The 30th edition of the International Book and Publishing Fair (SIEL), which wrapped up on Sunday in Rabat, turned the spotlight on Moroccans living abroad. Organized in collaboration with the Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad (CCME), this year’s event was a vibrant tribute to the cultural and intellectual contributions of the Moroccan diaspora.
Packed with more than 60 unique sessions and featuring over 170 guests from Morocco and 16 other countries, the fair paid homage to key figures in the history of Moroccan migration. Among those honored were Abdellah Bounfour, Lalla Khitti Benhachem, Ahmed Ghazali, and the celebrated writer and thinker Edmond Amran El Maleh. The program also dedicated special attention to the legacy of novelist Driss Chraïbi, whose 100th birthday will be commemorated in 2026, highlighting the enduring impact of his work on Moroccan literature.
A rich and diverse lineup marked this edition. Highlights included a photography exhibition featuring the work of 14 Moroccan photographers from the diaspora, a curated selection of ten pioneering films exploring the Moroccan immigrant experience, and two special issues of literary and artistic journals—Diptyk and Qitab. Poetry took center stage at one of the evening events, where eleven poets performed in multiple languages—Arabic, Amazigh, French, English, Italian, and Spanish—underscoring the multicultural nature of the Moroccan diaspora.
The fair also hosted four philosophical roundtables and twenty author talks, many of which focused on recently published novels and essays. Special emphasis was placed on female voices within migration literature, exploring how women’s experiences shape and enrich narratives of exile and identity. In addition, two academic panels tackled the current state of migration research and how it’s being used in public and policy discourse.
One of the standout initiatives was the launch of a large “Library of Migration,” showcasing over 600 books that reflect the vast spectrum of Moroccan voices around the world. These publications offered a nuanced portrait of migration and its influence on literature, culture, and collective memory. The CCME also co-published twenty new titles in collaboration with Moroccan publishing houses, reinforcing its commitment to building bridges between Morocco and its global diaspora. Complementing these efforts, the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication unveiled an ambitious translation program aimed at making the literary works of Moroccans abroad more accessible to Arabic-speaking audiences.
The CCME’s involvement in SIEL, in partnership with the ministry, signals a broader commitment to placing culture at the heart of migration policy. By amplifying the creative output of Moroccan emigrants—often shaped by a blend of languages and cultural influences—the fair underscored the vital role of diaspora voices in shaping contemporary global culture.
Participating in this major cultural event allowed the CCME not only to highlight the richness of cultural production within the Moroccan diaspora but also to affirm its role in promoting cultural dialogue and integration. In a world where borders are increasingly blurred, the fair made a compelling case for culture as a powerful engine of inclusion, exchange, and shared identity.
