CAMAGÜEY.- From March 13th to 16th, the Casino Campestre urban park will host the Camagüey chapter of the 2025 Book Fair, an event that transcends its commercial nature to become an act of cultural resistance. In a context of editorial crisis, the Provincial Center for Books and Literature (CPLL) has managed to guarantee 177 titles and more than 42,000 physical copies.
“We have managed a varied offer that includes 122 books, 10 magazines, 45 different products and 15 new releases from our Ácana Publishing House. To this number will be added the titles recently acquired by the CPLL in the Isle of Youth and those that will arrive through national distribution,” explained Osmani Brito, a specialist in the commercial department.
The Fair stands out for its commitment to promoting literature and the diversity of voices. It will feature the presence of writers from various provinces, including Delfín Prats, Luis Yuseff, Alex Pausides, Dazra Novak and Pedro Péglez. Tribute is paid to the historian Francisca López Civeira and the poet and essayist Virgilio López Lemus, and the focus is on South Africa as the guest country.
Benito Estrada, an almost eighty-year-old writer based in the city, will receive special recognition. A former combatant in the struggles against apartheid, he has expressed that this dedication is as exciting as when his first poem was published in 1961. Researcher and professor Armando Pérez Padrón will also receive attention within the program.
The Ácana publishing house, which is celebrating 35 years of work, will have a leading role. “Among the new children 's titles, Barco de papel by María Alfaro, Lola jicotea by Regina Caballero and Diario de un huevo by Lino Torres stand out. We will also present Alteraciones del fenómeno en la infancia, written by Isabel Sampayo Hernández and Maritza Cuenca Díaz, in co-edition with the University of Camagüey; and a new series of pocket books with Brevedad de ser by Yoandra Santana, Hubiera sido fácil by Yunexis Nobalbo and Historias de abuelos by Rosabel Pi,” explained Maikel Sardaña, a specialist from the publishing house, and recalled that they are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the territorial publication system (SET).
The Fair not only seeks to connect readers with books, but also with their creators. Gildo Borrel, director of the CPLL, emphasizes that the event is designed so that “writers feel identified, enjoy the fair and can interact with the public.” For this reason, it will be extended to the House of Poetry, headquarters of the Nicolás Guillén Foundation, and to the House of Cultural Diversity, where the multimedia pavilion will be set up. He announced the nightly presentations at the El Colonial gallery of the Hotel Santa María and at the Agramonte Park, where the People's Library will be exhibited with the reprint of universal classics, such as The Golden Age of José Martí.
At the Casino Campestre, around 20 kiosks will sell publications, and three gastronomic units will guarantee entertainment options. Among the represented labels will be Letras Cubanas, Verde Olivo, Pueblo y Educación, Casa Editora Abril, Casa de las Américas, Arte y Literatura, Gente Nueva, and the Federico Engel and Villa Clara printing houses.
To make this event possible, around a hundred workers, including CPLL personnel and contracted workers, will ensure the operation of each space.
Translated by Linet Acuña Quilez