Acclaim Nigeria International Magazine (ANIM) Participates In World Biggest Annual Book Fair In Germany
By Oluwafemi Akinmolayan
Great ideas, unrelenting actions, unwavering focus and constant positivity are gateways to great and enduring accomplishments. This is the exciting story of the Frankfurter Buchmesse, a success story worthy of emulation. Seven and half decades ago, about 205 German exhibitors gathered in St Paul Church (Paulskirche), Frankfurt for the first post-war book fair. These pioneers’ assemblage since 1949 has transformed into a leading and literary gathering that has stood for democracy, development and diversity and has been proudly celebrated over the years.
Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar during her keynote speech
Frankfurter Buchmesse (FB) is a subsidiary of the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels (German Publishers & Booksellers is the international publishing industry’s biggest trade fair and the most important international marketplace for content – from novels and children’s books to academic databases and stories for films, games and virtual reality experiences. It is considered to be a significant book fair in the world for international deals and trading.
FB has tremendously grown in leaps and bounds with unprecedented innovations, information, attractions, attentions and broad-range participation of relevant and related stakeholders in development circles. And, now due to its popularity and performance, all routes across Europe and beyond leads to Frankfurt, Germany in every October of the year from excited participants to witness and partake in an informative, impactful and inspiring book fair that presents a cherished experience. High class guests’ invitation, exquisite booths/pavilions, electrifying ambience, exciting visitors and important media personnel amongst others are some of the highlights of the bookfair.
Guests and speakers during opening ceremony
The much-celebrated fair, which attracts several hundreds of thousands of people from more than 100 countries annually is also an avenue to gain vital understandings in the book industry with the inputs and involvements of world-class experts in various field of growths. And this year’s event is no exemption, as the prestigious fair took place again in 18th -22nd October at the Frankfurt Messe in Germany.
The 2023 event, marking its 75th Edition, a special commemoration of continuity, integrity, reliability, perseverance and foresight reverberated around the world. Publishers, authors, literary giants, political leaders, businessmen/women, investors, organisations and visitors gathered in Germany, a country reputed as hospitable, peaceful and an investment friendly hub globally to an event of class and candour preceded by an applauded preparation. This event attended by several thousand from more than 100 nations of the world was adjudged successful.
Director Jurgen Boos speaking during the 2023 event
As a progressive assemblage that is shaping the future and pushing the industry forward, the opening ceremony, a grand programme, took place on the 17th October, 2023, and witnessed dignitaries comprising German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (represented by his Cultural Minister) and Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar and other arrays distinguished guests.
The 75th Frankfurter Buchmesse (18–22 October 2023), its anniversary year, offered a high-profile programme of cultural and political events – as a forum for literature and social debate.
Juergen Boos, the Director of Frankfurter Buchmesse, a fine gentleman, who has provided a distinguished headship and direction over the years, while speaking during the press conference that the world is upset by simultaneous troubles.
Cross-section of guest at the opening session
For him “The world is coming undone,”. “We have the crisis of climate change and the crisis among Western democracies. We have been experiencing Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine for over a year and a half. And on 7 October, Hamas’s terrorist warfare against Israel reached a whole new, terrifying level. We are all horrified. Frankfurter Buchmesse has always been about humanity; the focus is on people interacting with each other. He also said this humanity was shattered on 7 October by the attack on Israel carried out by Hamas’s terrorists. Stating that “our sympathy goes out to the people whose loved ones have been the targets of this violence and everyone in Israel and Palestine suffering because of this war. We condemn the terror against Israel and condemn those who are financing it and thus making it possible”.
The commencement ceremony signalled an unprecedented bookfair in modern history. The unique anniversary Guest Of Honour country was Slovenia. With the motto: “Honeycomb of Words”, 75 Slovenian authors, poets and translators appeared in Frankfurt, and the opening ceremony also unveiled the Slovenia Pavilion: a breath-taking sight and literary wonder.
Let the interactions continue: ANIM members of staff at the event.
The grand event which commenced on Tuesday, 17 October, had distinguished guests such as the President of the Republic of Slovenia Her Excellency, Nataša Pirc Musar in attendance, Minister, Volker Turk, the UN High Commission for Human Rights, the Philippines’s Noble Prize Peace Laureate Maria Ressa, award winning co-founder of Memorial Irina Scherbakova activist Michalski, etc.
Author and philosopher Slavoj Žižek was, poet and journalist Miljana Cunta gave a keynote address at the commencement event. Several others who graced the event including the Mayor of the City of Frankfurt, Mike Josef, the State of Hesse’s Minister of State for Science and the Arts, Angela Dorn, and the Chairwoman of the German Publishers & Booksellers Association, Karin Schmidt-Friderichs, were among the dignitaries spoke at the occasion.
As one of the key guests’ at the opening press conference, British science journalist and author Gaia Vince (Nomad Century) also shed more light on the connection between climate change and the global migrant flows that have started already.
ANIM crew with distinguished speakers and guests in Frankfurt
The iconic Frankfurt Pavilion hosted cultural policy talks with Claudia Roth, (Germany’s Federal Commissioner for Culture and the Media) who ably represented German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Deniz Yücel (PEN Berlin), Irina Sherbakova (author and cofounder of the human rights organisation Memorial,), Dmitry Glukhovsky (Russian bestselling author in exile) and Meron Mendel (Bildungsstätte Anne Frank) as participants.
On the Frankfurt International Stage, experts from the United Nations also discussed the topic of climate change and encourage people to move from enquiry to exploit, in keeping with the event’s title: “The Era of Global Boiling – What Can We Do?” Climate activist and cofounder of the Last Generation movement, Lea Bonasera, was also around. Along with other activists, she participated in the programme “SHEROES – Streiterinnen für die Zukunft” (SHEROES – Fighters for the Future) on the Literature Stage hosted by broadcasters ARD, ZDF and 3sat. Other authors invited this year also included former Femen activist Zana Ramadani and AI expert Mina Saidze.
ANIM member of staff at the event
The Fair also had interesting features worthy of attraction and attendance, including good stories, discourses, robust corporate and personal interactions, arrays of relevant books, games and reality experiences amidst others, 2023 Frankfurter Buchmesse offers nothing but the best. Qualitative speakers were also selected for its thematic sessions and some of these includes: JKarin Schmidt-Friderichs, Chairwoman of the German Publishers & Booksellers Association, and Mike Josef, Mayor of the city of Frankfurt am Main.
The 5-days’ event among others featured numerous engagements such as thematic sessions, exhibitions, high level networking and profitable exchanges, trade discussions and business meetings, fun and receptions opportunities.Good stories and literary fans across the world who participated had so much fun at the anniversary event, many known publishers, book enthusiasts, political podcasts and many prominent personalities graced the event in Frankfurt. The event was a full house and witnessed so many fascinating additions.
The show took place under a safe, exciting and peaceful atmosphere, with global best hygiene practices and eco-friendly activities, hospitable organisers, helpers and partners on ground, effective security, efficient communication, top-notch health facilities, protective safe-keeping of properties well-organized transportation among other commendable planning activities.It is also interesting to note that Italy, another European Literary leader will be 2024 edition Guest of Honour.
ANIM staff at the event (L-R) Muideen Kareem, Lara Adefila & Bolanle Mayungbe
Acclaim Nigeria International Magazine (ANIM) crew from Nigeria and Canada also attended and covered the Book Fair. The media team, a key participant from Nigeria,
extensively interacted with the attendees, special guests, organisers and visitors at the fair. The media representatives also used the opportunity to pay a courtesy visitation to the Nigerian Consulate General in Frankfurt, Germany and the Nigerian Embassy in Brussels, Belgium, where they interacted with the Nigerians Heads Of Mission, Ambassador Wahab Akande, the Consul General in Frankfurt and His Excellency, Mr. Obinna Onowu, the Nigerian Ambassador to Belgium amid other interactions with other prominent Nigerians living and working in Frankfurt.
ANIM Staff at the Nigeria Consulate General in Frankfurt, Germany during a courtesy visitation
The journalists who were commended by other colleagues and visitors for their professionalism and extensive interaction brought glory and increased recognition to the nation through their commendable participation. The Media House also conveyed its profound appreciation to the German Embassy in Abuja under the dynamic leadership of Her Excellency, Ambassador Annette Gunther for continually promoting media growth in Nigeria and for enhancing the German-Nigeria relations.
Special thanks also to the Embassy Consular Section for its promotion of nation building efforts and overall national progress in Nigeria.
Long Live Frankfurter Buchmesse!
Long Live Germany-Nigeria Ties!!
Long Live The Federal Republic of Germany!!!
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