ZIBF 2014 THEME announced

Dear Stakeholders

The Executive Board of The Zimbabwe International Book Fair Association with the approval of General Council has identified the following as our Theme for ZIBF 2014: Indigenous Languages, Literature, Art and Knowledge Systems of Africa.

 In arriving at this Theme, we were guided by a few factors, among which are:

ü   The overwhelming submissions on the subject of African languages, literatures, heritages and knowledge systems whose majority were unfortunate to be turned down for lack of space in the just ended ZIBF 2013 Indaba Conference Programme;

ü   The enlightening presentations in the ZIBF 2013 Indaba on patterns and benefits of the use of African medicines and the dangers of losing valuable health practices due to prejudice and official neglect and the timely movement to beneficiate African heritages through the tourism economy;

ü   The compelling indications from the ZIBF 2013 Writers Workshop regarding the urgency to recognize African languages, literatures and art forms as creative media and repositories of knowledge systems deserving as much attention as languages and literatures conveyed in English and other Western languages;

ü   The necessity to recognize and celebrate the vast literary and academic productions and publications in and about African languages in Zimbabwe and other countries across the African continent;

ü    Sending a message of support and encouragement to authors, readers, researchers and publishers in these language media that their efforts play a vital role in intellectual growth, national and African continental development;

ü    Embracing the hitherto marginalized languages of Zimbabwe that are now legally recognized under our new Zimbabwean constitution which have a potential to transform our understanding of our national identity and the importance of tolerance of ethnic diversity; and

ü    The vast potential for creating a truly festive atmosphere through the participation of African folk artists, readers folk artists and performers as part of the activities of our 2014 Book Fair.

We would like to advise all interested presenters and participants to expect our substantial Call for Abstracts by the end of January, 2014.

We plan to run our traditional Book Fair events such as The Young Person’s Indaba, Traders Day, The Exhibitions, Live Literature, Writers’ Workshop, Children’s Reading Tent and Meet the Author and hereby advise you to make a note of the following important dates:-

·         The Bulawayo Book Fair             28 – 29 March 2014

·         The Masvingo Book Fair             30 – 31 May 2014

·         The Harare Book Fair                  28 July – 2 August 2014

·         The Mutare Book Fair                 26 – 27 September 2014

·         The Gweru Book Fair                   24 – 25 October 2014

 Your continued support is fully appreciated.

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Sincerely

Musa Zimunya

Chair, Executive Board, ZIBF

Website: www.zibfa.org.zw

Telephone: +263 4 702104, 702108, 705729,  707352

Tel/Fax: +263 4 702129