimed at strengthening the taste of Ivorians for books.
With our correspondent in Abidjan, Sidy Yansane
He is not a publisher, not yet an author, but Patrick Lokrou, management controller in Abidjan, is a literature buff. A passion that he shares with others within his “Livre Échange” reading club. Once a month, these writing lovers get together and swap novels, essays and even invite authors when they can.
” A certain enthusiasm »
” For example, we had a great author, a great journalist in the person of Frédéric Grah Mel who wrote the biography of Félix Houphouët-Boigny. That day, there were so many of us that there were no more places. That is to say that people have a certain enthusiasm. It’s just that they don’t have the space to be able to express it. So we learn a lot, not only about the guests, but also about ourselves. », explains Patrick Lokrou.
Lamenting that no one was reading around him, the Ivorian reader decided to set up this club, which was born almost two years ago. Writing and poetry workshops in the forest or in the city, Patrick Lokrou fears an acculturation of his fellow citizens, because of easier access to foreign works.
” African culture is very rich »
” We know that African culture is very rich. So, we have to share it and why not put an emphasis in school programs and give pride of place to our authors, who we no longer talk about today. When Bernard Dadié died, we did not have the same tribute as there was, for example, for other artists we know. But he was really someone who participated in this African genius of independence, the desire to be free and to really build his destiny “, adds the enthusiast.
Patrick Lokrou has set himself a future mission: to organize literature workshops in Ivorian schools.